Disney+ is celebrating the triumphant return of their most successful British drama with a fully-loaded podcast companion that gives fans exactly what they want — deeper access to the glamorous, scandalous world of Rutshire.
Rivals wasn't just a hit, it was a phenomenon. The 2024 launch made it Disney+'s most-watched general entertainment series in Britain and the best U.K. drama debut of the year. Now the stakes are even higher for season two, and everyone involved is acutely aware that fans expect nothing less than full-blown 1980s television chaos.
Rivals: The Podcast returns May 15, 2026 to coincide with season two's launch. Sykes said: "I cannot wait to dive back into the fabulous and naughty world of Rutshire." The show won Disney+'s most-viewed general entertainment series in Britain and best U.K. drama launch of 2024.
With Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett joining the already star-studded cast, season two of Rivals is positioning itself to be even more scandalous than the first. The podcast gives fans exactly what they crave — a front-row seat to all the behind-the-scenes drama.
Disney+ is giving fans exactly what they want, and honestly? It's about time. The streaming giant confirmed Tuesday that "Rivals: The Podcast" is officially returning for season two, with journalist and broadcaster Pandora Sykes back behind the microphone to guide listeners through all the juicy drama. The podcast will drop alongside season two's premiere on May 15, giving devoted fans their fix of behind-the-scenes gossip exactly when they need it most.
"It's such a joy to be back," Sykes told The Hollywood Reporter, clearly thrilled to reunite with the Ragshire rascals. "I cannot wait to dive back into the fabulous and naughty world of Rutshire." And honestly? We get it. The woman has access to David Tennant, Aidan Turner, and Danny Dyer discussing their character arcs over glasses of wine. That's the kind of job that makes the rest of us question our career choices.
The podcast — produced by Platform Media, the same team behind "The Traitors: Uncloaked" — will feature deep dives into each episode, with guests breaking down the wonderful world of Dame Jilly Cooper's scandalous universe. Viewers can expect discussions about bringing 1980s British television naughtiness to life, character analysis, and of course, those exclusive behind-the-scenes secrets that keep fans coming back for more.
The guest list reads like a who's who of British acting royalty. All the returning Rutshire rascals are aboard: David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham, Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara, Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook, Bella Maclean as Taggie O'Hara, Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, and Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones. New additions include Victoria Smurfit as Maud O'Hara, Claire Rushbrook as Lady 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, Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson, and Gary Lamont as Charles Fairburn. Plus, creators Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade, and director Elliot Hegarty will all make appearances.
Here's the tea that matters most: Rivals absolutely dominated in 2024. It became Disney+'s most-viewed general entertainment series in Britain and the best U.K. drama launch of that entire year. That's not a small feat — that's cultural phenomenon territory. The show, adapted from Jilly Cooper's beloved novels, centers on the cutthroat world of 1980s British television set against the stunning Cotswolds countryside. And with Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett confirmed to join the second season (a casting announcement that dropped back in August), the drama is only getting more explosive. The series returns in two six-episode batches, with the second batch arriving later this year — meaning fans get double the scandal, double the betrayal, and absolutely zero chance of getting any work done from May onward.
