Rivals author reveals changes in steamy adaptation

Speaking to BBC News, Cooper describes the new series as an “absolutely wonderful” adaptation.

She said: “Did I have any say? Not much,” but admits she suggested some changes to some of the show’s early scenes. “I sometimes said, ‘No, I don’t think they should jump on each other this early in the story,’ and things like that,” she said.

As for what was changed from the novel, Cooper says the first scene in the series is actually a “mile-high” sex scene that “wasn’t in the book,” but it admits that the series contains a lot of sex.

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She said: “It’s fun. It’s quite naughty too. There’s a lot of sex. In one episode, all the cast members are coupled up and fornicating for the next 20 minutes and all that.”

As in the novel, the focus is largely on the fictional character Rupert Campbell-Black, who will be played by Alex Hassell (His Dark Materials) in the series.

He will star alongside former Doctor Who star David Tennant as TV executive Tony Baddingham and Aidan Turner (Poldark) as TV presenter Declan O’Hara.

The trailer for the series was released last week and teases plenty of scandals, rivalries, and double-crosses to come, as well as, of course, plenty of racy scenes with an all-star cast.

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According to the series’ official synopsis, it’s “full of romantic entanglements, dastardly deals, sex and wit.”

He continues: “Against a backdrop of drama, excess and the shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England, Rivals plunges headfirst into the cutthroat world of independent television in 1986.”

Series star David Tennant also recently revealed what’s going to happen in all eight parts, saying “it’s pretty racy” on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.

The rest of the show’s cast includes many familiar faces, including Bella Maclean, Danny Dyer (EastEnders), Katherine Parkinson (Humans), Nafessa Williams (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody), Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners), Lisa . McGrillis (Maternal), Luke Pasqualino (Skins), Claire Rushbrook (Sherwood) and Victoria Smurfit (Once Upon A Time).

Rivals will be released on Disney Plus on October 18, 2024. Sign up to Disney Plus now for £4.99 per month or £79.90 for a full year.

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