We’re heading back to Rutshire for round three, with Rivals officially returning for another series.
Disney confirmed the news on Tuesday (16 June), almost two weeks after the Jilly Cooper adaptation dropped its heartbreaking mid-season finale.
“As the dust settles post the scandalous revelations in season two, we see the stakes become higher and the alliances more fragile, with nothing staying buried for long,” Disney teased for season three.
“New romances blossom, old flames rekindle and shocking secrets will be spilled in this third series which takes everyone’s favourite rivalries to the next level. In a world of power, passion and betrayal, everyone has something to lose.”
The show follows the many colourful residents of the fictional county Rutshire and explores the fierce rivalry between posh local lothario Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and cut-throat TV boss Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant).
While Rivals is officially returning for a third outing, fans are pining for the second half of series two, which won’t arrive on the streamer until November.
**Warning: major spoilers ahead**
It comes after the mid-season finale ended on the most tragic cliffhanger seen on the show to date: the shock death of Monica Baddingham (Claire Rushbrook).
In an episode that will have surely caught the attention of Bafta voters, Monica discovered that her husband Tony had yet again been unfaithful – this time with Maud O’Hara (Victoria Smurfit), her friend, neighbour and wife of Tony’s enemy Declan (Aidan Turner).
Rushbrook delivered the performance of the series as a betrayed Monica, who finds herself at Lizzie Vereker’s (Katherine Parkinson) house during a raging storm, reflecting on her painful, unsatisfying marriage and vowing to “live like blazes” from then on. In a cruel twist, we learn shortly afterwards that Monica – who had previously hinted at unresolved romantic feelings towards neighbour Enid Spink – was killed before she had a chance to act on them, having been hit by a fallen tree while driving through the blizzard.
Speaking about her two-series stint as Monica, Rushbrook said on the Rivals podcast that she loved playing the character. “I love getting on those scruff wellies, and the thick skirts and the Barbour jacket and pearls and just being comfortable in these amazing locations as if it’s just her living room,” she said. “It was a real departure for me and a real challenge. I was nervous but I am really very grateful.
“I’ve been deeply moved by how open the cast are being in their sort of affection. We had a gorgeous, gorgeous time and I’m grateful for it.”
Fans will have to wait until later this year for the bleak aftermath of Monica’s death to unfold, with a second batch of six episodes arriving November.
