Fans of Jilly Cooper’s best-selling books of the 1980’s, ‘Riders’ and ‘Rivals’, will be delighted to hear that they will soon be able to watch an eight-part series based on the second book, Rivals.
Disney+ has now announced the high profile cast to portray the characters well-known for their ruthless high jinks and romantic entanglements in the fictional English county of Rutshire.
The first book, Riders, focusses on the international world of show jumping (“a sport where the brave horses are almost human, but the humans behave like animals”), introducing the dashing character of Rupert Campbell-Black, also a main character of the follow up book, Rivals.
Rivals dives headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986. The eight-part series, produced by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios, depicts the long-simmering power struggle between Rupert Campbell-Black and Lord Tony Baddingham that threatens to boil over when the two men lock horns over the future of Corinium Television. It is a battle that draws wives, lovers, colleagues, friends, and families into a rollercoaster ride, this time without horses.
Alex Hassell (‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’, ‘The Boys’) will play ex-Olympian, Tory Member of Parliament and incorrigible rake, the dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black.
David Tennant (‘Doctor Who’, ‘Good Omens’) plays Rupert’s single-mindedly ambitious and egotistical Rutshire neighbour Lord Tony Baddingham, controller of Corinium Television.
Executive Producer and Rivals author, Jilly Cooper says 'I’m utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals. Featuring some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better ensemble cast. I cannot wait to be on set and see them bring the characters I love so much to life.
The minute we met with Alex we knew he’d perfectly embody my all-time hero, the iconic, racy, ruthless, and devastatingly handsome, Rupert Campbell-Black. Viewers are in for a treat!'
Readers will also remember the many other characters that create a rich tapestry of intrigue, back stabbing and bed hopping. The fiercely intellectual, with an even fiercer temper, TV presenter Declan O’Hara, will be played by Aidan Turner (‘Poldark’, ‘The Suspect’), who is wooed to Corinium TV from the BBC by Baddingham himself, but feels he’s been swindled when Tony refuses to deliver on his promises. Furious with Tony, Declan vows to get his revenge.
Victoria Smurfit (‘Bloodlands’, ‘Once Upon A Time’) plays Maud O’Hara, a former actress and Declan’s bohemian, fickle wife.
Bella Maclean (‘Spring Awakening’, ‘Sex Education’) plays Declan and Maud’s tender-hearted yet strong-willed elder daughter, Taggie. She holds the O’Hara family together and keeps an eye on her younger and wilder sister Caitlin, played by Catriona Chandler (‘Pistol’, ‘Enola Holmes 2’).
Nafessa Williams (‘Black Lighting’, ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody’) plays Cameron Cook, a ferociously talented American TV executive who is brought to Corinium by Tony to produce Declan’s new prime-time talk show. She soon finds herself caught between the two powerful men who deeply underestimate her - at their peril.
Katherine Parkinson (‘Humans’, ‘Here We Go’) stars as Lizzie Vereker, a romantic novelist consistently overlooked by her preening and self-centred TV presenter husband, James Vereker, played by Oliver Chris (‘The Crown’, ‘Trying’).
Danny Dyer (‘EastEnders, ‘The Football Factory’) stars as Freddie Jones: honourable, loyal and lovable, he’s a self-made electronics millionaire. Freddie’s got the money, but finds himself, along with his social-climbing wife Valerie (played by Lisa McGrillis ‘Maternal’, ‘Mum’), an outsider to Rutshire’s cliques. But when Rupert and Tony come to him with a business proposition, all that could change.
Claire Rushbrook (‘Sherwood’, ‘Ali and Ava’) plays Lady Monica Baddingham, Tony’s dependable, upper-crust wife who has absolutely no interest in the dramatic goings-on within her husband’s empire. Luke Pasqualino (‘Skins’, ‘Shantaram’) plays the charming Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Tony’s younger brother and the proprietor of Cotchester’s hot spot, ‘Bar Sinister’.
Emily Atack (‘The Emily Atack Show, ‘The Inbetweeners’) plays Sarah Stratton, the new wife to Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Stratton, played by Rufus Jones (‘W1A’, ‘Home’). Sarah is ambitious and not afraid to use her looks to get to the top. Paul, on the other hand, is in the throes of a midlife crisis and everyone knows it.
Let the Rutshire boardroom battles and love triangles begin – we can’t wait!
