The second season of Rivals will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on May 15, 2026 with a three-episode launch, the broadcaster has confirmed.
The comedy-drama, which is based on the novel by Jilly Cooper and forms part of her Rutshire Chronicles series, returns for a second run as the competition for the Central South West television franchise between rivals Corinium and Venturer enters what the production describes as “a more phase.”
David Tennant reprises his role as Lord Tony Baddingham, with the character described as resorting to the use of scandal and the exploitation of loyalties as he closes in on his rivals.
The series continues to be set against the backdrop of 1980s Britain, with the new season focusing on relationships under pressure, alliances that shift, and secrets that resurface. “No one emerges untouched,” according to the official synopsis.
Season 2 also introduces Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett to the world of Rutshire, joining the core cast from the first series.
The production has not yet confirmed the full details of the roles the new additions will play, though their casting marks a notable expansion of the ensemble.
Rivals blends drama, romance, and satire and is set within Britain’s television and social elite. The series is an adaptation of Cooper’s novel of the same name, which sits within her long-running Rutshire Chronicles series.
Rivals Season 2 premieres on Disney+ on May 15, 2026.
