“As a rival group emerges to pitch for the Corinium franchise, reputations ripen and decline, true love blossoms and burns, marriages are made and shattered, and sex raises its delicious head at almost every throw as, in bed and boardroom, the race is on to capture the Cotswold Crown,” promises the synopsis.

Basically, it’s all about the ruthless world of independent television in 1986… and we’re into it.

**Who stars in Rivals?**

Rivals boasts an incredible cast, with Alex Hassell stepping into the shoes of the incorrigible rake that is Rupert and none other than David Tennant set to play the single-mindedly ambitious Lord Baddingham.

Aidan Turner, meanwhile, tales on the role of the fiercely intellectual Declan, Danny Dyer (yes, that Danny Dyer) is the human equivalent of ‘salt-of-the-earth’ in Freddie, and Lisa McGrillis is his onscreen wife, Valerie.

And then we have…

Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara, a former actor and Declan’s bohemian, fickle wife.
Bella Maclean as Declan and Maud’s tender-hearted yet strong-willed elder daughter, Taggie.
Catriona Chandler as Caitlin, Declan and Maud’s youngest child.
Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook, the ferociously talented American TV executive who is brought to Corinium by Tony to produce Declan’s new prime-time talk show.
Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, a romantic novelist consistently overlooked by her preening and self-centred TV presenter husband, James Vereker.
Oliver Chris as the aforementioned James Vereker.
Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham, Tony’s dependable, upper-crust wife who has absolutely no interest in the dramatic goings-on within her husband’s empire.
Luke Pasqualino as the charming Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Tony’s younger brother and the proprietor of Cotchester’s hot spot, Bar Sinister.
Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton, the new wife to Paul Stratton, the deputy prime minister.
Rufus Jones as the aforementioned Paul Stratton, who finds himself caught in the throes of a midlife crisis.

Phew.

The TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals finally has a release date