Fresh off winning the prestigious International Emmy Award for Best Drama, the cast and crew of Rivals are back on set, enduring a freezing November evening in the Cotswolds to film its highly anticipated second season. Based on Jilly Cooper’s iconic "bonkbuster" novel, the series took the television world by storm in its debut season. Filming for the continuation is currently underway at Chavenage House near Tetbury, Gloucestershire—an Elizabethan manor house that provides the perfect, atmospheric backdrop for a dramatic bonfire scene. According to the stars, season two promises to be "bigger, bolder, and bonkier."
Actor Danny Dyer, who portrays the wealthy yet deeply working-class Freddie Jones, shared his humorous survival tactics for the freezing night shoots, noting that double heat pads in his boots and Long Johns are absolutely essential. Reflecting on his character`s unexpected transformation into a national sex symbol, Dyer credited Freddie`s innate kindness amidst a sea of morally ambiguous characters. "While he is really powerful and really rich, he’s still very much working class in essence. He tries to do the right thing," Dyer remarked. However, the actor lamented having to maintain his character`s prominent moustache for the ten-month shoot, jokingly adding, "My grandchildren only know me as a moustached man, and that depresses me slightly."
Here is the thing that makes the location unique: Chavenage House holds a special significance for co-star Aidan Turner, who plays TV presenter Declan O`Hara. The historic manor previously served as the primary location for his breakout hit Poldark. Turner laughed about the coincidence, noting that the production team dressed the set so differently that he barely recognized his old stomping grounds. He did, however, admit to requesting the removal of a "Poldark shrine"—a giant photo of his face—from the women’s restroom, though a humorous sign in the men`s room stating "Poldark peed here" was allowed to remain.
Sitting in a meticulously recreated 1980s television executive office surrounded by vintage Filofaxes, fax machines, and VHS recorders, David Tennant opened up about his role as the devious Lord Tony Baddingham. Tennant, who plays the moral vacuum at the center of the series, expressed immense excitement over his character`s trajectory in the upcoming season. "I thought he was quite badly behaved in series one, but I do terrible things in series two. I mean really despicable," Tennant teased with a flourish. He cryptically hinted that his scene for the night involved "doing something slightly nefarious in some bushes outside," a phrase that, in the world of Rivals, could imply practically anything.
What this really means for fans is that the stakes are higher and the drama will be even more intense. Outside the manor, massive bonfires are lit and cherry pickers provide moody, dramatic lighting as hundreds of extra actors gather to create an authentic 1980s party vibe. With the momentum of an Emmy win and a cast thoroughly enjoying their dubious and delicious roles, Rivals Season 2 is shaping up to deliver exactly the high-stakes, juicy scenarios that viewers fell in love with.
