Rivals on Disney+: Series 2 confirmed as Jilly Cooper admits she's 'orgasmic with excitement'
By Helen Fear | Wed Dec 04 2024Rivals arrived with much fanfare on Disney+ in 2024 and it was worth EVERY bit of hype - so we're thrilled that there's a series 2 coming.
If you're anything like us, we binged the eight-parter in a day (just try and walk away from it). So now we want a series 2 of Rivals, and we want it now. Like faster than Rupert Campbell-Black can take his clothes off.
So what has Disney+ said about a second series of Rivals? And did creator and author Jilly Cooper write a sequel to the bestselling book of the same name. Here's everything you need to know...
***Warning: mild spoilers from Rivals 1 ahead***
Will there be a series 2 of Rivals on Disney+?
Disney has now confirmed that a series 2 of Rivals is on the way. Well they would have been bonk-ers not to! With a cast bulging with so many famous faces, it will be some feat to get them back together again - but worth it!
After the success of series 1, Disney+ has now commissioned a second run. Author Jilly Cooper - who worked as executive producer on the show - said: "Nearly 40 years after my novel Rivals was published, I've adored seeing the world fall in love with my beloved characters - Rutshire's Finest."
She added: "It has been a fairytale come true working with [producers] Happy Prince and Disney+ on the first season. I'm orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!"
Rupert Campbell-Black will be back!
Series 1 ended on quite the cliffhanger... Although we won't spoil your fun here by writing spoilers, suffice to say the fate of Lord Baddingham, Declan O'Hara, his daughter Taggie, and admirer Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) especially were all left hanging in the balance.
But, truth be told, we want to know where all the characters end up - including Lizzie and Freddie and their sweet bond. Series 2 is needed to tie up all those pesky loose ends...
Lee Mason, Executive Director of Scripted Originals, EMEA Disney Plus, said: "It's been phenomenal seeing the reaction to Dame Jilly Cooper's Rivals - this autumn's most talked about series. We're thrilled that existing fans of the novels, alongside those new to the Cooperverse, have taken the series to their hearts."
He added: "I can't wait to get back to Rutshire and see what exciting drama the Happy Prince team have in store for season two - bring on more romance, betrayal, and shoulder pads!"
Did Jilly Cooper write a sequel to the novel Rivals?
Actually, Jilly Cooper fans will know that Rivals is the second in the Rutshire Chronicles series.
The first book, called Riders, was first published in 1985. The book introduced the character of Rupert Campbell-Black. Rivals followed in 1988.
Rivals is the second novel in Dame Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles. Explaining why Rivals is the favourite of her books, she said: "I think Rivals is my favourite novel because I love the characters so much. Even the most ruthless display moments of tenderness and vulnerability and the shyest and gentlest show courage and integrity as true love blossoms."
She added: "Originally, I intended to leave out Rupert Campbell-Black, my havoc-making, hell-raising hero, the world-winning showjumper and handsomest man in England, because in Riders he was so cruel both to women and his horses. But I missed his glamour and humour so I've brought him back as a lead character in Rivals and enjoyed making him lovable and truly heroic."
How many books are there in the Rutshire Chronicles?
There are actually 11 books in Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles, with the last being Tackle! published in as recently as 2023.
Olympian and hero Rupert Campbell-Black appears in all of the Rutshire Chronicles novels by Jilly Cooper:
Riders (1986)
Rivals (1988)
Polo (1991)
The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (1993)
Appassionata (1996)
Score! (1999)
Pandora (2002)
Wicked! (2006)
Jump! (2010)
Mount! (2016)
Tackle! (2023)
So there's plenty more mileage for another series at least! Of course, like the famous Margaret Atwood novel The Handmaid's Tale, there doesn't always have to be another book. Sometimes, scriptwriters imagine new endings for the fictional characters.
Are there any other Jilly Cooper adaptations?
There are 11 books in the Rutshire Chronicles series, and UK production company FilmWave has reportedly required the rights for all but two.
The nine books - all of which were published between 1985 and 2011 - are Riders, Rivals, Polo, The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, Appassionata, Score!, Pandora, Wicked! and Jump!
So watch this space... Another series must surely be in the pipeline.
