Rivals (TV series)
Rivals | |
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Based on | Rivals by Jilly Cooper |
Screenplay by | |
Directed by | Elliot Hegarty |
Starring | |
Composers |
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Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 8 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Eliza Mellor |
Cinematography |
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Editors |
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Production company | Happy Prince |
Original release | |
Network | Disney+ |
Release | 18 October 2024 present | –
Rivals is a television series made for Disney+. It is an adaptation of the 1988 Jilly Cooper novel of the same name. It stars an ensemble cast including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Lisa McGrillis, Alex Hassell, Nafessa Williams, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer.
Synopsis
[edit]Set in 1986, British nobleman, old money MP Rupert Campbell-Black and coming from the bourgeoisie nouveau riche (though married into old money) Lord Tony Baddingham have a rivalry that seeps into the world of Baddingham's Corinium independent commercial television station, located in the (fictional) county of Rutshire, in the Cotswolds region of southwest England.[1] Baddingham brings American producer Cameron Cook to help stengthen Corinium's programming, and hires dynamic Irish newsman Declan O'Hara, husband of actress Maud, away from the BBC.
Cast
[edit]- Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black
- David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham
- Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara
- Victoria Smurfit as Maud O'Hara
- Bella Maclean as Agatha ‘Taggie’ O'Hara
- Catriona Chandler[2] as Caitlin O'Hara
- Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
- Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker
- Oliver Chris as James Vereker
- Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
- Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones
- Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham
- Luke Pasqualino as Basil 'Bas' Baddingham
- Louis Landau as Archie Baddingham
- Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton
- Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton
- Lara Peake as Daysee Butler
- Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson
- Maggie Steed as Lady Gosling
- David Calder as Fergus Penney
- Hubert Burton as Gerald Middleton
- Guy Siner as Bishop Brenton
- Brendan Patricks as Henry Hampshire
- Rich Keeble as Brian Hetherington
- Gary Lamont as Charles Fairburn
Production
[edit]In August 2022, it was reported that Disney+ were planning an eight-part adaptation of the Jilly Cooper novel Rivals.[3] Dominic Treadwell-Collins was on the writing and production team, whilst Cooper and Felicity Blunt, Cooper's literary agent, would serve as executive producers on the show.[4][5] It was reported that the 1980s novel would be given a "contemporary skew".[6]
The lead director is Elliot Hegarty, who is also credited as an executive producer for episodes 1 through 3. Eliza Mellor is a series producer. The project is produced by Happy Prince with Alexander Lamb, Laura Wade, and Lee Mason also as executive producers. Wade is also co-writer with Treadwell-Collins; the writers' room includes Sophie Goodhart, Marek Horn, Mimi Hare & Clare Naylor, Dare Aiyegbayo, Kefi Chadwick, Tray Agyeman, and Sorcha Kurien Walsh.[7]
Casting
[edit]Casting in lead roles was announced in March 2023, with David Tennant, Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson & Alex Hassell amongst those cast.[8] That same month, Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner were added to the cast.[9] In May 2023, the cast was rounded out with Lara Peake and David Calder revealed to be joining the series.[10]
Filming
[edit]The series, which started filming in March 2023, was one of the initial productions to use TBY2, a newly completed facility at The Bottle Yard Studios in Hengrove, Bristol.[11] Filming also took place in Tetbury in Gloucestershire in March 2023.[12]
Release
[edit]The series was released in the UK and internationally, including Australia, on Disney+ and in the United States on Hulu on 18 October 2024.[13]
Reception
[edit]The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 94% approval rating with an average rating of 7.7/10, based on 17 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A caustic comedy with swagger, Rivals makes class warfare and catty behavior addictive viewing."[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 84 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Cormack, Morgan (21 March 2023). "David Tennant and Aidan Turner to star in Jilly Cooper adaptation Rivals". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^
- "Cat - Catriona Chandler". Barrel Organ Theatre. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
...an actor from Liverpool. After recently graduating from Tring Park School for the Performing Arts...
- Catriona-Chandler Viewties Magazine
- Emily, Olivia (18 October 2024). "Catriona Chandler On Bringing Gen Z Energy To The Rivals Set". Country and Town House. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- "Letter 6: Liverpool Family". Love, Liverpool: an A to Z of Hope. Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
Jump to: Audio stories // Written stories // ....(by Catriona Chandler)
- "Catriona Chandler". www.gettyimages.com - Getty Images. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- "'SPINN' on over to The Hope & Ruin". Brighton and Hove News. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- "Cat - Catriona Chandler". Barrel Organ Theatre. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Shaffi, Sarah (25 August 2022). "Jilly Cooper bestseller Rivals set for eight-part TV adaptation". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Rose, Hilary (22 March 2022). "Can Jilly Cooper's Rivals survive a 21st-century makeover?". The Times. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Elder, Lucy (21 March 2023). "Hunt for Rupert Campbell-Black concludes! Cast confirmed for Jilly Cooper's Rivals". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ de Semelyan, Phil (22 March 2023). "People are losing their minds over Disney's 'Rivals' cast". Time Out. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Goddard, Lauren (21 March 2023). "Star-Studded "Rivals" Cast Unveiled For Disney+" (Press release). Disney+. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Goldbart, Max; Petski, Denise (21 March 2023). "David Tennant, Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner & Alex Hassell Board Disney+'s Jilly Cooper Adaptation 'Rivals'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner star in adaptation of racy Jilly Cooper novel". Entertainment. Irish Independent. 21 March 2023.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (15 May 2023). "Jilly Cooper's 'Rivals': Power Packed British Cast Join David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner and Danny Dyer on Disney+ Show (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Streeting, Louise (23 March 2023). "Disney+ confirms David Tennant and Danny Dyer for new series being filmed in Bristol". TV. Bristol Post. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Adam, Bertie (20 March 2022). "Rivals: Danny Dyer and David Tennant spotted in Gloucestershire filming new Disney+ series". Celebs & TV. Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (21 August 2024). "Disney+ Sets Premiere Date For Jilly Cooper Adaptation 'Rivals'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ "Rivals: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "Rivals: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 October 2024.