After the phenomenal success of Rivals season 1 on Disney Plus, fans of the Jilly Cooper adaptation are already looking forward to Rivals season 2 - and we now have news that filming for the series is underway, meaning we are closer to getting the second series on our screens than ever before!
Fans of Jilly Cooper's bestselling books will already know that the Rivals finale didn't cover the whole story of the novel, which means there is plenty of drama still to come in season 2, which was confirmed on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
The racy eight-part first series, which stars David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Alex Hassell, Katherine Parkinson and Danny Dyer, has become one of the most talked about TV shows of 2024 - and the new first look image (above) was released on Friday, May 9, 2025 to tease the new series.
Set in the fictional British county of Rutshire, the story centers around a long-term rivalry between ex-Olympic rider turned politician Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and TV station controller Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant), who, along with their friends, family and neighbors, drip with ambition, lust and power.
Now we know the second series is officially filming and Dame Jilly Cooper, Executive Producer and Rivals author, said: “I’m utterly sex-static filming for the second season is upon us. It was magical working with Happy Prince and Disney Plus on the first season and seeing everyone fall head over heels for my beloved characters.
"I’m delighted to be able to work with them again and for everyone to see what further mischief they all get up to!”
Here's everything we know about Rivals season 2, including all the latest production news...
Rivals season 2 release date
Rivals season 2 has been officially announced and production is underway, but we are yet to have an official air date. One exciting thing we do know is that season 2 will be made up of 12 episodes, instead of 8 like the first series.
As soon as we get more information on a release date, we will add it to this guide.
Rivals will return to Hulu in the U.S. and Disney Plus in the UK and internationally, and in the meantime, all episodes of Rivals season 1 are available to stream now on Disney Plus.
Rivals season 2 plot
The main question on everyone's minds as we head into a second season is will Tony Baddingham be in the show? After the Rivals season 1 ending saw him beaten over the head with a TV award as Cameron Cook lashed out in self-defense, could he be dead? While we don't know what direction the screenwriters will take Tony's character in, fans of the novel will know that Tony is very much a part of the second half of the book, so there is hope that he will survive. In fact (spoiler alert!) in the book Tony has a fling with Declan's wife Maud, so that could well be in the second season, too.
Knowing what happens in the remaining story of the novel, we also know season 2 could focus on the outcome of the TV franchise battle between Corinium and Venturer - but who will win?
Meanwhile, we might also see what happens next between Taggie and Rupert after THAT kiss, and could we eventually find out who Perdita is? Viewers of the first season saw Declan burn the notes that he had on Rupert from his TV appearance, and the name Perdita was visible in the fire. Fans of the book will know that Perdita is Rupert's daughter so there is a chance she could be introduced in the second season.
In a recent press release, it was announced that the new series would see 'even more wit, desire, and dramatic twists' than ever before.
The official synopsis reads: "As power struggles escalate and rivalries deepen, ambition drives every move, pushing loyalties to the edge.
"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."
Rivals season 2 cast
It has been officially announced that all of the main cast from season 1 are reprising their 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 and Aidan Turner (Poldark, The Suspect) as Declan O’Hara.
Nafessa Williams (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody) is back as Cameron Cook, Bella Maclean (Sex Education and London Tide) as Taggie O’Hara, Katherine Parkinson (The Kennedys, Humans, Here We Go) as Lizzie Vereker and Oliver Chris (The Crown, Trying) as James Vereker.
Also returning are Danny Dyer (EastEnders, The Football Factory) as Freddie Jones, Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones and Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham.
Victoria Smurfit (Bloodlands season 2) is back as Declan's wife, Maud O’Hara, while Luke Pasqualino (Our Girl, Skins, The Musketeers) returns as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Tony’s younger brother, and Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners) as Sarah Stratton, the new wife to Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Stratton, played by Rufus Jones.
Completing the cast are Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O'Hara (Enola Holmes 2) and Annabel Scholey (The Split) as Beattie Johnson.
It was announced in August 2025 that Hayley Atwell (Mission Impossible, Agent Carter) and Rupert Everett (Napoleon, My Policeman) have joined the cast after landing exciting new roles. Hayley Atwell will be playing Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, Marcus and Tabitha. Meanwhile, Everett is set to take on the role of her husband, Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor.
In addition to Hayley and Rupert, further cast additions have also been announced, including: 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).
Is there a trailer for Rivals season 2?
Not yet, it is too early for a trailer, sadly, but as soon as one is released we will add it to this guide.
Behind the scenes and more on Rivals season 2
Rivals is part of Jilly Cooper’s bestselling Rutshire Chronicles, the iconic literary series of 10 novels packed full of wit, romantic entanglements, sex and unforgettable characters.
The first book in the series Riders was released in 1985, followed by Rivals (1988), Polo (1991), The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (1993), Appassionata (1996), Score! (1999), Pandora (2002), Wicked! (2006), Jump! (2010) and Mount! (2016).
Jilly Cooper is a journalist and author who lives in Gloucestershire, in the west of the UK. Born in 1937, Jilly is now 86 and is a widow, having been married to publisher Leo Cooper from 1961 until his death in 2013. They have two adopted children and five grandchildren.
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 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.
The series was commissioned by the Executive Director of Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA, Lee Mason.
The first season has become the streamer’s most successful general entertainment premiere on Disney Plus in the UK to date. The series has also recently garnered a number of award wins, including; winner of the RTS Television Award for writing for Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade, RTS Television Award for supporting actor for Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, British Press Guild Award for best actor for Danny Dyer, BAFTA TV Craft Awards for Production Design and Make Up and Hair Design and BAFTA TV Award Nominations for David Tennant as Best Actor and Katherine Parkinson as Best Supporting Actress.
