The show adapts Jilly Cooper’s novel set in the ruthless world of independent television. 

With filming commenced, Disney+ have released the casting for their upcoming drama series Rivals. The eight-part show promises “wit, romantic entanglements, sex and unforgettable characters” as it dives into the fictional world of Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles.

The author, dubbed “Queen of the bonkbuster” by the press, is famous for her series of erotic romance novels. Her Rutshire Chronicles are a series of ten novels, with interweaving and recurring characters – a fictional universe set in the same English county.

Rivals take place in the 1980s, amid the shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite. The adaptation has gathered an impressive list of names including David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Katherine Parkinson.

Here’s the premise for Rivals:

The series dives headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986. In the fictional county of Rutshire, a long-standing rivalry between two powerful men is about to boil over. Alex Hassell (The Boys) plays dashing ex-Olympian, Tory Member of Parliament and incorrigible rake, the dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black. David Tennant plays Rupert’s single-mindedly ambitious and egotistical Rutshire neighbour Lord Tony Baddingham, controller of Corinium Television. A long-simmering power struggle between them threatens to boil over when the two men lock horns over the future of Corinium.

Caught in the crossfire is TV presenter Declan O’Hara, played by Aidan Turner (Poldark). Fiercely intellectual, with an even fiercer temper, he is wooed to Corinium TV from the BBC by Baddingham himself, but feels he’s been swindled when Tony refuses to deliver on his promises. Furious with Tony, Declan vows to get his revenge.

Joining Hassell, Tennant and Turner, the cast includes Danny Dyer, Victoria Smurfit, Bella Maclean, Catriona Chandler, Nafessa Williams and Oliver Chris. Also in the show are Lisa McGrillis, Claire Rushbrook, Luke Pasqualino, Emily Atack and Rufus Jones.

Rivals comes from producer Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios. The writing team is led by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade. The lead director is Elliot Hegarty (Ted Lasso), the producer is Eliza Mellor (The Midwich Cuckoos). There are more details on the Disney+ press release.

We’ll keep you posted on Rivals.