{"id":51120,"date":"2024-05-09T18:30:18","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T16:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2038179"},"modified":"2024-05-09T20:03:57","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T18:03:57","slug":"david-tennant-and-aidan-turner-in-thrilling-first-look-at-jilly-coopers-rivals","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/david-tennant-and-aidan-turner-in-thrilling-first-look-at-jilly-coopers-rivals\/","title":{"rendered":"David Tennant and Aidan Turner in thrilling first look at Jilly Cooper\u2019s Rivals"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve finally got our first sneak peek at the star-studded cast of Rivals. <\/p>

By Morgan Cormack\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 09 May 2024 at 16:30 PM<\/p>

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Based on the beloved novel by Jilly Cooper, Rivals<\/a> is certainly set to be quite the series \u2013 and we now have our first look at the much-anticipated Disney Plus<\/a> show.<\/p>\n

The eight-parter is set to bring the drama, as it centres on the ruthless world of independent TV in the \u201980s.<\/p>\n

As well as power hungry dynamics to look forward to, the cast is full of familiar faces, from David Tennant<\/a> to Danny Dyer<\/a> and more.<\/p>\n

Well, now we have been introduced to some of the cast in a slew of first-look images that tease some of the characters we\u2019re set to follow.<\/p>\n

In one of the photos (above), we see Doctor Who<\/a> star Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham, controller of Corinium Television and the \u201csingle-mindedly ambitious and egotistical adversary\u201d to Rupert Campbell-Black (played by The Boys<\/a>\u2018 Alex Hassell), who we can also spy below.<\/p>\n

Now, Tennant fans will know he\u2019s quite the stellar chameleon when it comes to his variety of roles, but in his image, we see the Good Omens<\/a> star in typical countryside wear and sunglasses while confidently holding a rifle with its ammunition slung over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\"Alex\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black in Rivals.<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney Plus<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Talk about a first impression, right? The same can be said for Hassell\u2019s Rupert, who is surrounded by dogs in the middle of what looks to be a country home driveway.<\/p>\n

Described as a \u201cdashing ex-Olympian, Member of Parliament, incorrigible rake, and dangerously charismatic\u201d, you can certainly get a sense of that from Hassell\u2019s stance in the image.<\/p>\n

The series follows the feud between the pair, but caught in the crossfire of their drama is TV presenter and journalist Declan O\u2019Hara, played by Aidan Turner.<\/p>\n

In his first-look image, we see him sat on stage on set of his TV show in front of a live audience.<\/p>\n

Rivals is set in the fictional county of Rutshire, and it\u2019s there that the tense rivalry between two men, Rupert and Lord Tony, starts to come to a head.<\/p>\n

The show follows the world of TV through the lens of Corinium Television, whose future hangs in the balance.<\/p>\n

As the drama between the two feuding men really starts to notch up, those around them are set to be dragged into the fight.<\/p>\n

\"Aidan\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Aidan Turner as Declan O\u2019Hara in Rivals.<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney Plus<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

One of those people will be Turner\u2019s Declan, who will be convinced by Baddingham (Tennant) to leave the BBC for Corinium TV.<\/p>\n

However, he feels as though he\u2019s been duped when Baddingham doesn\u2019t deliver on his promises, and soon Declan is on a revenge mission of his own.<\/p>\n

The rest of the cast also boasts Nafessa Williams\u00a0(Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody)\u00a0as Cameron Cook, a ferociously talented American TV executive who is brought to England by Tony to produce Declan\u2019s new prime-time talk show.<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n