Television / television
Bristol takes centre stage as Rivals returns for second season
As the much anticipated second season of Rivals hit small screens, Bristol has further cemented its status as a leading filming location sought after by the likes of Disney+.
The Bristol premiere of Rivals on Friday, hosted by The Bottle Yard Studios, was attended by some of the cast members including Katherine Parkinson and Annabel Scholey, alongside West of England mayor Helen Godwin and the creative team from Happy Prince.
Based on the bestselling Rutshire Chronicles by the late Jilly Cooper, the original Hulu production was based at The Bottle Yard Studios in south Bristol, with almost 95 per cent of scenes shot within a 30-mile radius of the studio.
Deborah Armstrong, country manager for The Walt Disney Company UK & Ireland, hailed Bristol and the West of England as an “integral part” of the show’s success.
The Bristol premiere of Rivals was attended by cast members Katherine Parkinson and Annabel Scholey, alongside West of England mayor Helen Godwin – photo: Disney / West of England Mayoral Combined Authority / Freia Turland
She said: “Rivals has captured the attention of the nation whilst showcasing the very best of British and Irish talent across cast, crew and beyond. The West of England, and Bristol in particular, have been integral to the show’s success.
“Disney is proud of the role we play in Bristol’s thriving creative ecosystem. Our presence spans the production of local Originals such as Rivals and National Geographic documentaries, as well as bringing audiences together through live experiences, including our recent sell-out stage show, The Greatest Showman.”
As the much anticipated second season of Rivals hit small screens, Bristol has further cemented its status as a leading filming location sought after by the likes of Disney+ – photo: Disney/Hulu
Bristol’s profile as a filming location has grown significantly in recent years, with major productions including Apple TV’s Down Cemetery Road, starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, alongside Young Sherlock, The Forsytes and Seven Dials, the Netflix series starring Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Freeman.
The recent ITV psychological thriller Gone, starring David Morrisey and Eve Myles was both set and filmed in Bristol.
The Royal Marriott Hotel on College Green provides a backdrop for the opening episode of season two where characters Declan and Maud O’Hara, played by Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit stay – photo: Milan Perera
The second season of Rivals sees the return of the familiar cast members David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Victoria Smurfit, Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson, alongside new cast members including Rupert Everett and Hayley Atwell.
The production also received a royal visit in December when Queen Camilla, who is a fan of the show, visited the set at The Bottle Yard Studios during filming and talked to the cast members.
Bristol Hippodrome includes in the many Bristol locations where Rivals was filmed – photo: Milan Perera
Helen Godwin said: “The West Country is proud to be the real-life Rutshire, somewhere seen by people all around the world — and something which is inspiring more visitors to come to, and fall in love with, our region.
“We should celebrate the immense on-screen and off-screen talent that goes into making programmes like Rivals, and so it was really special to bring together so many of the people who made this production possible.”
Aerospace Bristol, home to the last Concorde ever to fly, appears in both seasons, including the steamy opening sequence of the first series, which set the tone for the franchise – photo: Milan Perera
Alongside The Bottle Yard Studios’ TBY2 facility in Hengrove, Bristol locations featured heavily throughout filming, including Aerospace Bristol, Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel, Bristol Hippodrome, Denmark Street, Corn Street, Bristol Harbour Hotel and Canons Wharf in Bristol Harbourside.
Aerospace Bristol, home to the last Concorde ever to fly, appears in both seasons, including the steamy opening sequence of the first series, which set the tone for the franchise exploring the themes of power dynamics, amorous escapades and Machiavellian manipulations among the residents of the idyllic fictional county of Rutshire.
Bristol is a key filming location for the second season of Rivals, as in the first series – photo: Visit Bristol
Bristol is a key filming location for Rivals, with production taking place at the TBY2 facility of The Bottle Yard Studios and across the West of England with the support of Bristol Film Office.
The Royal Marriott Hotel on College Green provides a backdrop for the opening episode of season two where characters Declan and Maud O’Hara, played by Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit stay.
Bristol Hippodrome Theatre and Denmark Street are not difficult to spot in episodes 1 and 3 of the new series.
Denmark Street features in episode 1 and 3 of the second season of Rivals – photo: Betty Woolerton
The drama, which centres around the rivalry between Rupert Cambell-Black, a former Olympian show jumper – a kind of sunlit Adonis in tennis whites and Lord Tony Baddingham, a ruthless television tycoon, captures Jilly Cooper’s signature effervescent storytelling.
Katherine Nash, head of studios at The Bottle Yard, said: “Rivals is a flagship scripted title for Bristol and the West, and what a pleasure it has been to celebrate this with Disney+ and the show’s brilliant cast and creative team.
Queen Camilla, who is a fan of the show, visited the set at The Bottle Yard Studios during filming and talked to the cast members – photo: Robert Viglasky Photography
“A returning booking of this calibre is what every studio and filming region aspires to secure and is testament to our world-class facilities and the responsive support of our studios team and regional film offices from early prep through to wrap.”
Corn Street is also one of the locations of the series – photo: Martin Booth
According to the figures of Bristol Film Office, the city’s film and television production sector makes an annual contribution of over £20m to Bristol’s economy.
Main photo: Disney/Hulu
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