Disney+ Rivals begins filming expanded 12-episode second season

Filming for the highly anticipated second season of Disney+'s comedy drama Rivals is set to begin later this month, with the season extended to twelve episodes. Based on Dame Jilly Cooper's best-selling novel and set in the 1980s Cotswolds countryside, the show explores the high-stakes world of British television through a mix of wit, desire, and dramatic twists. The new season will see the return of key cast members including David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer, Victoria Smurfit, and others, alongside new faces. Notably, Tennant's character, previously believed dead, will return to continue his scheming. The first season was Disney+'s most successful general entertainment premiere in the UK and won several awards, including RTS Television Awards and BAFTA nominations. Executive producer and author Dame Jilly Cooper expressed her enthusiasm for the new season, highlighting the excitement to continue telling the stories of her beloved characters.