Actor David Tennant tells Aidan Turner to “come to the Cotswolds” in a new trailer for Disney+ show Rivals.
The new clip sees Doctor Who star Tennant in the role of Lord Tony Baddingham and Turner playing Declan O’Hara and goes on to show the series’ characters having naked tennis matches, firing shotguns and pushing each other into a swimming pool.
Published in 1988, Rivals is part of Dame Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles series and has now been adapted into an eight-part series of the same name.
Set against the backdrop of the drama and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England, the story delves into the cutthroat world of independent British television in 1986.
It also follows tension between Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Lord Tony, two of fictional Rutshire county’s most powerful men, as it is on the cusp of boiling over.
As the rivalry intensifies, secrets, alliances and snatched liaisons see wives, lovers, colleagues, friends and families drawn into their battle.
Throughout the trailer, Rupert is seen attempting to romance Taggie O’Hara (Bella MacLean) as he says: “There’s something different about Taggie, I appear to be a little stuck.”
At the end of the trailer, Tennant’s character declares: “Game on.”
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The series will also star EastEnders’ Danny Dyer, Humans actor Katherine Parkinson, Streets star Nafessa Williams, The Inbetweeners’ Emily Atack, and Bloodlands actor Victoria Smurfit.
It will also feature Skins actor Luke Pasqualino, Maternal actor Lisa McGrillis and Pistol star Catriona Chandler.
Rivals is mainly directed by Bafta-nominated Elliot Hegarty, while Dee Koppang O’Leary and Alexandra Brodski also direct some episodes, author Dame Jilly is an executive producer on the series.
All episodes of Rivals will launch on October 18 in the UK on Disney+.
