FINALLY. After months(!) of waiting and anticipation, Rivals season 2 is finally here— and with it, some new characters are joining the existing cast and crew. But who are the actors that make up the show, and the people they play?
Set in the fictional county of Rutshire, the 12-episode (!) season follows the battle between Lord Tony Baddingham and Rupert Campbell-Black, for the Central South West television franchise. This time around, the war between Corinium and Venturer is entering a dangerous new phase, and no one is safe.
There's a whole host of characters in this upper class TV society, so even if you've watched the first season, it's easy to get characters confused. So we've devised our quick character guide to give you the low-down on the main players of the series, as well as the new characters. Oh, and of course all the details on the pretty iconic cast who play them too.
The new Rivals season 2 cast
- Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon
- Rupert Everett as Malise Gordon
The returning Rivals season 2 cast
- David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham
- Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black
- Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara
- Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
- Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson
- Bella Maclean as Taggie O'Hara
- Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker
- Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
- Victoria Smurfit as Maud O'Hara
- Claire Rushbrook as Monica Baddingham
- Oliver Chris as James Vereker
- Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones
- Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton
- Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton
- Luca Pasqualino as Basil "Bas" Baddingham
Helen Gordon
Helen Gordon is one of the two new characters joining the chaos of Rutshire in season 2. She is Rupert Campbell-Black's ex-wife, and we meet her in episode two when she arrives in Rutshire to drop their children off so she can go on holiday for a week.
Hayley Atwell
Helen is played by Hayley Atwell, who most recently starred in the Mission Impossible franchise for the final two films. She has also been in Captain America: The First Avenger, Cinderella, Christopher Robin and Peter Rabbit 2.
Malise Gordon, played by Rupert Everett
Malise is Helen's new husband and former show-jumping coach to her ex-husband (keep up!), Rupert Campbell-Black.
He is played by Rupert Everett, who fans of rom-coms will know best for his starring role in My Best Friend's Wedding. He also has key roles in The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband.
Tony Baddingham
Tony Baddingham is the managing director of Corinium Television and is a ruthless ruler. He sees Rupert Campbell-Black as his biggest rival and is constantly in competition with him. Season two will see them come head to head on an even deeper level, over the battle for the Central South West television franchise.
David Tennant
David Tennant, 54, plays the role of Tony, and is most recognizable for his role as The Doctor in Doctor Who. Over the years he's had many other iconic jobs too, including Broadchurch, Jessica Jones, Good Omens, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, DuckTales and many many others.
Monica Baddingham
Monica is Tony's wife, who much prefers the company of her dogs than her husband and the rest of their society friends. From season 1, it's clear that she puts up with a lot—including his affair with producer Cameron Cook.
Claire Rushbrook
Claire, 54, plays Monica and she's been on our TV screens for years. You might best know Claire for her role as Rae's mum in My Mad Fat Diary, or as Roxane in Secret & Lies. She's also appeared in Doctor Who, Mutual Friends, Home Fires, Requiem, Enola Holmes, and A Very Royal Scandal.
Rupert Campbell-Black
Rupert is a retired Olympian show jumper and a notorious womanizer. He works as a Tory MP and sports minister, and is struggling from the breakdown of his marriage when a certain Taggie O'Hara catches his eye. Their potential romance is bound to take center stage in season 2...
Alex Hassell
Alex, 45, plays Rupert, and is most known for his work on in theatre and on the West End stage. He's also known for this roles on TV including series such as His Dark Materials, The Boys and The Miniaturist.
Declan O'Hara
Declan O'Hara is a BBC journalist known for his tough interview style. In season 1, he won the IBA’s franchise bid, but his wife Maud (Victoria Smurfit) moved to London in the process. They have three children together - Patrick, Taggie and Caitlin.
Aidan Turner
Aidan, 42, plays the role of TV host Declan and you'll most likely know Aidan for playing Poldark. He's also known for his roles in the Hobbit films as Killi. He's also appeared in The Mortal Instruments, Being Human and many other roles too.
Beattie Johnson
Beattie Johnson is Sarah Scratton's fellow anchor, who takes her chance in season 2 to further her own career. She is a major player in the takedown of Rupert by Tony, when she airs his private life on prime time TV.
Annabel Scholey
Beattie is played by Annabel, who you'll most likely recognize from The Split. She is also known for her roles in Being Human on BBC in 2009 and as Anne-Marie Blake in the miniseries The Sixth Commandment.
Maud O'Hara
Maud is Declan's wife, who was a rising actress and the toast of Dublin before she met Declan. But after the birth of their first child Patrick, she lost her career—until an opportunity in London rose in season 1, and she made the move. She's also guilty of carrying out numerous affairs, while her husband commits himself to his job.
Victoria Smurfit
Victoria, 51, plays Declan's wife Maud. She's been acting since the mid 1990s and is best known for her roles in Once Upon a Time as Cruella De Vil, Bloodlands, Ballykissangel, About a Boy and Marcella.
Taggie O'Hara
Taggie is Declan and Maud's middle child, and struggles to find her place in family, and easily has the best morals of the characters in Rivals. When they move to Rutshire she wants to set up a catering company to capitalize on her cooking skills, but instead finds herself in somewhat of an entanglement with Rupert, despite their age gap.
Bella Maclean
Bella, 24, plays the role of Taggie in Rivals. You'll most likely recognise Bella from her role on Sex Education, where she played Jem who helped Adam connect with the horses on her farm. She's also been in two episode of Silent Witness.
Earlier this month, on May 13, Netflix also announced she would be starring alongside Ben Stiller and Nicholas Galitzine for the film A Matter of Time.
Cameron Cook
Cameron is an American TV producer who Tony meets in New York and brings her over to work for Corinium, where she works on Declan's chat show. In season 1, she and Tony were having an affair, which culminated in her hitting him over the head in the final scenes—but we now know he lived to tell the tale.
Nafessa Williams
Nafessa, 35, plays the role of TV exec Cameron. She's been acting since 2010 and is perhaps best known for her role in the series Black Lightning where she played Anissa Pierce. Nafessa has also starred in Black and Blue, Twin Peaks, and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
Freddie Jones
Freddie Jones is a working-class man who has become a self-made successful electronics businessman. Thanks to his impressive fortune he's moved with his family to Rutshire and starts socializing with the upper class. In season one, he and Lizzie Vereker finally begin their affair—but where will that lead in season 2?
Danny Dyer
Danny, 48, who plays Freddie, has a successful podcast alongside his daughter Dani Dyer, and is also known for his roles in Eastenders and The Football Factory.
Valerie Jones
Valerie is Freddie's wife and she is a notorious social climber, who is obsessed with being part of Tony's clique. She constantly criticizes Freddie's weight and is very prudish.
Lisa McGrillis
Lisa, 43, who you might recognize from Last Night in Soho, Deadwater Fell and Inspector George Gentley, plays Freddie's wife. You might also recognise her as Otis' aunt Joanna from Sex Education.
Sarah Stratton
Sarah Stratton is the mistress-turned-wife of MP Paul Stratton, and was once his PA. She's determined to make a name for herself in Rutshire and will do whatever it takes to be taken seriously by the upper classes, as well as keep hold of her career as a TV anchor. The big news at the end of season 1 is that she's pregnant—but who is the father?
Emily Atack
Of course Emily Atack is the perfect Sarah Stratton! The 35-year-old actress is best known for playing Charlotte in the Inbetweeners, Emily is also known for Almost Married, Almost Never, and Iron Sky.
Paul Stratton
Paul was once the deputy prime minister, but now he's in the throes of a mid-life crisis as an MP and is married to his second wife Sarah. He could potentially be the father of Sarah's unborn child.
Rufus Jones
Rufus, 50, plays the role of Sarah's husband Paul, and you'll perhaps best know Rufus for his roles in W1A, Hunderby, Camping and most recently as Jenkins in Wonka.
Lizzie Vereker
Lizzie is an author and wife of TV host James Vereker, however the pair are in an unhappy marriage. Which might be why she forms such a strong connection with Freddie Jones in season 1, with the pair eventually acting on their desires and beginning an affair.
Katherine Parkinson
Katherine Parkinson has been on our TVs for years. She's best known for her roles in The IT Crowd, Doc Martin, Katy Brand's Big Ass Show, The Boat That Rocked, The Nan Movie and many many others. She is 47.
James Vereker
James is a TV host at Corinium and is very much in love with himself, but also having an affair with Sarah Stratton, his co-host. While adored by his fans, the staff at Corinium are constantly irritated by his egotistical personality. Could he be the father of her unborn child?
Oliver Chris
Oliver, 46, plays Lizzie's husband James, and you'll most recently recognize him from his role in Prime Video's My Lady Jane. He's also appeared in the series Trying, Bluestone 42, Motherland, and the movies Emma and What's Love Got To Do With It?
Basil "Bas" Baddingham
Basil "Bas" Baddingham is Tony's younger half-brother, who plays polo and owns the local bar, called Bar Sinister. But of course!
Luca Pasqualino
We all know Luca, don't we? He was heartthrob Freddie in Skins, but has also appeared in Our Girl alongside Michelle Keegan and The Musketeers.
Rivals, it's good to have you back.
