Film / News
New Disney+ series begins filming in Bristol
A new series based on the novel by acclaimed author Jilly Cooper has begun filming in Bristol.
Rivals is due to be filmed at Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios, in their newest site which opened in 2022.
The eight-part series has been taken from part of Jilly Cooper’s bestselling series of romantic novels, Rutshire Chronicles, which explores the shocking lives and antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England.
The show will bring Cooper’s characters to life with everything from wit, romantic entanglements and sex to scandal and even death.
David Tennant – who was spotted in Bristol late last year for a one-off Doctor Who episode – will play an ambitious and egotistical Rutshire neighbour, Lord Tony Baddingham, controller of Corinium Television, and Aidan Turner (Poldark) will play TV presenter Declan O’Hara, a fierce intellectual, with an even fiercer temper.
Victoria Smurfit (Bloodlands, Once Upon A Time) plays Maud O’Hara, a former actress and Declan’s bohemian, fickle wife. Bella Maclean (Spring Awakening, Sex Education) plays Declan and Maud’s tender-hearted yet strong-willed elder daughter, Taggie.
Executive producer and Rivals author, Jilly Cooper said: “I’m utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals.
“Featuring some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better ensemble cast. I cannot wait to be on set and see them bring the characters I love so much to life.”
The show has been produced by Happy Prince, as part of ITV Studios.
Main photo: Disney+
Read more:
- Behind the scenes of Doctor Who filming in Bristol
- Bristol’s oldest unsolved murder to be explored in new film
- Bristol’s first black-owned animation studio on diversifying the industry
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
