The hit 2024 British bonkbuster Rivals is returning to our screens for season 2 and has promised even more scandal, sex, and steam than before. However, the hedonistic 80s excess that the show elevates and exposes has also left fans morally conflicted.
Adapted from Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved book series Rutshire Chronicles, the show was unrivalled (had to) in its success. Set against the backdrop of rival television broadcasters at war, personal relationships spiral and shatter under the weight of ambition, affairs, and explosive secrets.
No character is completely redeemable or innocent, and it looks like these tensions are only heightened in the upcoming season. While the series doesn’t necessarily glamourise this life of sex and scandal, as audiences are on edge after every character’s misstep, it does make us long for the yearning in Taggie and Rupert’s questionable age-gap relationship and envy those who spend their days watching attractive men play polo in the Cotswolds.
From teased love-triangles to David Tennant’s character Lord Tony Baddingham escaping last season’s assumed death, Rivals season 2 is sending fans spiralling as the character’s moral ambiguity and lustful grab for power is still very much centre stage.
Fans are conflicted over the show’s core questionable age-gap
There’s no doubt that the chemistry between the stars in the show is unmatched, hence why so many fans are feeling conflicted.
“God I hate and love this show there’s not one redeemable character,” one fan wrote on X.
While the series far from promotes the out-of-control rivalry and back-stabbing done by the power-hungry social elite, it can’t help but romanticise the yearning and lust that takes place between two of the show’s main characters, Taggie (Bella Maclean) and Rupert (Alex Hassell), who share a considerable age gap – with Rupert basically the same age as Taggie’s father, Declan.
This dynamic, despite the actors’ incredible chemistry on screen, has brought questions from season 1 to the surface as the pair are shown longing for each other again in season 2.
“I usually hate age gaps and found myself loving them by the end of season 1 which SHOCKED me,” one fan wrote.
“Yep definitely. Loved the chemistry between them, but kinda hate this rather misogynistic trope,” another viewer responded in agreement. “In reality, wordly men who like to sleep around aren’t going to be attracted to a teenage virgin if they are decent and confident in themselves. Because they’d recognise the inherent power imbalance. They wouldn’t be a romantic partner, they’d be a romantic subordinate.”
“Yeah I kind of hated that,” another fan agreed. “Kept waiting for it to turn around at first not realizing the vibe of the source material. And the show really pushes it like it’s a good thing so you find yourself emotionally wrapped up in it but also disgusted simultaneously.”
However, despite these concerns, fans are still overwhelmingly eager for the second season’s release, perhaps revealing just how much audiences crave shows that give in to guilty pleasures…as well as bonkbusters with a killer 80s soundtrack.
What is Rivals season 2 about?
The first season of the Emmy® and BAFTA® Award winning series Rivals ended with a cliff-hanger (to say the least), as Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) was supposedly killed in his office by Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams). According to the trailer Disney+ debuted on Friday, April 18, Tony is alive and well (just with a small headache), and is hell-bent on revenge.
As Tony’s mission to destroy Rupert Campbell-Black and Declan O’Hara’s rival television company ‘Venturer’ plays out, where scandal and manipulation are weaponised, more addictive romances, affairs, and couples are teased, as Rupert and Taggie, Freddie and Lizzie, Declan and Maud, Charles and Gerald, and Sarah and Paul all navigate twists and turns.
Fan-favourite characters from Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved Rutshire Chronicles, Sebbie and Dommie Carlisle are also introduced this season, sending fans of the book series spiralling.
With more steamy scenes and heart-stopping moments, audiences might have trouble picking their jaws up from the floor this season, but oh will it be worth it!
Who is in the cast of Rivals season 2?
The cast of season 2 will see core characters reprising their iconic roles, including David Tennant (‘Doctor Who’, ‘The Thursday Murder Club’) as Lord Tony Baddingham, Alex Hassell (‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’, ‘The Boys’) as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner (‘Poldark’, ‘The Hobbit Trilogy’) as Declan O’Hara, Nafessa Williams (‘Black Lightning’, ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody’) as Cameron Cook, Bella Maclean (‘Sex Education’, ‘London Tide’) as Taggie O’Hara, Katherine Parkinson (‘Humans’, ‘Here We Go’) as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer (‘EastEnders’, ‘The Football Factory’) as Freddie Jones, Victoria Smurfit (‘Bloodlands’, ‘Once Upon A Time’) as Maud O’Hara, and Claire Rushbrook (‘Sherwood’, ‘Ali and Ava’) as Lady Monica Baddingham.
Other returning cast members include 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.
This season will also see the addition of new guest stars, Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, Rupert Everett as her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor, Maxim Ays as Sebbie Carlisle and Bobby Lockwood as Dommie Carlisle.
Is Rivals based off a book?
Yes, Rivals is based off a book in the series The Rutshire Chronicles by Dame Jilly Cooper, who recently passed away on October 5, 2025 at age 88.
If you’re after some light reading ahead of the Rivals season 2 release, you can access the The Rutshire Chronicles on Amazon.
When is Rivals season 2 premiering?
The series will return in two six-episode batches, boasting 12 episodes in total compared to the first season’s eight episode run.
The roll-out will begin with a three-episode premiere on 15 May, 2026, followed by the second batch later this year, all available to stream on Disney+.
How to watch Rivals season 2?
If you want to catch up on Rivals before Season 2 arrives, all episodes of season 1 are streaming exclusively on Disney+.
Stream Rivals on Disney Plus from $9.99/mth.
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