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David Tennant and Aidan Turner’s new drama Rivals is set to arrive on Disney+ in October, and the streaming service has unveiled a first look at the period series
David Tennant and Aidan Turner are set to feature in a scandalous new drama landing on Disney+ later this year. The drama, based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s bestselling novel, Rivals, is officially set to grace our screens on Friday, October 18.
The exciting update was announced at the Edinburgh TV Festival today (August 21). Set in the backdrop of the ruthless and wild TV industry of the 1980s, two influential families are poised to clash in this unmissable new drama.
Alongside the release date announcement, Disney+ has also given us a closer look at Doctor Who star David and Poldark icon Aidan’s characters Tony Baddingham and Declan O’Hara. Also featuring in the main cast is Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, a former Olympian and Tory Minister of Sport who has a long-standing feud with David’s character Tony, the Managing Director of Corinium Television.
A host of British talent completes Rivals’ impressive line-up, including EastEnders ‘ Danny Dyer, Emily Atack, Katherine Parkinson and Nafessa Williams. Finally, Bella Maclean, Catriona Chandler, Oliver Chris, Rufus Jones, Lisa McGrillis, Luke Pasqualino, Claire Rushbrook and Victoria Smurfit also star, reports the Express.
An official synopsis reads: “The story is set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England.
“In the fictional county of Rutshire, a long-standing rivalry between two powerful men is about to boil over. Alex Hassell plays dashing ex-Olympian, Tory Member of Parliament and incorrigible rake, the dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black.
“David Tennant plays Rupert’s single-mindedly ambitious and egotistical Rutshire neighbour Lord Tony Baddingham, controller of Corinium Television.
“A long-simmering power struggle between them threatens to boil over when the two men lock horns over the future of Corinium.”
Author and executive producer Dame Jilly previously commented: “I’m utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals.
“Featuring some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better ensemble cast.
