Rivals Season 2 trailer teases a scandalous November return on Disney+ – The residents of Rutshire are heading back to Disney+ for another round of romance, rivalry and ruthless ambition. A new trailer previews the final six episodes of Rivals Season 2 ahead of a three-episode return on Wednesday, November 11.
The series returns to the excess of 1987 after its emotional mid-season finale. Tony Baddingham and Declan O’Hara remain locked in a battle for the Cotswolds television crown. Meanwhile, Rupert Campbell-Black must confront personal demons that could reshape his future with Taggie O’Hara.
For Australian viewers, the split-season release turns November 11 into a major Disney+ drama event. Three episodes will arrive together, while the first season and the opening six episodes of Season 2 are already available to stream.
Rivals Season 2 returns with three episodes
Episodes seven to 12 begin in the aftermath of the mid-season finale. As a result, old loyalties will be tested almost immediately. Tony and Declan’s franchise war reaches fever pitch, while Rupert faces the consequences of choices he can no longer avoid.
The new chapters unfold across hedonistic parties, Bonfire Night chaos, the Hampshire Hunt Ball and a turbulent Christmas. Affairs unravel, alliances fracture and secrets become harder to contain. At the centre of it all, Taggie must decide whether she has the courage to follow her heart.
The trailer also makes clear that the struggle for power will affect the wider Rutshire circle. Ambition drives several characters towards betrayal, while heartbreak and tragedy threaten the relationships that survived the first half of the season.
David Tennant, Alex Hassell and Aidan Turner return
David Tennant returns as Lord Tony Baddingham, with Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black and Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara. Nafessa Williams also returns as Cameron Cook, while Bella Maclean reprises her role as Taggie O’Hara.
The returning ensemble includes Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones and Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara. Claire Rushbrook plays Lady Monica Baddingham, Oliver Chris is James Vereker and Lisa McGrillis returns as Valerie Jones.
Emily Atack is back as Sarah Stratton, alongside Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton and Luca Pasqualino as Basil “Bas” Baddingham. Catriona Chandler returns as Caitlin O’Hara, with Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson and Gary Lamont as Charles Fairburn.
Hubert Burton again plays Gerald Middleton, Gabriel Tierney is Patrick O’Hara and Lara Peake returns as Daysee Butler. Bryony Hannah also reprises her role as Deirdre Kilpatrick.
New arrivals raise the stakes in Rutshire
Several new characters will enter the story during the November run. Rachael Stirling joins as Araminta Pemberton, the vampish younger sister of Lady Monica Baddingham. Rupert Evans plays erudite headmaster David Hawkley, while Santiago Cabrera appears as Argentinian polo legend Alejandro Mendoza.
Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett will also return as guest stars Helen Gordon and Malise Gordon. Their reappearance adds another layer to a season already crowded with romantic complications and competing interests.
Disney+ has already confirmed that Rivals will continue beyond this season. A third season has been greenlit with 12 new episodes, giving the Rutshire saga room to expand after the current franchise battle reaches its conclusion.
Power, romance and the franchise war collide
The battle between Tony and Declan remains the season’s central professional conflict. Both men want control of the Cotswolds media landscape, yet their decisions keep pulling friends and family into the dispute. The trailer suggests that their rivalry will become more personal as the franchise contest intensifies.
Rupert and Taggie face a different problem. Their connection has survived scandal and divided loyalties, but Rupert must now reckon with the behaviour that shaped his reputation. Taggie, meanwhile, has to choose what she wants rather than allow Rutshire’s competing families to make that choice for her.
The season’s large ensemble allows those stories to unfold beyond one couple or one boardroom. Lizzie and Freddie remain part of the emotional centre, while Cameron, Maud, Monica and the Strattons all have their own stakes in the shifting alliances. Therefore, the coming episodes must resolve both the public franchise war and several private battles.
Disney+ is positioning the six-episode run as a conclusion to the second season rather than a standalone follow-up. The November premiere will begin the final movement, with the story asking which characters can find a happy ending after ambition, power and long-hidden secrets take their toll.
The team behind Rivals Season 2
Rivals is based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s novel of the same name, part of her bestselling Rutshire Chronicles. Happy Prince, which is part of ITV Studios, produces the series.
Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, Elliot Hegarty, Laura Wade and Cooper serve as executive producers. Eliza Mellor returns as series producer.
The writing team includes Treadwell-Collins, Wade, Sophie Goodhart, Sam Hoare, Mimi Hare, Clare Naylor, Sorcha Kurien-Walsh and Dare Aiyegbayo. Elliot Hegarty, Jamie J Johnson and Dee Koppang O’Leary direct the season.
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Rivals Season 2 returns with three episodes on Wednesday, November 11 on Disney+ in Australia. Season 1 and the first six episodes of Season 2 are streaming now.
For more TV Central Disney+ news, head here. Stream Rivals and explore the current catalogue on the official Disney+ Australia website.