Rivals: David Tennant, Aidan Turner Have ‘Marvelous’ Fun in Trailer for Hulu Adaptation of Jilly Cooper Novel
David Tennant (Good Omens) and Alex Hassell (Cowboy Bebop) are bitter Rivals in the first teaser trailer for an eight-part TV adaptation of the 1988 Dame Jilly Cooper novel, which is set to drop later this year on Hulu in the U.S. (and on Disney+ internationally).
Set against the backdrop of the drama, excess and shocking antics of the social elite of 1980s England, Rivals stars Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, an ex-Olympian and Member of Parliament who is described as “an incorrigible rake, and dangerously charismatic.”
Tennant in turn plays Lord Tony Baddingham, controller of Corinium Television — and Rupert’s single-mindedly ambitious and egotistical foe.
The adaptation’s cast also included Aidan Turner (Poldark) as Declan O’Hara, a journalist and TV presenter who becomes caught in the crossfire of the feud between Rupert and Tony; Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning) as Cameron Cook, a ferociously talented American TV executive who is brought to England by Tony to produce Declan’s new primetime talk show; Katherine Parkinson (Humans) as Lizzie Vereker, a romantic novelist suffering from a distinct lack of romance in her life; and Bella Maclean (Sex Education) as Taggie O’Hara, Declan’s tender-hearted yet strong-willed eldest daughter (and unexpected temptation for Rupert).
The series also stars Emily Atack (Almost Never), Catriona Chandler (Pistol), Oliver Chris (Trying), Danny Dyer (EastEnders), Rufus Jones (Little Darlings), Lisa McGrillis (Sex Education), Luke Pasqualino (Shadow and Bone), Claire Rushbrook (Wilderness) and Victoria Smurfit (Once Upon a Time).
As a straight guy who has read many Jilly Cooper novels in my youth (they were my grandmother’s and served as quite an education during those summers) I will watch this. Though it is odd to think of this as a Disney+ series. It just seems not just un-Disney or anti-Disney but just wrong to think of it as a Disney show.
I remember reading a bunch of Jilly’s books back in the late 80’s and 90’s, so much fun. I think I reread “Riders” several times (the American version which was slightly different than the British version) and was so excited on a trip to England to find Rivals and Polo and Jump! and The Man that Made Husbands Jealous. Never got around to the rest of the books, all of which are tied together with recurring characters (including the amazing Rupert). I may have to finally subscribe to Hulu to catch this.
Pass, Say no to misogynist
I have loved this book for 20 years or more, and get that casting has to move on, though I’d have imagined Rupert as Paul Bettany. I thought the quick clip was a bit crazy, didn’t quite capture the humanity of these admittedly crazy kids. Alas.