Disney Plus doing Jilly Cooper's Rivals

[countrylifer]

This is just the best news. I've been waiting for an adaptation of Rivals since I first fell in love with the bounder Rupert C-B in circa 1997.

But the question is who will play him? I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who can fill those boots - any suggestions?

Agreed.

should we get some merch made?

I feel a little reassured having read this article as well! I’m still far from convinced by Rupert but I have to accept that no one can live up to the picture I have of him in my head and I’m sure he’ll win me round.

I really really hope it’s good. I will be sooooo sad if it isn’t.

The article gives me hope

The comments underneath are just miserable in the main. Far too many disgusted of tunbridge wells.

Victory for Venturer T shirts!

Oh god I would wear that in a heartbeat!

Someone needs to make it happen!

I think I saw that the £1.99 for 3 months sub for Disney was back on again.

Sorry, it's £1.99 a month for 3 months

Also if you check Lloyds it's one of their account perks - free (with ads) Disney for the year.

I mean…. I do happen to be married to a man who designs and produces T shirts 😂I will ask him about it tonight.

OMG 😄

What a great article! It has also made me warm to Alex Hassell as Rupert for the first time.

This is a very encouraging article!

That article is glorious! Good to see Mumsnet getting a mention and I love how it’s jilly wearing the iconic red shoes.

Not sure if I’ve posted this before (or just dreamt it) but wouldn’t Andre Rieu make the most heavenly Rannaldini (if we get that far)

I think jilly is on a "in own words" on bbc this week? Briefly saw a trailer so need to track it down.

I am 100% here for merch

Okay so he said at the numbers we would be talking about he can design something if we give him inspo and then he can whack it of cafe press or similar and we buy them piecemeal. Otherwise it’s 300 order minimum ish.

Am reading Rivals and remembered this thread.

For those worried about Alex Hassell as RCB - please don't be. The man has charisma in spades. I had a poster of him on my kitchen door for about 5 years after seeing him in Henry IV at the RSC!!

I just finished re-reading Rivals too. What the book really reinforced for me is how much of a force of nature RCB is. His attractiveness is as much sheer self confidence, magnetism and ability to make people laugh as his looks. Aka charisma for days. More than once he's described as having the ability to make someone feel like they're floating on air just by his directing his attention to them, equally it's like the sun goes in and the air goes cold when he switches away, and people crave him. If, as you say, Alex can portray 'that', then b.i.n.g.o

Is there a release date? I cannot wait!

18th October!

Although I don't know if it's going to be released all at once, or week by week? I'm oddly hoping it's week by week

I know it's total Rutshire heresy but I am actually very excited about a dark haired RC-B

Week by week would be good as then we can have a good discussion here about it as all at sane pace. Harder when all at different stages.

Though of course nothing really would be a spoiler as we all know the plot very well!

Yes I agree, I don’t want to rush through it!

Late to this thread but so excited! I’m such a Jilly fan!

I will be rereading Rivals in the run up and the In her Own Words on the BBC on Monday.

Ive just been watching a YouTube video of Alex Hassell discussing being Henry V and he does have something so I’m not ruling out him being an excellent Rupert.

i just hope he doesn’t smoulder too much. There’s a danger of drifting into camp. There’s a fine line I think.