Disney+ Rivals confirms huge season 2 update with surprise cast member twist

Sexy, 1980s-set black comedy Rivals has just dropped some huge casting news after it looks like a familiar face will be re-joining the cast.

David Tennant will be reprising his BAFTA TV-nominated role as the dastardly Lord Tony Baddingham for season two of the Disney+ drama.

The ruthless Corinium Television executive was previously left for dead in his office after his mistress Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) whacked him over the head with a TV award, acting out in self-defence.

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Now, it’s been confirmed the devious TV producer survived and will be back again for further scheming.

The news comes as Disney+ confirmed filming will be starting this month on season two.

But that’s not all - season two will be even longer than its predecessor with a total of 12 episodes compared to the eight in series one.

Other cast members returning to the fray are Alex Hassell as Tory MP Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner as rival TV producer Declan O’Hara, the aformentioned Williams as Cameron Cook, and Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara.

Further returning cast members include Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara, Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham, Oliver Chris as James Vereker, Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones, as Sarah Stratton, Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton, Luke Pasqualino
as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O'Hara and Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson.

Executive producer and Rivals author Dame Jilly Cooper said: “I’m utterly sex-static filming for the second season is upon us. It was magical working with Happy Prince and Disney+ 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!”

While executive producers for Rivals’ production company Happy Prince, Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alexander Lamb said: “We are so excited to be returning to Rutshire for an extended stay of 12 episodes for season two of Rivals.

“It’s very special to have the same team return in front of and behind the cameras and we cannot wait to share more of Jilly’s with our audience”.

Rivals takes its cue from Dame Jilly’s 1988 book of the same name, set in the fictional English county of Rutshire and charting the power struggles and romps in the world of 1980s television.

Disney+ has promised in season two audiences will be getting “even more wit, desire, and dramatic twist” as “power struggles escalate and rivalries deepen" and "ambition drives every move” with loyalties are pushed to the “edge”.

Marriages, careers and reputations will all be hanging in the balance as personal and professional lives become enmeshed and secrets don’t stay hidden for very long.

Rivals debuted in 2024 and quickly became a huge hit for Disney+ as its most successful general entertainment premiere in the UK to date.

Moreover, Rivals has won several RTS and BAFTA TV Craft Awards, while Tennant and Parkinson received BAFTA TV nods for their performances.

Rivals season 1 is streaming on Disney+ now