Jilly Cooper's Rivals on Disney - episode 1 discussion thread WITH SPOILERS! Open the Pouilly Fume & curl up on the sofa with a lurcher puppy here!

[TheSecondMrsCampbellBlack]

Exciting!

Just finished tonight I really enjoyed it for its trashy nonsense.
Alex Hassell really grew on me as it went on no idea why he's got Taggie in his sights though they have very similar mouths and I couldn't get past thinking he could have been her father.

Also I live between chipping sodbury which is mentioned a few times in the show and Tetbury which is where they filmed "Cotchester" scenes so was very novel

It was sadly. If you think back to headlines of the day - Bill Wyman marrying Mandy Smith when she was 18 and had been dating him for many years by that point (approved by her own mother). Or Prince Charles (32) marrying Lady Di (19) Plenty of girls in 4th/5th year Seniors in my school were dating men who were 20+ and no one batted an eyelid. Doesn't make it normal by todays standards but it was not unusual.

I would say it was mildly disapproved of but the girl in the partnership was generally portrayed as old for their age/a "tart" rather than manipulated and groomed.

Maybe not the norm but they did exist...

I was 19 in 1989 and moved in with my 34 yo boyfriend..
2 years later we split up and I had a brief dalliance with - shock horror - a 42yo!
Then I met someone only 10 years older (much to my family's relief) and we were together for 15years.

I did buck that trend and then went out with someone 10 years younger 🤣
Then someone 6 years younger
Well I was in my 30s by then and full on mid life crisis 😎

I settled down in my late 40s with someone the exact same school year as me and he is the best thing ever 😍

Whilst we're at it Archie Baddingham was the boyfriend of Caitlin O Hara in the book and causes Tony to crash the car taking her home after interrupting a make out session on the couch/settee (Vaerie would approve the latter)

So he wasn't bisexual in the books. Hence the confusion.

Should add my brother was Bisexual in the 1980's at our local comprehensive and it was even less understood than being potentially gay.

It was a 'well at least make your mind up' acceptance stance at best.

So Archie rocks but possibly before at a time the novel was written rather than a bisexual slur :)

I've watched it all and enjoyed it as a racy type of Dallas or Dynasty show. Never read the book so had no preconceptions but unfortunately Alex Hassall just didn't seem like a Rupert Campbell Black to me, more suited to A Very English Scandal as Jeremy Thorpe, I thought.

New Rupert contender
Cary Elwes. I’m watching Dracula. And I’m recalling how gorgeous he was in Lady Jane Grey & The Princess Bride! 😍

He was. It says he is "ACDC"

I loved it , it was funny, tongue in cheek and raunchy. Great tv

I was at the RFH too last night and Jilly was on great form, real shame about the sound.

As others have said Alex Hassell is gorgeous IRL and really charming, I really see why he was cast now. When I first saw him I didn't get it but he really grew on me the more I watched it.

I thought it was good fun, my god Aidan Turner in moustache and full Irish accent has been one hell of a treat! My God that man is beautiful!

Lizzie was a wonderful character! Loved her!

Wasn't it AMAZING? They asked Jilly my question! So pleased. The sound was rubbish, they should have been miked up. But I loved that Jilly got a rock star raucous standing ovation, as she deserves!

It was such a happy evening. My favourite question was about which current celeb would be right at home in Rutshire.

The lady next to me and I simultaneously said Boris Johnson .

I think Jilly could have been better briefed to talk in to the mic and not turn her head so much as the others didn't have the same issue.

I found Katherine Parkinson so charming too!

We all said Boris as well!

I said Boris too!

I also immediately thought Boris!

Which was your question @TheSecondMrsCampbellBlack ?

My question was "If you could choose to bring just one of your characters to life so you could spend some time with them - let's say a long boozy lunch in the Bar Sinister with a few bottles of Pouilly Fume and fat garlic prawns - which character would it be and why?"

Jilly said Bas, Alex said Charles I think 💞

That was a good question!

I think I would choose Lizzie because she would be good fun.

Anyone else find it very difficult to look at Alex Hassell because his nose is very reminiscent of his penis? Or just me?

I haven’t read the book but is Tony supposed to be quite attractive? Because I don’t understand how his character is going out with Cameron who is leagues above him (unless DT has been a bit miscast?)

I loved this too and I also thought she was going to say Boris Johnson. Loved it when she said 'Jack Greilish'

Yes I get you.

I think some of us are a bit confused cos in the book he is straight. Tony worries his son is a bit “AC/DC” but he defo does not get it on with Kevin