A Hulu/Disney Plus fan-favorite with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score is coming back for season 2

David Tennant in Rivals
(Image credit: Disney+)

Did the first season of Rivals leave you wanting more? Well, you're in luck, because the colorful, crude comedy drama is officially returning for a second season.

The show was met with hugely positive reviews upon its premiere on October 18, pulling in a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, so it's hardly surprising a season 2 has been greenlit. Its comeback was announced by Hulu, where it airs in the US, and Disney Plus, its hosts in the UK, on December 4, with author Dame Jilly Cooper saying she's "orgasmic" at the prospect of more episodes.

"Nearly 40 years after my novel Rivals was published, I've adored seeing the world fall in love with my beloved characters – Rutshire's Finest," Cooper, who's also an executive producer on the show, said in a statement. "It has been a fairytale come true working with Happy Prince and Disney+ on the first season. I'm orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!"

Based on the best-selling Rutshire Chronicles series, Rivals season 1 is set in the world of '80s television, as ruthless producer Tony Baddingham (Doctor Who's David Tennant) clashes with retired showjumper-turned-MP Rupert Campbell-Black (The Boys' Alex Hassall). But it's not just in their work that the pair are competitive...

Nafessa Williams, Katherine Parkinson, Victoria Smurfit, Emily Atack, and Poldark's Aidan Turner round out the supporting cast. As it stands, no cast members have been confirmed to be returning, but given season 1's cliff-hanger ending, we can assume not everyone will be back...

Rivals is streaming now on Disney Plus in the UK, and Hulu in the US. For more, check out our picks of the most exciting new TV shows heading our way.

We've also got guides to the best Hulu shows and the best Disney Plus shows to stream right now.

Amy West

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.

Read more
Ronald Gladden and James Marsden in Jury Duty
This Amazon hidden gem with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes audience score has been renewed for season 2 – and it's already been filmed in secret
Doctor Who
Doctor Who season 2: Release date, cast, and everything we know about Ncuti Gatwa’s next season
Noel Fielding in The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin
The next season of an Apple TV Plus fan-fave show has been cancelled as it "cannot be salvaged" after its star suddenly pulled out three quarters of the way through filming
Nick Mohammed in Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso season 4 could start filming soon according to a mysterious statement from one of the actors
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Mr and Mrs Smith was one of the best shows of 2024 and the perfect limited series – let's hope season 2 lives up to it
Doctor Who season 2
Doctor Who season 2 reveals release date that's very soon after leak – and announces an X-Men guest star
Latest in Drama Shows
Sam Worthington
Avatar star to lead Harlan Coben’s next gut-wrenching drama
Rick and Michonne in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
The Walking Dead boss looks to squash hopes of The Ones Who Live season 2 – though that doesn't mean we won't ever see Rick and Michonne again
Rick Hoffman in Suits
Suits star coming back for one-off appearance in LA spin-off, but there could be more if season 2 happens
Neil Patrick Harris in Doctor Who's 60th anniversary specials
Dexter fans praise "insane" casting for new series' second season as Doctor Who's Neil Patrick Harris joins Peter Dinklage, Uma Thurman and more
Severance
Ben Stiller asked President Barack Obama to appear in Severance and he declined in the most Obama way: "Hey Ben, big fan of the show"
MobLand
First trailer for Guy Ritchie’s new crime drama sees Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan rule a brutal mafia empire
Latest in News
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg and Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO boss says new Game of Thrones spin-off's battles "match" the mainline series at a "fraction of the price"
a colourful overworld where a sprite rows a boat through a magical ocean
The follow-up to a weird RPG with Undertale energy and over 10,000 overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews is, you guessed it, another weird RPG that's already flying on Steam
Death Stranding 2 PS5 screenshot
Death Stranding 2 pre-orders are estimated to go live this month, and will reportedly include a $230 collector's edition that I pray doesn't come with another creepy baby statue
The Biker Mice From Mars.
Oni Press's new Biker Mice From Mars comic will take a "hard-hitting approach to the stories" and "definitely won't pull any punches"
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 4
A new action thriller from the John Wick team described as "a corporate thriller with a samurai twist" is finding its cast, and I've never been more seated
Moonrise anime series
Attack on Titan studio's new anime series just got a release date, three years after Netflix unveiled its first teaser