Is Rivals based on a true story?

As a longtime fan of Jilly Cooper’s works, I must say that Rivals has been nothing short of a delightful journey back to the ’80s. The series perfectly encapsulates the essence of her storytelling, with its witty dialogues, captivating characters, and, of course, a generous helping of drama.

Everyone seems to be buzzing about the Disney+ series, leaving many Rivals followers pondering if the latest storyline might be rooted in true incidents.

The eight-part series, set in the ’80s independent television landscape, immerses us deeply into the heart of the struggle as Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) confronts his longtime adversary Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell), along with his ex-employee Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner), in a fierce battle for control over Rutshire’s TV network.

The show, indeed, originates from the 1988 novel by Jilly Cooper, sharing the same title, and it’s been met with great enthusiasm not only by fans of the initial book but also by those who are new to the story.

Prior to the airing of the series, Cooper shared with BBC News that the upcoming adaptation is “truly marvelous.” He added, “It’s entertaining, and there’s a bit of mischief as well. There are several intimate scenes. In one episode, every cast member is paired up and involved in a love scene for approximately 20 minutes straight.

But is the series based on a true story at all? Read on to find out.

Is Rivals based on a true story?

No, Rivals is not based on a true story.

Nevertheless, this is derived from the Jilly Cooper novel with the identical title, which was influenced by Cooper’s personal experiences during the ’80s and her time residing in the Cotswolds.

One of the primary personalities from both the book and the show, Rupert Campbell-Black, was modeled after two of Cooper’s real-life friends: Andrew Parker-Bowles, who was previously married to Queen Camilla, and Rupert Lycett Green, a well-known British fashion designer.

Despite the novel describing Campbell-Black as having blond hair and blue eyes, Alex Hassell, who plays him in the Disney Plus series, is highly praised by Cooper.

She mentioned that she finds him increasingly appealing as she gets to know him better, and he’s quite talented. The writers are skillfully developing Rupert as a complex character, and they’re doing an excellent job at it.

In an interview package for the series, Cooper stated that her new novel, “Rivals,” is set during the late 1980s and takes place within the realm of commercial television or ITV (Independent Television), rather than the sport of showjumping as seen in her debut Rutshire Chronicles book, “Riders” from 1986.

In the past, England was split into approximately fifteen regions. Approximately every eight years, competing factions would clash dramatically in power struggles to unseat the existing rulers, demonstrating their superior skills in creating content and responsible representation of the region.

The conflict zone in Rivals encompasses The Cotswolds and neighboring regions that extend from Oxford to Wales, as well as from Southampton to Stratford.

In the present role, portrayed brilliantly by David Tennant, stands Lord Tony Baddingham – a relentless tyrant who hurls insults at his opponents, intimidates his subordinates, and amasses enormous wealth through ad sales.

She continued: “The Independent Broadcasting Authority or the IBA who award the franchises, however warn Lord Baddingham that if he doesn’t spend more of the ‘fortune’ he’s coining from advertising on making decent programmes, his company Corinium will lose its franchise. So Baddingham poaches from the BBC the Irish megastar interviewer, Declan O’Hara, played by Poldark and handsome Aidan Turner.

“Declan’s unkempt black locks, intense dark eyes, and a face weathered like the Irish coastline, quickly draw in large audiences. One of Declan’s early targets is Rupert Campbell-Black, the Tory Minister for Sport who is Margaret Thatcher’s favorite, and he has significantly decreased football hooliganism.

“Despite Declan being hellbent on carnage, the two men end up respecting and liking each other. Declan increasingly recognising Baddingham’s evil corruption, walks out of Corinium and joins forces with Rupert to steal his franchise. Thus, in bedroom and boardroom, the right to capture the Cotswold Crown is on.”

2024-10-23 14:04

Is Rivals based on a true story?

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