Rivals Cast & Character Guide

Disney+’s latest show, Rivals, features an outstanding ensemble of recognizable actors led by Alex Hassell and David Tennant. The TV series, based on Jilly Cooper’s 1988 novel of the same name, is centered around two powerful men, Rupert Campbell-Black and Lord Tony Baddingham, whose longstanding rivalry in the world of 1980s British television comes to a climactic head. On top of the two main leads, Rivals sports an enormous cast of characters for one of the first adult programs made for the streaming platform.

Rivals’ reviews have been mixed, but Screen Rant’s Abigail Stevens describes David Tennant in the series as having “one of his rawest and most vicious performances” and also describes his character as being ruthless “yet undeniably charismatic.” Irish actor Aidan Turner is also praised for his role in the series, along with Nafessa Williams and Alex Hassell, though the review highlights some criticism for the more minor characters. Regardless, they’re played by some talented actors, many of whom can be recognized from other well-known film & TV roles.

David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham

Date Of Birth: April 18, 1971

Actor: David Tennant is a Scottish actor who rose to prominence for his portrayal of the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who. His iconic portrayal lasted from 2005 through 2010. But David Tennant’s roles outside of Doctor Who are also excellent, with the star appearing in numerous high-profile projects in leading and supporting roles. This includes major film franchises like Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon, as well as TV shows like Good Omens, Ahsoka, and many more.

Character: David Tennant plays Tony Baddingham, a cutthroat television station director looking to viciously climb in his industry.

Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara

Date Of Birth: June 19, 1983

Actor: Aidan Turner is an Irish actor who first gained recognition for his role in the BBC show Being Human before reaching widespread audiences as the dwarf Kíli in The Hobbit trilogy. Kíli was the Dwarf who notably ended up having romantic feelings for Evangeline Lilly’s Elf character, Tauriel. Following those films, Turner was cast in the lead role in the period romance drama Poldark, where he starred in all four seasons. He’s set to play a significant role in Terrence Malick’s long-awaited biblical epic, The Way of the Wind.

Character: Declan O’Hara is a BBC journalist known for not taking any prisoners. He moves into the scene when Tony offers him a job to have his own show.

Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black

Date Of Birth: September 7, 1980

Actor: Alex Hassell is an English actor from Southend who’s steadily built a career in film and television since the early 2000s. He’s appeared in numerous prominent TV shows, playing the superhero Translucent in the early episodes of The Boys, Vicious in Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop, and Metatron in His Dark Materials. In film, he’s starred in George Clooney’s Suburbicon, Violent Night, Young Woman and the Sea, and Joel Coen’s adaptation of The Tragedy of Macbeth in 2021.

Character: Rupert Campbell-Black is a retired Olympian show jumper and sports minister struggling with a harsh marital situation, though he’s infamously a womanizer.

Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook

Date Of Birth: December 4, 1989

Actor: Nafessa Williams is an American actress from Philadelphia who’s best known for playing Nicole Gordon in the 2011 film Streets. She’s since had a career in various films and TV shows, including a superhero performance in The CW’s Black Lightning series. Other prominent titles include 2017’s Twin Peaks continuation on Showtime, where she had a supporting role throughout the series.

Character: Cameron Cook is an American TV prisoner who Tony recruits from New York.

Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara

Date Of Birth: 2000

Actor: Bella Maclean is an Anglo-American stage and screen actress who’s only appeared on two other television shows before Rivals. In 2023, she appeared as Jem for six episodes of Sex Education, as well as the British crime series Silent Witness.

Character: Taggie O’Hara is Declan’s middle child struggling to find her place in the family. Out of the ensemble, she’s the only one who seems to have any decent morals.

Rivals Supporting Cast & Characters

Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara: Victoria Smurfit has been acting in films and television shows since the 1990s, but she’s best known for playing Cruella De Vil in Once Upon a Time.

Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton: Emily Atack is a star known for her role in the teen show The Inbetweeners as well as various comedy and drama films.

Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton: Rufus Jones is an actor who’s appeared in films for over two decades, including Paddington and Wonka.

Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker: Katherine Parkinson is best known for her roles on various TV shows, including The IT Crowd, Doc Martin, and Here We Go.

Oliver Chris as James Vereker: Oliver Chris is an actor who’s appeared in TV shows like My Lady Jane and films like Emma.

Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones: Danny Dyer is an actor best known for his roles in Mr Bigstuff, The Football Factory, and the film Severance.

Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones: Lisa McGrillis is an actor who’s appeared in films like Last Night in Soho as well as TV shows like Sex Education.

Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham: Claire Rushbrook is an actress best known for My Mad Fat Diary, Doctor Who, Enola Holmes, and more.

Luke Pasqualino as Basil Baddingham: Luke Pasqualino is best known for his role in the teen show Skins, where he played Freddie. Since then, he’s appeared in Snowpiercer and Shadow and Bone, among other projects.

Set in the high-stakes world of 1980s British television, a bitter rivalry between two powerful men reaches its boiling point. Declan O’Hara, a TV presenter, vows revenge on Lord Tony Baddingham after feeling betrayed. Amidst romantic entanglements and corporate backstabbing, the drama unfolds with intense personal and professional clashes.

Cast

David Tennant , Aidan Turner , Danny Dyer , Bryony Hannah , Milo Callaghan , Wendy Albiston , Georgia Mack , Louis Landau , Alex Hassell , Bella Maclean , Katherine Parkinson

Release Date

October 18, 2024

Seasons

1