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David Tennant gives Rivals season two update in exciting script announcement

Rivals season two, based on Jilly Cooper’s bestselling book, could mark an epic return for David Tennant as Tony Baddingham, after giving fans a brief update during Lorraine Kelly's breakfast show on Wednesday.

David Tennant on Lorraine's morning show, Wednesday 30 April
(Image: ITV)

David Tennant has given an exciting update on Rivals season two, confirming that he's waiting for the script to be uncovered and hinted a return could be on the cards. The seasoned actor joined Lorraine on her Wednesday morning show, April 30.

When discussing his colourful career, the Scottish Doctor Who star hinted at what's to come. Based on Jilly Cooper’s bestselling book, the series also stars Emily Atack, Danny Dyer and Aidan Turner.


David Tennant also appears as resident in the fictional English village of Rutshire, where they regularly fight and flirt in intertwining, dramatic, yet sexually charged storylines in this raunchy small-screen adaptation.


The book was first published in 1988. Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger, with Cooper’s iconic hunk Rupert Campbell-Black (played by Alex Hassell) finally giving in to his feelings for his friend’s daughter Taggie (Bella Maclean), 16 years his junior.

Evil TV boss Tony Baddingham (Tennant) was left facing the music. Fans of the hit TV drama Rivals were left on the edge of their seats during the season finale, which ended on a major cliffhanger of what could come next.

Lorraine and David Tennant chat about his career on the ITV show
David Tennant appeared on Lorraine offering an update on his career projects(Image: ITV)

It ended with David Tennant’s character, Lord Tony Baddingham, slapping Cameron, who he’d been having an affair with, across the face after discovering she slept with the Conservative MP Rupert Campbell-Black.

In retaliation, Cameron, played by Nafessa Williams then bludgeons Tony with a TV award she happened to have to hand, leaving a question mark over his fate as he lay bleeding on the ground.

Anyone who has read the Jilly Cooper book on which Rivals is based will know this ending is a deviation from the original story, in which Cameron doesn’t hit back when she’s slapped by Tony.


Executive producer Felicity Blunt told Variety: “We didn’t want her to only be a victim in that scene. We wanted and needed her to have agency and strength, but you wanted to feel really scared going into that scene.”

Elsewhere, whilst on ITV's Lorraine on Wednesday, David Tennant showed of his small tattoo for his wife Georgia. "She got my name a long time ago so I thought to mark the 40th birthday I'd take the plunge," he said showing off the small 'G' on his wrist.


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Lorraine Kelly news

"I love you two, you're such a great couple," gushed Lorraine, as she wished the acting star well on his upcoming career projects.

David Tennant tied the knot with wife Georgia Moffat in 2011, who he met when she appeared on an episode of Doctor Who in 2008.

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The actress' mum and dad are stars Sandra Dickinson and Doctor Who legend Peter Davison, meaning David has some rather well-kent in-laws. And their eldest son Ty - who David adopted when he met Georgia - is an actor now too in his own right, having starred in Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon.

Rivals is available to stream now on Disney+.

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