Rivals star Emily Atack reveals how she helped craft major season 2 paternity reveal – and talks “really sad” moment

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Be warned: This article reveals major spoilers from the first three episodes of Rivals season 2, now streaming on Disney+.

At the close of the first season, viewers were left wondering who had gotten TV host Sarah Stratton (Emily Atack) pregnant.

Because Lizzie was married to Paul (Rufus Jones) but also having an affair with her co-host James (Oliver Chris), a lot of people suspected Lizzie’s husband might be the father of the child.

Rivals keeps surprising us with unexpected turns, and the first three episodes of season 2 have revealed we made a wrong assumption. The father of the child is actually Tony Baddingham, played by David Tennant.

I was really surprised by that big turn in Emily Atack’s character’s storyline, so I asked her about it. Turns out, she wasn’t just reacting to it – she actually helped shape where the story went! She was involved in making that dramatic twist happen, which I thought was really cool.

In a conversation with TopMob, Atack admitted she might have initially come up with the idea, though she hesitated to claim credit. She wasn’t sure if David Tennant remembered their discussion about it, and jokingly suggested he probably believes it was his own idea.

David and I were chatting at a party, and I suggested Tony could be the father. We talked it over, and then David shared the idea with Dom [Treadwell-Collins]. The writers really liked it, so I think it’s fair to say we came up with the concept together after discussing it.

She continued, explaining that she had a feeling something unexpected would happen. She started thinking about what that twist could be, immediately ruling out certain characters. Then she recalled a subtle, unaddressed moment between Sarah and Tony Baddingham, and figured Sarah was likely attracted to him. She decided to build that idea into the story.

From the beginning, it’s obvious Tony sees Sarah’s pregnancy as a problem, and he repeatedly tells her he doesn’t want to discuss it, even pressuring her to have an abortion. According to Atack, Sarah’s storyline this season reflects how women were often treated during that time, and she’s understandably feeling incredibly vulnerable – emotionally, physically, and in every way.

She’s upset about potentially losing her job and feels hurt that she’s no longer seen as attractive or desirable, and that rejection really bothers her.

Sarah’s difficult journey continues, and by the end of the third episode, she finds herself back with Paul. This leads to conflict between them, and ultimately, Sarah returns home despite her reservations about how Paul has treated her.

Jones explained that the performance required a very particular style, reminiscent of the stereotypical homemaker from the 1950s.

“It’s really sad. It’s the using your sexuality thing that can be really dark,” Atack says.

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You can watch the show Rivals on Disney+. The second season will begin streaming on Friday, May 15, 2026. A Disney+ subscription starts at just £5.99 per month.

Don’t miss out! Add Rivals to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download it today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive content, and more.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-05-16 10:34