It’s nearly time to return to the Cotswolds and dive into the delicious drama and romance of Dame Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles. That’s right; Rivals Season 2 is set to premiere later this year. After debuting in October 2024, the series received a Season 2 renewal by December that same year. Executive producer and author Dame Jilly, who sadly passed away last October, shared a statement at the time of the show’s renewal:
“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. 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!”
That debut season ended on quite the cliffhanger: Lord Tony Baddingham’s fate remained a question as Venturer won the franchise bid against Baddingham’s Corinium. Plus, Rupert Campbell-Black and Taggie O’Hara shared their first kiss, despite not being able to be together for many reasons – one of which was the franchise. A lot was happening in the Cotswolds last time Rivals was on TV. To catch up, we’ve gathered everything about Rivals Season 2 here.
What Is Rivals Season 2 About?
By May 2025, Disney+ announced that Rivals had begun production on its sophomore season. The first photos from the season dropped in December, along with a behind-the-scenes video that confirmed that cameras were still rolling. Executive producers for Happy Prince, Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alexander Lamb, shared the following statement:
“We are so excited to be returning to Rutshire for an extended stay of twelve episodes for season two of Rivals. It’s very special to have the same team return in front of and behind the cameras, and we cannot wait to share more of Jilly’s world with our audience.”
The streamer also shared a lengthy yet vague description:
The battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches a fever pitch as the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase. More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power.
Amidst the hedonistic glamour of 80s excess, the personal lives of our Rutshire heroes spiral into chaos. Marriages fracture under the weight of ambition, illicit affairs threaten to shatter families, and long-buried secrets ignite with explosive consequences. As rivalries push everyone to the brink, loyalties are tested and hearts are broken in the pursuit of victory. But what is the true cost of war?
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Who Is Starring in the New Season?
Get ready for a long list of familiar names because so many cast members are returning for Rivals Season 2. Reprising their roles are David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham, Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara, Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook, Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara, Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara, Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham, Oliver Chris as James Vereker, Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones, Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton, Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton, Luca Pasqualino as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O’Har, Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson, Gary Lamont as Charles Fairburn, Hubert Burton as Gerald Middleton, Gabriel Tierney as Patrick O’Hara, Lara Peake as Daysee Butler, and Bryony Hannah as Dierdre Kilpatrick.
They will be joined by new guest stars, Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett, as announced in August 2025. You can find out more about who they’re playing here. Maxim Ays, Holly Cattle, Oliver Dench, Amanda Lawrence, Bobby Lockwood, Eliot Salt, and Jonny Weldon are also joining the ensemble for Rivals Season 2.
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When Does Rivals’ Second Season Premiere?
Rivals Season 2 has a premiere date, but this is where things get a bit more confusing. This season is up from the first season’s eight-episode run. The twelve-episode season will unfold in two six-episode batches. Per Disney+, the first will premiere on Friday, May 15, on Disney+ and Hulu – but with only three episodes. It’s unclear if the other three episodes will unfold in weekly releases or be released in bulk on another date. Regardless, the second batch of six episodes is expected premiere later in the year on Disney+ and Hulu.
We will update this section as more information is released.
Is There a Rivals Season 2 Trailer?
As of February 2026, there is a teaser trailer for Rivals Season 2 that reintroduces audiences to the world of the Rutshire Chronicles. Hopefully, this teaser means there is a longer trailer in the works before the show returns in May. If not, there’s certainly plenty to appreciate in this near-minute of brand-new Rivals footage, set to Billy Idol’s “Mony Mony.”
Sarah Stratton sets the stage by opening with, “Welcome to the naughtiest show on television.” Of course, she’s talking about her new show, Uncensored, but it works for Rivals, too. Then, Tony takes over by saying, “Sorry, I’m late, darling. I’ve had a terrible headache.” Given that Season 1 ends with Cameron hitting Tony over the head with one of his cherished and very heavy awards in self-defensedefense, we’d say so! There’s also a shot of Taggie (and her sister, Caitlin) admiring Bas as he emerges from a pool. There’s a glimpse of Hayley Atwell’s turn as Helen.
The teaser features a tease of what’s next for Rupert and Taggie – the pining looks we’re about to get! There’s also champagne, dogs, sex, and a whole lot of complicated characters – the perfect representation of Dame Jilly’s Rutshire Chronicles. Declan O’Hara fittingly wraps up the trailer with, “It’s noisy. It’s entertaining. In the most delightful way.” Oh, it’s so, so good to be back!
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