Rivals cast in full: Where you’ve seen stars of Jilly Cooper series before from Poldark to Doctor Who
by Katie Palmer · Manchester Evening NewsRivals is on Disney Plus and the show centres around the ruthless world of independent TV in the 1980s. A stellar cast consists of Danny Dyer, David Tennant, Emily Atack and Aidan Turner.
The official synopsis reads: "It is 1986 and Britain is booming. Rivals dives headfirst into the cutthroat world of TV where hair-dos are big and ambitions are even bigger.
"Deals are brokered in boardrooms, as well as bedrooms. Nobody can be sure who will come out on top.
"With every man and woman out only for themselves, can true love really blossom in this highly anticipated adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s bestselling Rutshire Chronicles novel?"
Here is all you need to know about who is in the cast and where you have seen them before.
Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black
Alex Hassell is a 44-year-old actor from Southend in Essex, and is the co-founder of The Factory Theatre Company.
His first television appearance was in 2001, in an episode of Queen of Swords.
He went on to star in big shows like The Boys, Cowboy Bebop and His Dark Materials.
David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham
David Tennant is a 53-year-old actor from Bathgate in Scotland, who is best known for playing the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who.
His other notable credits include Broadchurch, Jessica Jones, Good Omens and Staged.
He is married to actress Georgia Tennant and he has five children.
(Image: PA)
Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara
Aidan Turner is a 41-year-old Irish actor who is best known for playing the title character in Poldark.
He may also be recognised for his roles as Kili in The Hobbit and for his role in Being Human.
The star is married to actress Caitlin FitzGerald and they have one child together.
Victoria Smurfit as Maud O'Hara
Victoria Smurfit is a 50-year-old Irish actress who is part of the Smurfit family which, through Smurfit Kappa, is one of the richest in Ireland.
She is known for her roles in Ballykissangel, Trial & Retribution and Once Upon a Time.
The actress was married to Douglas Baxter but the pair divorced in 2015. She is a mother of three.
Bella Maclean as Taggie O'Hara
Bella Maclean is an up-and-coming actress who fans may recognise from the latest season of Sex Education.
She played Jem, Adam Groff's (Connor Swindells) love interest.
The star also appeared in a couple of episodes of Silent Witness.
Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O'Hara
Catriona Chandler is best known for her role as Agatha Gowerdale in Enola Holmes 2.
She also stars in the new Channel 5 series, The Wives, as Sky Morgan.
Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
Nafessa Williams is an American actress best known for playing Nicole Gordon in Streets.
She may also be recognised for One Life to Live, Code Black and Black Lightning.
Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker
Katherine Parkinson is an English comedian and actress known for her role as Jen Barber in The IT Crowd.
She is also known for her roles in Doc Martin, Humans and Here We Go.
She is married to actor Harry Peacock and has two children.
Oliver Chris as James Vereker
Oliver Chris is a 45-year-old English actor who is known for his comedy roles in The Office, The IT Crowd and Green Wing.
Until 2012, he was engaged to actress Rachael Stirling.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Dis)
Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
Danny Dyer is a 47-year-old English actor best known for his role as Mick Carter in EastEnders.
He may also be recognised for Human Traffic, Mean Machine, The Football Factory and he now presents the game show The Wall.
He is married to Joanne Mas and has three children.
Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones
Lisa McGrillis is a 42-year-old British actress who played DS Rachel Coles in Inspector George Gently.
Her other credits include No Offence and Deadwater Fell. She also played Joanna Franklin in Sex Education.
Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham
Claire Rushbrook is a 53-year-old English actress best known for playing Roxanne in the film Secrets & Lies.
She also starred as Linda Earl-Bouchtat in My Mad Fat Diary. Her latest TV role was in A Very Royal Scandal as Sarah, Duchess of York.
Luke Pasqualino as Basil 'Bas' Baddingham
Luke Pasqualino is a 34-year-old British actor known for his roles in Skins and The Musketeers.
Viewers may also recognise him from Our Girl, in which he played Elvis Harte.
Louis Landau as Archie Baddingham
Louis Landau is fairly new to the acting scene, having previously starred in The Serpent Queen and Concordia.
(Image: PA)
Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton
Emily Atack is a 34-year-old actress and comedian known for her roles in The Inbetweeners and for working with comedian Keith Lemon.
Since 2020, she has starred in her own comedy series The Emily Atack Show.
She has a son who was born earlier this year.
Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton
Rufus Jones is an English actor known for his roles in Hunderby, Camping and Home.
Lara Peake as Daysee Butler
Lara Peake is a 26-year-old English actress who has starred in Born to Kill and Mood.
Her film credits include How to Have Sex.
Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson
Annabel Scholey is an English actress known for her roles in Being Human and The Sixth Commandment.
She was married to actor and author Ciarán McMenamin until 2023 and has one child.
Maggie Steed as Lady Gosling
Maggie Steed is a 77-year-old English actress and comedian. She starred as Maggie in the films Fisherman's Friends and Fisherman's Friends: One and All.
Her other credits include Babylon, Stardom and Paddington 2.
David Calder as Fergus Penney
David Calder is a 78-year-old English actor best known for his roles in Widows, Star Cops and Nice Work.
He also played Captain Edward Smith in the ITV mini-series Titanic.
Hubert Burton as Gerald Middleton
Hubert Burton is a 33-year-old actor best known for his roles as Rusbridger in Living, Wyndham Best in Their Finest and his role in the premiere production of the play The Inheritance.
Luke S Roberts as Unnamed Character
Nothing is known about Luke S Roberts at this moment in time.
(Image: PA)
Guy Siner as Bishop Brenton
Guy Siner is a 76-year-old English-American actor best known for his role as Lieutenant Hubert Gruber in 'Allo 'Allo!.
He also played Dr. Mittenhand in Leprechaun 4: In Space.
Brendan Patricks as Henry Hampshire
Brendan Patricks is a 43-year-old English actor and magician known for playing Evelyn Napier in Downton Abbey.
His other notable credits include Entitled, Traitors, In the Club and Outlander.
Rich Keeble as Brian Hetherington
Rich Keeble is a British actor and voiceover artist who has worked with co-star Emily Atack before on her self-titled show.
He is also known for his roles in Good Omens, Ghosts, Ted Lasso and Birds of a Feather.
Rivals is available to watch on Disney+ and Hulu