Rivals renewed for a second series by Disney+

Hit play Rivals, based connected the caller by Dame Jilly Cooper, has been renewed by Disney+ for a 2nd series.

The eight-part drama, released successful October, features respective celebrated faces including Doctor Who prima David Tennant, Poldark’s Aidan Turner, and erstwhile EastEnders histrion Danny Dyer.

Series one, which ended connected a cliffhanger, is based connected the 2nd caller successful Dame Jilly’s publication series, the Rutshire Chronicles, and has received wide acclaim from some critics and the public.

Nearly 40 years aft my caller Rivals was published, I’ve adored seeing the satellite autumn successful emotion with my beloved characters - Rutshire’s Finest.

Dame Jilly Cooper

Dame Jilly said: “Nearly 40 years aft my caller Rivals was published, I’ve adored seeing the satellite autumn successful emotion with my beloved characters – Rutshire’s Finest.

“And it has been a fairytale travel existent moving with Happy Prince and Disney+ connected the archetypal season.

“I’m orgasmic with excitement and cannot hold for the instrumentality of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the remainder of the characters successful play two.”

The series, which depicts the ruthless satellite of autarkic tv successful 1986, follows a rivalry betwixt Rupert, played by TV and theatre prima Alex Hassell, and Tony Baddingham, played by Tennant.

Lee Mason, enforcement manager of scripted originals, EMEA Disney+, said: “It’s been phenomenal seeing the absorption to Dame Jilly Cooper’s Rivals – this autumn’s astir talked astir series.

“We’re thrilled that existing fans of the novels, alongside those caller to the Cooperverse, person taken the bid to their hearts.

“I can’t hold to get backmost to Rutshire and spot what breathtaking play the Happy Prince squad (part of ITV Studios) person successful store for play 2 – bring connected much romance, betrayal, and enarthrosis pads.”

Dominic Treadwell-Collins, main originative serviceman of Happy Prince, and Alexander Lamb, originative manager of Happy Prince, added: “It’s been magical to person the emotion backmost from viewers that we enactment into Rivals.

“The Rivals team acceptable retired to make people’s favourite tv show, thing enduring that our assemblage would instrumentality to their hearts and ticker and rewatch. We’re delighted that we’re returning to Rutshire with Jilly and Disney+. It’s a peculiar spot to be.”

Rivals bid 2 volition aerial connected Disney+ successful the UK and internationally.