Need to know
- Season two of Rivals has finally landed today (Friday, May 15) and fans are already getting stuck into the new series on Disney+. The show is based on the late, great Dame Jilly Cooper’s 1988 novel Rivals. Once again, audiences have been plunged into the glamorous world of 80s television as Tony Baddingham (played by David Tennant) and Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) continue their fierce rivalry.
- Season two will consist of 12 episodes in total, making it longer than the first series, which only had eight instalments. The new series will be split into two blocks with the first six episodes airing now and the back half of the season coming at a later date in 2026. Streaming platform Disney+ has dropped the first three episodes to pique fans’ interest.
- The remaining three episodes from the first batch of season two will be now airing on a weekly basis. This means Rivals season two, episode four will be released on Disney+ in the UK on Friday, May 22 at 8am BST. Episodes five and six will be aired on the platform on consecutive Fridays, ending its run on June 5.
- Season two picks up straight off the back of the first outing, with Corinium TV boss Tony now itching for revenge and oneupmanship against his rivals Campbell-Black and former BBC journalist Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner), who head up competitor Venturer. He will stop at nothing to take them down, resorting to dirty tactics that threaten everyone in Rutshire.
- Along with the return of the large ensemble cast, season two welcomes some new stars. Marvel’s Agent Carter and Netflix’s Heartstopper actress Hayley Atwell joins as Helen Gordon, Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother to his two children. Hollywood star Rupert Everett of My Best Friend’s Wedding and An Ideal Husband fame takes on the part of Malise Gordon, Helen’s husband and Campbell-Black’s mentor and ex-showjumping coach.
READ THE FULL STORY: Rivals season 2 release date, cast and where to watch as David Tennant returns
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