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?

@countrylifer I wonder if Jilly involved in the production/casting?

Yes I think she was an executive producer wasn't she? She also has a cameo!

Wow!

I've watched the first 3 episodes

Yes RCB needs to be posher and blonde but apart from that.

It's fabulous and just how imagined

Just watched the first five episodes and loving it so far.

spotted Jilly’s cameo too.

I think of RCB as being more like the actor in Riders who was blonde but this one is very charismatic.

I’m sorry, this is RCB.

Ok I’m three episodes in and RCB has won me round. I get it. I’m all in.

Yes and where Lizzie leaves her manuscript on the train, which doesn’t happen in the book but happened to jilly in real life. She left the first manuscript for Riders on a bus in the 70s after a boozy lunch with her editor!

Absolutely loved it - and so glad they made it before JC goes to the champagne bar upstairs.

Watching episode 2, absolutely love it. I had my doubts about David Tennant but I adore how he’s playing it. The dinner party is exactly how I imagined it.

Yes! I said exactly this to my other half while we were watching it!

SPOILER

The thing that Declan threw into the fire made me 😮 I thought that was cleverly done and only relevant if you know the books.

I’ve just finished ep 8 and e joyed it far more the. I thought I would. Aiden turner and Danny dyer and Kathryn Parkinson were perfect for their roles - Caitlin , taggie, Valerie and dame Enid were cast perfectly too as was maud. Loved how they kept so close to the book except for the last scene which won’t spoil! The CC character wasn’t spiky or sexy enough and she def needed short hair

was I alone in thinking “did we really dress like that in the 80s”?!!!🤣🤣loved all the old cars and there was SO much smoking!!!

I’m a bit confused… I seem to have finished all the episodes but the ending felt a bit abrupt! I can’t remember how the book ended. Anyone else in the same position? (Yes I know I binged them quickly 😆) I feel a bit bereft and wasn’t expecting it to end yet!

There has to be another series in the pipeline - that's not where the book ends at all!

I'm really enjoying it but I'm just not getting Rupert Campbell black!!

He's OK but he's too obvious he's like Garston in beauty and the beast.

You and me both! I was literally bellowing at the TV -'what have they doooooone!!!'

It's not the (right) ending but also too close to the end of the book for there to be a whole second series. Plus how long will we bloody have to wait for that?! So confused.

I stupidly didn’t pay attention to how many episodes there were or which one I was on, so didn’t realise I was watching the last one 😞

The ending felt so forced, it created an unnatural break in the story which doesn’t happen in the book.

I agree Cameron was wrong - too soft and smiley and with long hair!

Anyone else finding it funny that the o'hara house (Aidan turner) is the same house used in Poldark (his breakthrough series)?

Only watched one episode and it's glorious.

It's not the (right) ending but also too close to the end of the book for there to be a whole second series. Plus how long will we bloody have to wait for that?! So confused.

I'm hoping the next series will seamlessly run on into Polo - the girl's name on the paper in the fire surely must indicate that?! (Don't want to spoil in case anyone hasn't got that far.)

Would they not have called the series "Rutshire" or something if they were looking at intermingling all the stories? I'd love it if they did, though

Yes I had assumed the same, but I didn't necessarily think they would move to further series...thought this was meant to be a standalone series. Can't believe the massive storyline change!

Totally a minor thing but I'm put off by how much Rupert smokes.... I thought he was just occasional in the books. I can't stop thinking how much he would stink 😂

My worry is (and I am only on episode 3 but read book)

If they have not complete the story but hope to get series2, how do they ensure they have all the vital actors from season 1, who will only be needed for a bit of season 2?

I dont remember RCB smoking in the books but he probably did. I was quite surprised he does in this but the whole thing is filled with retro smoke so I’m going with it. I’m starting to like it just for itself at this stage!