It is rare that TV shows are as much of a riot as Disney’s Rivals, the screen adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s 1980s bonkbuster about feuding media power players living in the Cotswolds. And David Tennant – as charismatic-but-dastardly TV boss Lord Tony Baddingham – is the show’s rioter-in-chief. In person, the 54-year-old is as charming as his character (if less wicked) – often hooting with laughter to emphasise a point. Rivals isn’t the Scottish actor’s first go at playing the bad guy. While the multi-award-winner is most famous for his stint in Doctor Who, he won an Emmy for his appearance as serial killer Dennis Nilsen in ITV’s Des and starred as a cheeky demon, alongside Michael Sheen, in Good Omens on Prime Video. Series one of Rivals ended with him getting walloped on the head with a TV award, but he promises he’s coming back for Rivals series two.
Were you expecting Rivals to be as massive as it was?
I wasn’t, but my wife was. She said that before she’d read the script! Jilly Cooper’s writing has always had a fanbase, but I guess now there’s enough distance from the 1980s that it’s also a period drama.
