Steamy scenes between the racy residents of Rutshire left viewers gasping this weekend as Jilly Cooper’s long-awaited new bonk-buster TV series Rivals debuted on Disney +.
The eight-part series, hailed as the sexiest thing to hit our screens this year, is set in 1986 and follows the cut throat world of television, focusing on the tense rivalry between polo-loving lothario Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant).
Just nine seconds into the show, two people join the Mile High Club – in the toilet of a Concord.
During several parties and luncheons in Lord Baddingham’s country pile, steamy affairs and star-crossed yearnings between the residents of the aptly named county of Rutshire are explored.
At the centre of the romp fest is dishy Rupert, a Conservative MP who legions of women – married or unmarried – are trying to seduce.
In the first episode, one female character brazenly announces: ‘I’m one of the few women around here who hasn’t been ravished by Rupert’.
Disney+’s adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s 1988 bonkbuster Rivals – which centres around an ongoing feud between regional TV station controller Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) and ex Olympian turned Tory MP Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell)
Ahead of the show’s release, executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins warned viewers there’s an ‘equal opportunities’ approach to nudity and suggested viewers will see ‘a willy for every pair of t***.’
According to Disney+, Rivals is a ‘joyously mischievous rollercoaster ride, steamy in its love stories’.
From passionate love making on Concorde to the balcony of a Spanish villa and even a chicken coop, the eight-part series has certainly set pulses racing.
A SUPERSONIC START: MILE-HIGH MISCHIEF ON CONCORDE
It’s no surprise that Concorde, the supersonic passenger jet that could get you from London to the Big Apple in just three hours, provides the backdrop to a very saucy opening encounter.
Just nine seconds into the Disney+ adaptation, Cooper’s sex-obsessed protagonist is seen getting up close and personal with Fleet Street journalist Beattie Johnson (Annabel Scholey) – who’s wearing a perfectly 80s candy pink skirt suit, sunglasses and red stilettoes – in the aircraft’s compact loo.
Rupert’s buttocks introduce the show, thrusting over tabloid hack Beatrice, who has her heels nowhere near the floor and her matching red nails plunged into her lover’s skin.
According to Disney+, Rivals is a ‘joyously mischievous rollercoaster ride, steamy in its love stories and packed with larger-than-life characters’
The first scene of episode one of the Disney+ adaptation of Dame Jilly’s book sees Rupert Campbell-Black’s buttocks take centre stage before he coolly emerges to saunter back down the aisle to his seat
Jilly Cooper fans took to X to voice their excitement over the series starting with such a steamy scene
A champagne cork pops to mark Concorde’s ascent to a mile high, and moments later the cabin crew begin to wonder why the occupied sign is still on.
Shortly after a flustered-looking Beatrice emerges to take her seat followed by Mr Campbell-Black, smooth-talking the cabin crew and winking at another female passenger as he saunters back down the aisle.
One stunned viewer said: ‘The first scene of Rivals was a man’s cheeks.’
Another added: ‘I’m only eight minutes into Rivals but it’s just as expected. Huge fun. I imagine younger folk might find it problematic but it’s certainly the rollicking bonkbuster I thought it might be.’
ANYONE FOR TENNIS? RUPERT AND A FRIEND’S WIFE PLAY TENNIS IN THE BUFF
If the opening scene introduces viewers to Rupert’s thrusting backside, viral video pejabat ngewe anak kecil by the time the first episode is 22 minutes in, there’s a whole lot more to see.
A famous scene in Dame Jilly’s original 1988 book sees Rupert playing one of his favourite sports – tennis – ‘sans clothes’, and it’s enough to make viewers go as red as the strawberries at Wimbledon.
Rivals’ executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins has said of the show’s raunchy content: ‘There’s a willy for every pair of t***’ – and that proves true 22 minutes in when Sarah Stratton (Emily Atack) and Rupert engage in a love match in the buff
A full frontal featuring the lothario Olympian turned Tory MP hits viewers right between the eyes during the first episode
While the character of Sarah flees when the naked match is interrupted, Rupert is happy to converse with his 18-year-old neighbour Taggie O while in the buff
One viewer joked that they watched Rivals ‘for the plot’ but instead posted shirtless pictures of stars Aidan Turner and Alex Hassell
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Rivals is hailed by critics as ‘a vivacious bonkbuster’ that will leave viewers cackling
His opponent in the match, which takes place on a secluded court in the grounds of his country pile, is Tory WAG Sarah Stratton (Emily Atack).
She’s married to the wife of Deputy Prime Minister Paul Stratton (Rufus Jones) but that doesn’t seem to worry either her or Rupert too much – and she too has also been very much liberated from any kind of tennis attire.
As the pair argue about whether a ball is ‘ten inches over the line’, their game is interrupted by 20-year-old neighbour Taggie (Bella McClean) – while Sarah flees into the undergrowth, Rupert is entirely unfazed by his nudity.
One viewer was lost for words, simply declaring: ‘THE NAKED TENNIS SCENE!’
A CLOSE ENCOUNTER IN THE CLOAK ROOM
While sipping champagne at a stately home in episode two, ex-Olympian Campbell-Black swaggers out of the dining room and into the cloak room with Sarah – his on-again off-again lover.
During the steamy sequence, the other diners are watching Sarah on television.
She is being interviewed about her scandalous relationship with deputy prime minister Paul Stratton who she worked for as a secretary.
The heated cloak room affair is interrupted by a mortified Taggie O’Hara (Bella Maclean), who is Declan O’Hara’s eldest daughter
A similar high-risk romp takes place between production assistant Daysee Butler (Lara Peake) and disgraced Hollywood star Johnny Friedlaender (Adam Rotherburg) in the studio’s postroom
As the interview plays out, Sarah is seen sweating with Campbell-Black in the room next door.
Again, it is 20-year-old Taggie who stumbles on the affair and watches the action through a crack in the door before Rupert makes direct eye contact with her.
A similar high-risk romp takes place between production assistant Daysee Butler (Lara Peake) and disgraced Hollywood star Johnny Friedlaender (Adam Rotherburg) in the studio’s postroom – moments before he goes live on television.
THE CLIMAX MONTAGE…WHERE (ALMOST) EVERYONE IS INVOLVED
If the first episode started with a bang on Concorde, then it certainly ends that way as well, with almost every character introduced appearing in a montage of intimate moments.
Sarah Stratton is involved in one of the scenes, with her Deputy PM husband Paul Stratton.
And Danny Dyer, starring as Freddie Jones, a self-made electronics millionaire, appears to be enjoying some time between the sheets way more than his social-climbing wife Valerie (Lisa McGrillis).
Danny Dyer (left) stars as Freddie Jones, a self-made electronics millionaire, alongside his social-climbing wife as played by Lisa McGrillis (right)
In the raunchy montage, Dyer’s character appears to be enjoying some time between the sheets way more than wife Valerie
Another montage in episode six includes scenes filmed in a barn (pictured) and a chicken coop
One couple are even filmed having a sexual encounter on the back of a golf cart
There’s a same-sex encounter too as Charles Fairburn (Gary Lamont) gets to grips with a young lover – and Depeche Mode’s Just Can’t Get Enough plays over the top of the action.
Viewers are treated to another pulse-racing montage in episode six with settings including the back of a golf cart, a barn and a chicken coop.
TENNANT’S ‘EROTIC ECSTASY’ THAT ENDED IN INJURY
In a recent interview, David Tennant revealed he injured himself while filming an intensely sexy scene on set.
Speaking on Heart radio, the Doctor Who star, 53, confessed to show hosts Alex Hassell and Pandora Christie that the incident actually happened when he was riled up in the moment of passion and overly keen to jump into bed.
Regional TV station controller Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) is among a cast of characters appearing in the first episode’s racy final scenes
One enthusiastic viewer asked who cast David Tennant, Alex Hassell and Aidan Turner in the same show because they ‘don’t know where to look’
He said: ‘I had to launch myself onto a bed at one point, in some moment of what is going to a be sort of erotic ecstasy, and slightly mis-timed it.
‘I ended up smashing my knee open on the bed frame.
To which Alex replied: ‘He does his own stunts’.
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David Tennant reveals why his racy Rivals sex scene was NOT as smooth sailing as it looks
David joked: ‘It wasn’t my sexiest move’ before Pandora attempted to reassure him by adding: ‘No, well it depends on what you’re into!’
The Doctor Who star also told Cosmopolitan of his poorly timed injury.
‘My knee I smashed up diving onto a bed, to indulge in some sexual ecstasy,’ the 53-year-old Scottish actor revealed while chatting about the new show.
‘Not good timing. Smashed my knee.’
Despite the behind-the-scenes mishap, Jilly Cooper fans have praised the series and its casting team.
One enthusiastic viewer asked who cast David Tennant, Alex Hassell and Aidan Turner in the same show because they ‘don’t know where to look’.
The same fan branded Rivals a ‘dilf convention’.
Paso Doble? An unlikely pair get steamy in Spain
American actress Nafessa Williams makes her UK debut in Rivals as powerful producer Cameron Cook – and her character is not excluded from the more steamy scenes.
In episode six, Cook attends a TV awards ceremony in Spain and bumps into heartthrob Rupert.
The pair embark on a holiday romance and seem to make love in every corner of their Spanish villa – including the balcony.
High-flying producer Cameron Cook (Nefessa Williams) and Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) in a raunchy scene in the Cotswolds after their Spanish love affair
After one particularly steamy romp, Cook says: ‘I want you to pay more attention to my clitoris this time. Don’t be shy.’
‘Well I am a member of the Clitory Party,’ Campbell-Black remarks and they proceed to get down to business on the balcony.
Keeping up with the Mediterranean dirty-talking references, Campbell-Black refers to his member being as ‘hard as the Rock of Gibraltar’.
A slow-burn romance, a willow tree and a shirtless Danny Dyer
While the show itself has been met with high praise, it is Danny Dyer who is being held up by viewers as a standout performer.
He plays the role of Freddie an electronics businessman extraordinaire – a character viewers have said he plays with ‘nuance’, while others have demanded a spin-off show just for his part.
One viewer said: ‘It’s taken me three episodes to realise who Danny Dyer is playing, he is that good.’
But it was his slow-burn romance with Lizzie Vereker, as played by actress Katherine Parkinson, that set pulses racing.
In the final episode of the first series, they finally break the sexual tension between them with a steamy scene beneath a willow tree.
Danny Dyer (left) plays the role of self-made millionaire Freddie Jones who falls for Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson)
In the final episode, the pair finally submit to their slow-burn romance and creatively use a bottle of champagne while getting steamy beneath a willow tree
After watching the romp fest, GB News journalist Simon McCoy joked that he asked his wife to throw a Rivals themed party
Fans watched with their jaws on the floor as a shirtless Danny Dyer lays his partner down on the ground and says: ‘I’m going to declare this an area of outstanding natural beauty.’
The self-made millionaire then pours champagne onto her naked body, and proceeds to lick it off of her.
After watching the romp fest, GB News journalist Simon McCoy quipped on X: ‘Working at ITV in the 80s, as I did. Living in the Cotswolds, as we do. Being fans of Jilly Cooper, as we are… I thought throwing a “Rivals” themed party was a smashing idea. My wife was firm in her response.’
