Full Breakdown
Rivals Season 2 Highlights Female Perspective on Sex and Boosts West Country Filming
5/16/2026, 9:14:57 PM
Rivals Season 2 Puts Female Desire Front and Center
The Disney+ series “Rivals”, adapted from Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles, launched its second season on Friday with episodes streaming. Known for racy scenes in the series, actor Katherine Parkinson called the show “radical” for centering sex on a woman’s perspective, a view she says is rare on TV.
Creative Roots and Jilly Cooper’s Legacy
The series adapts Cooper’s novels set in Rutshire, a satire of British TV’s world. Cooper died in October after a fatal head injury; Bristol preview asked the audience to raise a glass to her memory, linking episodes to her legacy.
Key Contributors
Katherine Parkinson returns as Lizzie Vereker, with Annabel Scholey as journalist Beattie Johnson. Production is based at Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios; advocate Helen Godwin represents the West Country film sector. Disney+ distributes the series.
Economic Impact and Official Statements
Filming for season two began in May 2025 and stayed within a 30-mile radius of Bristol, using crews and locations. Helen Godwin, speaking for the West Country film board, said the production makes the area the “real-life Rutshire” seen worldwide and adds millions of pounds to the region’s economy, positioning the series as a cultural export and economic catalyst.
Audience Tribute to Jilly Cooper
At the Bristol preview, the audience raised a glass to Cooper’s memory before the first episode, linking the new episodes to her original vision.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The great thing that Rivals does is … there are truths being told that I don’t feel that I’ve necessarily seen … there’s a sort of bravery to that. And it sort of feels quite radical,” — Katherine Parkinson, Actor
- “Because Jilly [Cooper] wrote brilliantly from the female perspective about sex. And oddly, we still haven’t seen a lot of that on television.” — Katherine Parkinson, Actor
- “The West Country is proud to be the real-life Rutshire, somewhere seen by people all around the world and something which is inspiring more visitors to come to, and fall in love with, our region.” — Helen Godwin, Regional Advocate
- “Rivals being made here has directly and indirectly helped add millions of pounds to the country’s fastest-growing regional economy.” — Helen Godwin, Regional Advocate
What’s Next
The three episodes debut on Disney+ Friday, extending Rivals’ storyline and regional profile. Producers plan to keep using Bristol’s facilities for future seasons, strengthening the West Country’s role in television production.
