It’s Official: Rivals Season 2 Is On The Way

2 weeks ago

Everything we know so far

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It’s being called the ‘bonkbuster’ of the year – and we certainly haven’t seen anything like Rivals for a long while. Zippy, gripping, sexy and brimming with fun, it brings Dame Jilly Cooper’s best-selling 1988 novel – and her entire universe (aka the Jillyverse) – to the screen for the first time, and it’s practically overflowing with British stars. Season 1’s 10 episodes landed on Disney+ in October to immediate acclaim – but will there be a Rivals season 2? And when can we expect to see it?

David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham in Rivals. (Courtesy of Robert Viglasky/Disney)

Will There Be A Rivals Season 2?

Yes, Disney has officially confirmed a second season of Rivals is on the way after the stonking success of season 1. ‘Nearly 40 years after my novel Rivals was published, I’ve adored seeing the world fall in love with my beloved characters – Rutshire’s Finest,’ Dame Jilly Cooper says. ‘And it has been a fairytale come true working with Happy Prince and Disney+ on the first season. I’m orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!’

‘It’s been phenomenal seeing the reaction to Dame Jilly Cooper’s Rivals – this autumn’s most talked about series,’ adds Disney+’s executive director of scripted originals Lee Mason. ‘We’re thrilled that existing fans of the novels, alongside those new to the Cooperverse, have taken the series to their hearts. I can’t wait to get back to Rutshire and see what exciting drama the Happy Prince team have in store for season two – bring on more romance, betrayal, and shoulder pads!’

Rivals launched in October 2024, and was met with immediate acclaim from the media. There are no stats from Disney on exactly how many people tuned in, but this season 2 renewal is testament to the series’ success. Could Rivals be Disney’s answer to Netflix’s Bridgerton, attracting a whole new audience to the platform? We think so.

What Will Happen?

Well, there are lots of loose ends to tie up after all of those cliffhangers. And, best of all, Rivals season 1 ends part way through Cooper’s 1988 novel – meaning a reprise is almost promised. After the action of Rivals is all tied up, the series could expand to cover the events of other novels in the Jillyverse: the Rutshire Chronicles is made up of 11 books all set in Jilly’s fictional Cotswolds county and involving Rupert Campbell Black, and Rivals is only the second.

After Rivals comes Polo!, which focusses on the relationship between polo player Ricky France-Lynch and Perdita MacLeod, who is desperate to become a top performing polo player. After wrapping up the events of Rivals, we might lean into the action of Polo!. Or perhaps we will flash back to Riders, Cooper’s first Rutshire novel which centres on horseman Jake Lovell seeking revenge for years of bullying at the hands of Rupert Campbell-Black.