Rivals is Back for Season Two!

Rivals are back for round two as David Tennant’s Lord Baddingham takes the gloves off

Few Doctors have had a post-Doctor Who career as varied and prolific as David Tennant. Now he’s back with another of his popular successes as Rivals returns for a second series. Based on the books by Jilly Cooper, the show stars Tennant as Tony Baddingham, the ruthless, wealthy, and womanizing head of Corinium Television. The epitome of 1980s excess, Baddingham will stop at nothing to maintain control of a lucrative regional television franchise. But then again, his greatest rival Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) will stop at nothing to conquer it himself. The result of their clash is an outlandish mix of corporate skullduggery, betrayal, and bed-hopping affairs.

Following Venturer’s unexpected success in the local TV world, Lord Baddingham is more determined than ever in Series Two to bring his enemies down, offering a glimpse into the murky tactics he resorts to now that the gloves are fully off. Meanwhile, the messy love lives of Rutshire’s residents are starting to cause even more problems than usual, and in this glossy 1980s world, private drama has a habit of going public.

Rivals co-stars Claire Rushbrook (The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit), Annabel Scholey (Flux), Brendan Patricks (The Crimson Horror), and Amanda Lawerence (The Doctor’s Wife). Also appearing are Milo Callaghan (Dot and Bubble), and Maxim Ays (Rogue). Outside of the world of Doctor Who, the cast includes Aiden Turner (Being Human, Poldark), Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners) and Danny Dyer (EastEnders.)

Series Two also introduces Olive Tennant, daughter of David and Georgia Tennant, and granddaughter of Fifth Doctor Peter Davison, as Baddingham’s daughter Camilla.

The first four episodes of series two are available now on Disney+, with the next two arriving on Thursdays, and the remaining six episodes of the season following later in the year.