Rivals star Katherine Parkinson teases season 2 for fans after major update on production

There are just a couple of months to go before Rivals returns to Disney+ for a second season, and there is plenty in store for fans of the beloved Dame Jilly Cooper adaptation.

Earlier this year, the streamer confirmed when audiences would return to Rutshire, and fans are in for an explosive series ahead as the battle for the Central South West television franchise continues and the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase.

But it's not just the nitty and gritty of television explored in Rivals, with plenty of love stories explored throughout, particularly between Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer) and Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson), the latter of whom provided an exciting update for fans as production wraps on the show.

Asked what fans can expect from season 2, Parkinson was sure to remain tight-lipped on specific plot points, but shared she has concluded filming.

"I've really only just finished filming it a few weeks ago," Parkinson told Radio Times. "And so I'm just doing additional dialogue, recordings and all the rest of it, but it's really exciting what I'm seeing, so I can't wait for everyone to see it."

Asked if fans were in for a treat in season 2, Parkinson responded: "I think they are."

Read more:

• Rivals season 2 first look released as David Tennant and cast return for "jaw-dropping" twists in 2026
• Danny Dyer says Rivals season 2 is “so much better than the first”

There is plenty to look forward to in the forthcoming season, including a raft of new faces joining the cast, including Rupert Everett as Malise Gordon, Helen's new husband, as well as Maxim Ays, Holly Cattle, Oliver Dench, Amanda Lawrence, Bobby Lockwood, Eliot Salt and Jonny Weldon.

As teased by Disney+, Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) "is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power".

The synopsis continues: "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?"

Rivals returns on Friday 15 May. Season 1 is available to stream on Disney+ now. Sign up to Disney+ now for £5.99 per month or £99.90 for a full year.

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