Rivals Trailer Features Drama and Excess with David Tennant, Aidan Turner, and More

Dame Jilly Cooper’s novel, part of her Rutshire Chronicles, comes to life in the trailer for Hulu’s limited series Rivals.

The original eight-part series is set in 1980s England and features tons of drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing elite. Rivals premieres on Friday, October 18, on Hulu.

The new trailer shows David Tennant’s Lord Tony Baddingham inviting Aidan Turner’s Declan O’Hara and his family to the Cotswolds. According to the series logline, what they experience when they arrive “is packed full of romantic entanglements, dastardly deals, sex, and wit. ” 

They also learn about Tony’s titular rivalry with Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell), whom Tony describes as “an arrogant brat.” Hulu’s official description is that Rupert is “the dashing ex-Olympian, Member of Parliament, and dangerously charismatic.” 

The latter characteristic comes into play when Rupert expresses interest in Declan’s daughter, Taggie O’Hara (Bella Maclean). The Rivals trailer also teases Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook and Katherin Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker. 

The series also stars Emily Atack, Catriona Chandler, Oliver Chris, Danny Dyer, Rufus Jones, Lisa McGrillis, Luke Pasqualino, Claire Rushbrook, and Victoria Smurfit. 

Rivals is written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade, alongside the series’ episodic writers room, including Sophie Goodhart, Mark Horn, Mimi Hare & Clare Naylor, Dare Aiyegbayo, and Kefi Chadwick.

Tray Agyeman is a shadow writer on Rivals Season 1 Episode 6, and Sorcha Kurien Walsh is a staff writer. 

Lead director Elliot Hegarty is also an executive producer on the first four episodes. Dee Koppang O’Leary and Alexandra Brodski also direct episodes of Rivals.

The series is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade, Dame Jilly Cooper, and Director of Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA Lee Mason. Eliza Mellor is the Series Producer.

Rivals is produced by Happy Prince, which is part of ITV Studios. Kelly Valentine Hendry is the show’s Casting Director.

Watch the Rivals trailer:

—

Rivals premieres on Friday, October 18, on Hulu.

Follow us on X and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!