The cast of Rivals is back in action in Corsham, Wiltshire, just a week after the sudden passing of the show’s creator, Dame Jilly Cooper.
Spirits were lifted on set as actors shared laughs and hugs, paying quiet tribute to the beloved author whose work inspired the hit Disney+ series.
Stars Filming and New Faces Join Season Two
Aidan Turner, reprising his role as Declan O’Hara, was spotted filming scenes alongside Alex Hassell, who plays the iconic Rupert Campbell-Black.
The pair were seen joking and embracing, a reminder of the camaraderie that drives the show.
Other familiar faces captured on the high street included Bella Maclean as Taggie, Nafessa Williams portraying Cameron Cook, and Lara Peake in the role of Daysee Butler.
Season two also welcomes One Day star Jonny Weldon, appearing for the first time in an unspecified role.
Rupert Everett, joining the cast as Malise Gordon, Campbell-Black’s former show-jumping coach, reflected fondly on meeting Jilly Cooper when she visited the set shortly before her death.
Rupert Everett Pays Heartfelt Tribute
Speaking to Chris Evans on Virgin Radio, Rupert described Dame Jilly as “humorous, sparkling, and humble.”
“I love Rivals and I loved Jilly Cooper… because you don’t make friends so much when you’re older, but meeting Jilly I thought, ‘God, this woman I’d really like to try and be friends with her.’ She was amazing and so full of life.”
He recalled attending a lively gathering at Jilly’s home in August for the cast and crew, highlighting her playful and open outlook on life.
“What was so interesting about her view of life compared to ours now is that sex just wasn’t a problem for her.
In all its manifestations it intrigued her, and she enjoyed it.
Reading stories about her adventures, like snogging Sean Connery while her husband was upstairs, you realise this Rutshire world was a lot freer.”
Remembering the Queen of the Bonkbuster
Dame Jilly, who passed away on October 5 at the age of 88 following a fall at her Gloucestershire home, sold more than 12 million books during her career.
Known as the “Queen of the bonkbuster,” she captivated readers with her raunchy romances in The Rutshire Chronicles.
Her first Rutshire novel, Riders, published in 1985 at age 48 after a series of career setbacks, became a cultural phenomenon and earned a spot on the BBC’s list of 100 important English-language novels in the love, sex, and romance category alongside classics like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Rivals, the second book in the series, now inspires the Disney+ adaptation.
Rivals Season Two Promises More Drama
The first series, consisting of eight episodes, became a massive hit on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu in the US, ending with a shocking cliffhanger when David Tennant’s character, Lord Tony Baddingham, was left for dead.
Fans were thrilled when Disney+ confirmed season two would feature 12 episodes, adding four more installments than the first run.
David Tennant is set to reprise his role, promising viewers more intrigue, scandal, and high-stakes drama in the worlds of polo, romance, and betrayal that Jilly Cooper famously chronicled.