Disney+ hosted a Special Screening for their upcoming Jilly Cooper adaptation RIVALS, which will premiere on 18th October exclusively on Disney+ in the UK. The original eight-part blockbuster is based on the iconic novel by Dame Jilly Cooper – part of her Rutshire Chronicles series, which is packed full of romantic entanglements, dastardly deals, sex and wit. Set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England, “Rivals” delves headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986.
The cast of the upcoming bonkbuster were out in force at the screening event including David Tennant (‘Doctor Who’, ‘The Thursday Murder Club’), Aidan Turner (‘Poldark’, ‘The Suspect’), Emily Atack (‘The Emily Atack Show, ‘The Inbetweeners’), Danny Dyer (‘EastEnders, The Football Factory’), Alex Hassell (‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’, ‘The Boys’), Bella MacLean (‘Spring Awakening’, ‘Sex Education’), Nafessa Williams (‘Black Lighting’, ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody’), Katherine Parkinson (‘Humans’, ‘Here We Go’), Victoria Smurfit (‘Bloodlands’, ‘Once Upon A Time’), and Claire Rushbrook (‘Sherwood’, ‘Ali & Ava’). Dame Jilly Cooper herself, who acts as an executive producer on the series, was also in attendance, alongside EP’s Dominic Treadwell-Collins (‘A Very English Scandal’, ‘Holding’, ‘EastEnders’), Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade (‘The Riot Club’), Felicity Blunt, and series directors BAFTA-nominated Elliot Hegarty (‘Ted Lasso, Cheaters’, ‘Trying’), and Dee Koppang-O’Leary (‘The Crown’).
VIP guests at tonight’s event included actor Stanley Tucci, presenter Dermot O’Leary, and sports presenter Gaby Roslin. The screening featured the first episode of the upcoming series followed by an on-stage Q&A hosted by Sue Perkins, featuring Alex Hassell, David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Nafessa Williams, Katherine Parkinson, Bella McLean and Rivals Executive Producer and writer of episode one, Dominic Treadwell Collins, as well as an appearance from Dame Jilly Cooper.
“Rivals” is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins (‘A Very English Scandal’, ‘Holding’, ‘EastEnders’), Alexander Lamb (‘Ackley Bridge’, ‘The Bay’, ‘We Hunt Together’), Felicity Blunt, Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade (‘The Riot Club’), “Rivals” author Dame Jilly Cooper and Director of Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA Lee Mason. “Rivals” is produced by Happy Prince, which is part of ITV Studios.
The series is written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade alongside the series episodic writers room which includes: Sophie Goodhart (‘The Baby’, ‘Sex Education’), Marek Horn (‘Wild Swimming’, ‘Octopolis’), Mimi Hare & Clare Naylor (‘The Accidental Husband’), Dare Aiyegbayo (‘The Dumping Ground,’ ‘EastEnders’), Kefi Chadwick (‘Looted’, ‘Avoidance’). Tray Agyeman is a shadow writer on episode 6, and Sorcha Kurien Walsh (‘The Pink Pill’) is staff writer in the room. The Casting Director is Kelly Valentine Hendry (‘Bridgerton’, ‘The Last Kingdom’, ‘Kaos’). The lead director is BAFTA-nominated Elliot Hegarty (‘Ted Lasso, Cheaters’, ‘Trying’), who also serves as executive producer on episodes 1-4. Eliza Mellor (‘The Midwich Cuckoos’, ‘Behind Her Eyes’, ‘Poldark’) serves as Series Producer. Dee Koppang O’Leary (“The Crown”) and Alexandra Brodski (“Somewhere Boy”) also direct episodes.
Disney+ is available from £4.99 per month – with no hidden costs and the ability to cancel anytime. something for everyone to watch, adding new TV series, blockbuster movies and exclusive Originals throughout the year under its six brands: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Star. With a library of entertainment spanning everything from documentaries to critically acclaimed drama, and comedy to classic animation. Customers can enjoy anything from, every season of “Desperate Housewives”, to FX’s “Shōgun” or “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld”.
