Filming for Season 2 of the popular dark comedy Rivals is set to begin soon, and one of its stars, David Tennant, is playfully commenting on the uncertain fate of his character.
Season 2 of Rivals, based on Jilly Cooper’s 1988 novel, is in production. Tennant, who plays the villainous Lord Tony Baddingham, joked about his character’s fate during an interview with The Guardian. Fans last saw Tony at the end of Season 1, where he was struck on the head, leaving viewers questioning if that marked his final appearance.
Tennant humorously responded to the speculation, saying, “It would be a weird way to end, wouldn’t it? Maybe you could start season two with the funeral? But we start shooting the day after the Baftas. I don’t know what that means for me on that first morning.” Filming for Season 2 is expected to begin on February 17, following the 2025 Bafta Awards, which will take place on February 16. Tennant was also asked if he might be hungover on the first day of shooting, to which he jokingly replied, “It might be, yeah!”
Despite his jokes about death, Tennant’s return for Season 2 has been confirmed. Rivals, set in 1986, focuses on the rivalry between Rupert Campbell-Black (played by Alex Hassell), an aristocratic British nobleman, and Tony Baddingham. The series will also see the return of co-stars Turner, Dyer, Katherine Parkinson, Hassell, Nafessa Williams, and Bella Maclean for the new season.
Tennant, known for portraying villains, was asked if his portrayal of Tony was inspired by anyone in particular. He mentioned, “The only example I could think of was Michael Grade, a television executive with braces who smoked cigars. I read his autobiography for preparation. I don’t think it helped much, though. He’s probably a more balanced, better human than Tony Barrington.”
Season 1 of Rivals consisted of eight episodes and gained success on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. Season 2 has been ordered with a total of twelve episodes. Executive producers Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alexander Lamb expressed excitement about the return of the original team, saying, “It’s very special to have the same team return in front of and behind the cameras, and we cannot wait to share more of Jilly’s world with our audience.” The new season will cover the second half of Cooper’s novel, focusing on careers, marriages, and reputations that are put to the test as personal and professional lives collide in a world where secrets can’t stay hidden.
