LONDON/EDINBURGH, U.K. (Wednesday 20th August) – Disney+ has today announced that Hayley Atwell (‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Agent Carter’) and Rupert Everett (‘Napoleon’, ‘My Policeman’) will be joining the stellar cast, as guest stars, in the upcoming second season of “Rivals”. The series is based on the best-selling novel by Dame Jilly Cooper. Principal photography on the drama, produced by Happy Prince (part of ITV Studios), is underway in the UK.
Atwell will be playing Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, Marcus and Tabitha. Everett is set to take on the role of her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor.
Further talent joining the ensemble have been announced today as: Maxim Ays (‘Boarders’, ‘Sanditon’), Holly Cattle (‘Young Sherlock’, ‘Mr Loverman’), Oliver Dench (‘Hotel Portofino’, ‘Domina’), Amanda Lawrence (‘Malory Towers, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Bobby Lockwood (‘Wolfblood, Here We Go’), Eliot Salt (‘Slow Horses’, ‘Normal People’), and Jonny Weldon (‘One Day’, ‘Brassic’).
Returning cast from season one, alongside the previously announced ensemble cast, are; Wendy Albiston (‘Coronation Street’, ‘After Life’) as Mrs Makepiece, Jamie Bisping (‘Piglets’, ‘Alien: Earth’) as Kevin Makepiece, Denise Black (‘Queer As Folk’, ‘The Last Tree’) as Joyce Madden, Timothy Blore (‘Unsinkable’, ‘The War Masters’) as Bobby Riches, Hubert Burton (‘Wolf Hall’, ‘Living’) as Gerald Middleton, Antony Byrne (‘Karenina’, ‘The Wind that Shakes the Barley’) as Ginger Baines, David Calder (‘The World Is Not Enough’, ‘Motherland’) as Reverend Penny, Nino Furuhata (‘Tetris’, ‘People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan’) as Toshi Yamazaki, Selina Griffiths (‘The Larkins’, ‘Cuckoo’) as Dame Enid Spink, Bryony Hannah (‘Call The Midwife’, ‘Unforgotten’) as Dierdre Kilpatrick, Rich Keeble (‘The Change’, ‘Good Omens’) as Brian Hetherington, Gilbert Kyem Jnr (‘Mary Page Marlowe’, The Lonely Londoners’) as Wesley Emerson, Gary Lamont (‘Boiling Point’, ‘Outlander’) as Charles Fairburn, Louis Landau (‘Butterfly, ‘The Serpent Queen’) as Archie Baddingham, Charlotte Mangel (‘We Were The Lucky Ones’, ‘Babyphone’) as Nathalie Perrault, Brendan Patricks (‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Gentleman Jack’) as Henry Hampshire, Lara Peake (‘How To Have Sex’, ‘Reunion’) as Daysee Butler, Olivia Poulet (‘In the Loop’, ‘Back’) as Hermoine Hampshire, Gary Shelford (‘Masters Of The Air’, ‘Holding’) as Mr Makepiece, Emma Shipp (‘What It Feels Like For A Girl’) as Shelley Makepiece, Guy Siner (‘‘Allo ‘Allo!’, ‘The Crown’) as Bishop Hubert Brenton, Maggie Steed (‘Ten Percent’, ‘Silent Witness’) as Lady Gosling, Dan Tetsall (‘Hollyoaks’, ‘The Cleaner’) as Steve Meadows, and Gabriel Tierney (‘The Winter King’, ‘Enola Holmes 2’) as Patrick O’Hara.
Rivals returns with an extended season of twelve episodes – and even more wit, desire, and dramatic twists. As power struggles escalate and rivalries deepen, ambition drives every move, pushing loyalties to the edge.
Set against the backdrop of the stunning Cotswolds countryside and the glamorous, high-stakes world of 1980s British television, the second instalment will see the return of the all-star cast that won the hearts of fans and critics alike as well as introducing brand new faces.
Careers, marriages, and reputations hang in the balance as personal and professional lives collide in a world where secrets can’t stay hidden for long. Bold, emotionally charged, and filled with unforgettable moments, “Rivals” is a thrilling ride through a landscape of breathtaking beauty, fierce competition, and life-changing decisions—where the cost of success could be everything.
Lee Mason, Executive Director of Scripted Originals, EMEA Disney+, said: “Rivals is a landmark series for Disney+, quickly becoming one of our most beloved British UK Orginal dramas. I’m delighted to welcome Hayley and Rupert to our extraordinary family of actors. They are a perfect match for the world of Rutshire, so lovingly created by Dame Jilly and the team at Happy Prince.”
Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Chief Creative Officer of Happy Prince and Alexander Lamb, Creative Director of Happy Prince added: “We are utterly thrilled to have Hayley and Rupert join us to play Jilly Cooper’s legendary characters Helen and Malise Gordon. Alongside our other new wonderful actors and truly brilliant returning cast, Rivals series two absolutely showcases the best of British and Irish talent. With further exciting guest stars to be announced, we can’t wait for everyone to see what’s next for the residents of Rutshire.”
“Rivals” is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins (‘A Very English Scandal’, ‘Holding’, ‘EastEnders’), Alexander Lamb (‘Ackley Bridge’, ‘The Bay’, ‘We Hunt Together’), Felicity Blunt, Elliot Hegarty (‘Cheaters’, ‘Ted Lasso’), Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade (‘The Riot Club’), “Rivals” author Dame Jilly Cooper and for Disney+ EMEA Scripted Content, Jonny Richards. Eliza Mellor (‘The Midwich Cuckoos’, ‘Behind Her Eyes’, ‘Poldark’) serves as Series Producer. It is written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Laura Wade, Sophie Goodhart, Sam Hoare, Kefi Chadwick, Mimi Hare and Clare Naylor, Sorcha Kurien-Walsh and Dare Aiyegbayo, 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 bestselling Rutshire Chronicles. The series was commissioned by Executive Director of Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA, Lee Mason.
“Rivals” will return to Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in the UK and internationally. All episodes of “Rivals” season 1 are available to stream now, on Disney+.
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