Good news Rivals fans, our favorite titillating english drama is returning for a season two.
The seriously saucy series is based on the 1988 novel by Dame Jilly Cooper and is set during the same era in upper-middle class England. All the prim and proper tropes of English countryside life—polo, hunting, tea parties—are balanced by indulgent, sexy and downright depraved ongoings behind closed doors.
Series one set the scene with the O’Hara family moving to the countryside town of Rutshire for Declan’s new job hosting a TV talk-show. With issues of their own, they find themselves quickly swept up in the scandalous social scene of the town, which is often linked to politician and womanizer, Rupert Campbell-Black.
Outside of rivalries between Declan, his boss Tony and Rupert, it was the tension between the local Casanova and Declan’s daughter, Taggie, that had us constantly coming back for more.
The cliffhanger(s) of the season finally saw Rupert and Taggie give in to the unsurmountable sexual desire bubbling between them, Ventura get their battle against Corinium and Tony bleeding out on his office floor after an altercation with Cameron. So, what’s next?
When Do New Episodes Of Rivals Season Two Come Out?
If you’ve been counting down the minutes until Rivals season two arrives, the wait is over. The hotly anticipated next chapter of the steamy drama is landed on Disney+ in Australia on Friday May 15th, with the first three episodes being released in one drop. Moving forward, new episode of season two are expected to be released every Friday at 6pm AEST.
As always with global streaming releases, the exact launch time varies slightly depending on your state or territory, meaning some Australians will be able to tune in earlier in the evening while others may have to avoid spoilers just a little longer.
| State/Territory | Release Time |
|---|---|
| New South Wales (AEST) | 6:00pm |
| Victoria (AEST) | 6:00pm |
| Queensland (AEST) | 6:00pm |
| Australian Capital Territory (AEST) | 6:00pm |
| Tasmania (AEST) | 6:00pm |
| South Australia (ACST) | 5:30pm |
| Northern Territory (ACST) | 5:30pm |
| Western Australia (AWST) | 4:00pm |
In the meantime you can rewatch season one in all it’s “bonkbuster” glory on Disney+.
What Will Happen In Season Two of Rivals?
While we don’t have details on the plot for season two, we do have a book to go by, of sorts.
We won’t give away any spoilers yet, but there’s more to come for all our characters, particularly Rupert and Taggie.
For the uninitiated to the world of literary icon, Jilly Cooper, Rivals is actually the second novel in her series, The Rutshire Chronicles.
The third book (of 11), Polo, follows the elite set of sportspeople. Each book is linked by a few key characters, mainly Rupert, so there’s no shortage of material to work with.
Is Rivals Based On A True Story?
While Rivals nor The Rutshire Chronicles are based on a true story, author Jilly Cooper has revealed the book series are inspired by life expereince and events.
Rupert Campbell-Black in particular, is said to be inspired by a number of public figures from the 1980s including Queen Camilla’s ex-husband Andrew Parker-Bowles, the 11th Duke of Beaufort David Somerset and the late 21st Earl of Suffolk ‘Mickey’ Suffolk.
Fashion designer Rupert Lycett-Green was also an inspiration for the leading man, however Cooper has clarified all of these men inspired Rupert’s best parts thanks to their “charm and glamour”rather than his “naughty” side.
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