Disney+ has launched Rivals, an eight-part drama adapted from Dame Jilly Cooper’s popular novel, following a major shoot at The Bottle Yard Studios and other West Country locations.
Produced by ITV’s Happy Prince, the series dives into the glamorous and cutthroat world of 1980s independent television, with scenes set against the picturesque Cotswolds and urban London. The cast features stars like Alex Hassell, David Tennant, Aidan Turner, and Katherine Parkinson.
Filming was the first major production at The Bottle Yard’s TBY2 studio, where expansive sets—including a 1980s TV control room—were meticulously constructed. The cast and crew also filmed across Bristol, transforming it into ‘80s London with iconic locations like Corn Street and Aerospace Bristol’s Concorde.
Producer Eliza Mellor praised the skilled local crew and diverse filming locations around Bristol, which doubled effectively as the fictional county of Rutshire. The city’s film office played a key role in facilitating urban shoots, while private West Country locales added regional authenticity.
Rivals explores the fierce rivalry between Rupert Campbell-Black (Hassell), a Tory MP, and Lord Tony Baddingham (Tennant), a TV executive, whose ambitions entangle the lives of family, friends, and ambitious newcomers. Directed by Elliot Hegarty and produced by Treadwell-Collins, the series combines drama, humour, and nostalgia, immersing viewers in an era of high-stakes media and power.
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