Rivals: who plays who in Jilly Cooper's new bonkbuster?

Jilly Cooper's Rivals was a significant book of the 1980s, vividly depicting the steamy relationships and betrayals among a quirky group of characters in the made-up county of Rutshire.

The highly awaited adaptation of the legendary bestseller, exploring the competitive landscape of independent television in the late 1980s, is set to premiere on Disney+ this month and features a lineup of well-known actors.

The eight-episode series has received acclaim from reviewers and stays true to Cooper's popular book, focusing on the intense competition between two larger-than-life personalities - Rupert Campbell-Black (portrayed by Alex Hassell) and Lord Tony Baddingham (played by Tennant).

Get ready for an intoxicating blend of romance, steamy relationships, and a whole lot of wild behavior, all set against a backdrop of wealth and influence.

Take a glance at the impressive cast that is bringing this politically incorrect book to the screen.

The cast of "The Rivals" featuring the author Dame Jilly Cooper.

David Tennant takes on the role of Lord Tony Baddingham.

David Tennant, widely recognized for his portrayal of the 10th Doctor in Doctor Who, has also appeared in notable shows such as Good Omens, Inside Man, Des, Broadchurch, and Around the World in 80 Days. In the series Rivals, he takes on the role of the affluent Lord Tony Baddingham, leading the cast.

When describing his character, who has become a legendary presence in Cooper's novel, he mentions: "He owns Corinium Television, during a time when ITV was divided into different regional franchises, with each one being renewed every few years. Having control over one of those TV stations was significant. They were quite substantial."

"Those were the times of Granada, Thames, Tyne Tees, and Corinium, which represents the Rutshire TV network. Tony has strong connections, is quite wealthy, and is highly motivated to ensure that his influence remains strong and expands."

Tennant plays the character of Lord Tony Baddingham in the production Rivals.

When asked what attracted him to Rivals, he replied, "My wife. I was aware of Jilly and her work, but I didn't have much prior knowledge about it."

"When I first got the script and shared it with Georgia, she was absolutely certain that I needed to be a part of this project."

She mentioned, "This series is going to be massive. It’s precisely what the country needs, and what the world is looking for." From what I gather, she was familiar with the books from her teens and realized that this would create phenomenal television.

Alex Hassell portrays the character Rupert Campbell-Black.

Hassell plays the role of Rupert Campbell-Black in the Disney+ show.

Hassell portrays the charming yet reckless ex-Olympian and Conservative MP, Rupert Campbell-Black. The actor, known for his roles in The Boys, Silent Witness, The Miniaturist, and most notably as Metatron in His Dark Materials, remarked that taking on the character of Rupert was "an absolute blast."

"Honestly, we have a lot of differences, which made it really enjoyable to immerse myself in that perspective and the mindset of the Eighties," he said. "It was interesting to consider what I needed to set aside from my own worldview and compare it to a more contemporary take on various social norms and interactions."

It was fascinating to be the center of attention for many people. "There were times when I felt a bit overwhelmed during the scenes, where Rupert enters a room and everyone pauses their activities to gaze at him in admiration," he mentioned.

I felt anxious about needing to persuade others of that. But then, when I arrived, I found out that everyone had been instructed to treat me like I'm Harry Styles. As a result, my day transformed into something truly amazing—almost like a dream come true.

Aidan Turner takes on the role of Declan O'Hara.

In Poldark, Turner portrays Declan, a television host who is enticed away from the BBC to join Corinium TV by Baddingham. However, he soon feels deceived and becomes resolute in his quest for revenge.

When asked about his decision to join the cast of Rivals, he explained, "It happened at a point in my career when I was really eager to take on a project like this. I wanted to enjoy myself while working on a show."

"I was looking to be part of something that included a comedic aspect,” he went on. “I wanted to be in a show with a great group of talented and funny actors, and it was important for me to have that collaborative space... There are about twelve of us all contributing equally to this platform, each with our own storylines, which makes it feel like we’re all part of something together."

"I really look up to many of the actors in this show, so when I got the chance to collaborate with them, it was an obvious choice for me."

Turner had earlier shared with The Times, "Our show features a lot of intimate scenes, which is why we need two intimacy coaches. It's quite a lot! Each day, we're in a different grand manor, enjoying garden parties... Everyone is ready to celebrate. Just the other night, we went to the Ivy for a late evening filled with cocktails. I've never wanted a second season of anything more!"

Danny Dyer playing the role of Freddie Jones.

Danny Dyer in Rivals

The ex-EastEnders actor portrays Freddie, a self-made millionaire in the electronics business. Even with his considerable fortune, he still feels like an outsider among the elite of Rutshire, especially alongside his ambitious wife, Valerie, played by Lisa McGrillis.

“This story features a number of crude characters, and it revolves around the theme of power,” Dyer mentioned. He noted that he hadn’t read any of Cooper’s books prior to filming, although his mother had shared some information about them with him.

“It’s somewhat similar to Succession. The themes of power are prominent, and naturally, there’s plenty of steamy content, as expected from Jilly Cooper. However, the intimate scenes primarily revolve around the concept of power dynamics.”

“He’s a decent guy,” he says. “He’s incredibly wealthy—actually, the wealthiest person in the show.” He continues, “I imagine him as similar to an Alan Sugar figure because he works with computers and satellites, which makes him quite advanced for his era. He’s genuinely kind-hearted and very sharp.”

Reflecting on taking on a role that's different from his typical tough-guy portrayals, Dyer remarked, "It's essential for me to play a character where I appear quite different, as I haven't had many chances to do so. I believe this might shift how some people view me."

Claire Rushbrook portrays Lady Monica Baddingham.

Claire Rushbrook takes on the role of Lady Monica Baddingham.

The actress, who gained fame from "Secrets & Lies," portrays the noble Lady Baddingham. She shared, "I've been a fan of Jilly Cooper for a long time. I was a teenager in the 1980s, so I was really into her books back then. When I met with the producers, I found them to be lively, enthusiastic, and full of a vibrant energy that felt both daring and adventurous regarding their vision for the project."

Rushbrook found herself captivated by the show's "darker elements," stating, "It wasn't presented as a comforting, light-hearted romantic drama for a casual Sunday evening. It offered something much more exciting. The script was incredibly clever, sharp, and had a seductive edge to it. I was really excited to be invited to be part of it."

Emily Atack portrays the character Sarah Stratton.

The Inbetweeners actress portrays Sarah Stratton, a character described as "highly promiscuous." She initially believed she wouldn't get the part. "It was a great privilege to play a character like this, especially since women haven't always been depicted in a strong light, particularly women like her," she shared.

Emily Atack and Oliver Chris portray the characters Sarah Stratton and James Vereker.

You could have easily portrayed this woman as a typical, unlikable character, but instead, she was incredibly relatable and charming right from the start. When I read the audition scene, I immediately felt a connection to her.

Atack shared her personal connection to her character, saying, "There’s still a significant problem regarding the treatment of women. Portraying this role allowed me to truly immerse myself in her experience. It also stems from a deep, personal sense of frustration about the challenges I've faced in this industry, where it sometimes feels like you have to rely on your sexuality to achieve your goals."

Victoria Smurfit, known for her role in Bloodlands season 2, takes on the character of Maud O’Hara, a former actress who is both free-spirited and unpredictable, married to Declan O’Hara. Bella Maclean, recognized from Sex Education, portrays their strong-willed daughter, Taggie.

Luke Pasqualino, known for his roles in shows like Our Girl, Skins, and The Musketeers, steps into the shoes of the captivating Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham. He portrays Tony’s younger sibling and the proprietor of Rutshire's trendiest nightclub, Bar Sinister.

Nafessa Williams, known for her role in "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody," plays Cameron Cook, a driven American television executive brought on board by Tony to create Declan's new prime-time talk show.

Katherine Parkinson, known for her roles in The Kennedys, Humans, and Here We Go, takes on the character of Lizzie Vereker, a writer of romantic fiction who often finds herself in the shadow of her self-centered husband, James Vereker. Oliver Chris, who has appeared in The Crown and Trying, portrays James.

Rivals will be available for streaming on Disney+ starting October 13.