Rivals is set for another saucy season of romps, with Disney+ revealing that season two of the Jilly Cooper-inspired story will premiere on the streaming platform from Friday 15 May 2026.
Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds are once again set to play a starring role in the glamorous world of Rutshire – with Gloucestershire film locations to look out for including Berkeley Castle and Beaufort Polo Club which are set to both feature prominently in season two, while Tetbury has once again been transformed into the fictional town of Cotchester.
The award-winning adaptation returns with a three-episode premiere, followed by weekly episode releases – with 12 episodes in total for fans to look forward to.
Set in the Cotswolds — or the newly coined 'Hotswolds' — the story of Rivals follows the excess and antics of the 'power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England.'
It is once again set to star David Tennant, Danny Dyer, Alex Hassle, Bella Maclean, Emily Atack and Aiden Turner, and with the first series climaxing with a cliffhanger, fans will be excited to know there are answers coming in the next season.
The first season of Rivals was incredibly well-received by viewers, with searches skyrocketing by 60 per cent for romantic Cotswolds staycations thanks to the programmes release.
At the time season two was confirmed, Jilly, an executive producer on Rivals, commented: 'Nearly 40 years after my novel Rivals was published, I’ve adored seeing the world fall in love with my beloved characters — Rutshire’s Finest.
'It has been a fairytale come true working with [producers] Happy Prince and Disney+ on the first season. I’m orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!' Jilly Cooper sadly passed away in October 2025.
The official premiere event celebrating Rivals second season took place at BFI IMAX Waterloo in London on 13 May 2026 and was attended by cast members and Gloucestershire's own fashion designer Jade Holland Cooper.
Rivals season two will be available to stream on Disney+ from Friday 15 May 2026, with the first season also available to stream now.
