If you’re anything like us, you’ve already gobbled up Disney+’s Rivals. So of course, the only question on your mind is, will there be a Rivals season 2?
The answer is an official, resounding YES. Disney have confirmed that the much-loved show will be back for a second chapter.
Dame Jilly Cooper – author of Rivals, the book that inspired the show and executive producer – has even spoken out to further confirm the news, opening up about her “orgasmic” excitement about its renewal.
“Nearly 40 years after my novel Rivals was published, I’ve adored seeing the world fall in love with my beloved characters – Rutshire’s Finest,” she has said. “I’m orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!”
The first season introduced us to the bitter rivalry between ex show jumper Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell), journalist Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner) and TV mogul Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant). Set in the Cotswolds in the 1980s, the show is an endlessly addictive and surprisingly satisfying guilty pleasure of a show, filled with displays of excess, over-the-top sex scenes and plenty of deliciously awful people. In short, we need more of it!
Here’s what we know about a potential Rivals season 2 so far.
Robert Viglasky/Disney+
What happened in Rivals season 1?
First, a quick recap of everything that happened in the first eight episodes: the show loosely follows the events of Cooper’s novel of the same name, which is actually the second book in her famous 10-book Rutshire Chronicles series. The show takes us deep into the lives of the English elite as they climb the social ladder through both business manoeuvres and romantic affairs.