TRAILER: David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Nafessa Williams and Bella Maclean return for the second season of Rivals, which debuts on Hulu and Disney+ with a three-episode premiere on May 15, 2026. Watch the trailer now.
The new footage spotlights the vengeful return of Lord Tony Baddingham (Tennant) who is on a mission to destroy Rupert Campbell-Black (Hassell) and Declan O’Hara (Turner)’s rival television company Venturer.
The trailer also shows the residents of Rutshire’s favourite international sport, polo, introducing fan-favourite characters from Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved Rutshire Chronicles, Sebbie and Dommie Carlisle. Romance between couples Rupert and Taggie, Freddie and Lizzie, Declan and Maud, Charles and Gerald, and Sarah and Paul are also teased.
In the second season, the battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches fever pitch as the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase. More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power.
Amidst the hedonistic glamour of 80s excess, the personal lives of our Rutshire heroes spiral into chaos. Marriages fracture under the weight of ambition, illicit affairs threaten to shatter families, and long-buried secrets ignite with explosive consequences. As rivalries push everyone to the brink, loyalties are tested and hearts are broken in the pursuit of victory. But what is the true cost of war?
Williams plays Cameron Cook and Maclean is Taggie O’Hara, with Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara, Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham, Oliver Chris as James Vereker, Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones, Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton, Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton, Luca Pasqualino as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O’Hara, Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson, Gary Lamont as Charles Fairburn, Hubert Burton as Gerald Middleton, Gabriel Tierney as Patrick O’Hara, Lara Peake as Daysee Butler and Bryony Hannah as Dierdre Kilpatrick.
New guest stars include Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, and Rupert Everett as her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor. They are also joined by Maxim Ays as Sebbie Carlisle and Bobby Lockwood as Dommie Carlisle.
Rivals is made by Happy Prince and executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, playwright Laura Wade, Felicity Blunt, Elliot Hegarty, Rivals author Dame Jilly Cooper and Jonny Richards. Eliza Mellor returns as series producer.
It is written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Laura Wade, Sophie Goodhart, Sam Hoare, Mimi Hare, Clare Naylor, Sorcha Kurien-Walsh and Dare Aiyegbayo, and directed by Elliot Hegarty, Jamie J Johnson and Dee Koppang O’Leary.
Rivals is based on the novel of the same name, part of Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles.
