Rivals is landing on Disney+ soon, bringing some very famous fictional Jilly Cooper characters to life, but is it really worth all the hype? Find out in our review...

The eight-part series is an adaptation of the steamy novel of the same name, and has possibly THE best cast of popular TV actors around right now.

Poldark's Aidan Turner leads the cast in the upcoming series, alongside the likes of David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Emily Atack, Danny Dyer, and Katherine Parkinson. So much talent in one room... (or rather mansion in the country).

So is Rivals any good? Is it worth watching? Read our review below.

Rivals review: Is there lots of sex in Disney+ series?

Rivals, the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper's bestselling book of the same name, is set in the fictional county of Rutshire. And it couldn't be a more aptly-named county...

As the Deputy Prime Minister Paul Stratton (Rufus Jones) complains in episode 1: "There's loveless rutting, and promiscuous encounters." And, yep, he's right. There's sex - or intent - everywhere you look.

There's naked tennis - with full frontals - sex on a plane, sex in a bed, sex up a wall, sex with partners, and sex with other people's partners.

In fact, the very first scene zooms in on Rupert Campbell-Blacks' bottom as he has very enjoyable sex with his girlfriend in the cramped toilet of Concorde (like Dallas on Viagra).

Similarly to the book, this series isn't afraid to bare all. And we mean ALL. But as scriptwriter Dominic Treadwell-Collins explained: "We've been equal opportunities in our nudity. There's a willy for every pair of tits."

And to be clear, the sex is more Carry On than Normal People. Prudes need not be offended.

Is Rivals on Disney+ any good?

Yes, reader, Rivals is good. In fact, it's riotous fun. We follow journalist Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner), who leaves the BBC for the "freedom" of Corinium television station - run by David Tennant's Lord Tony Baddingham.

Once there, he is thrown into the long-rooted rivalry between Baddingham and his neighbour Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell).

Rupert is a womanising cad, a former athlete who still performs athletics in other ways...

The tug-of-war antagonism between the pair is delicious to watch - mainly because of the brilliant performances by Hassell and Tennant.

There's also the fact that Randy Rupert takes a shine to Declan's eldest daughter, Taggie... Surely a simmering pot just waiting to boil over.

Rivals on Disney+ looks like it was GREAT fun to film, and it's sure as hell entertaining to watch.

Rivals review: Is it worth watching?

The new Disney+ series is everything you'd hope from a Jilly Cooper adaptation. Yes, there's lots of sex. But there's so much more than that. For starters, the casting is simply exquisite.

It's a glorious reminder of TV's heyday - when there was money to be spent. Like Netflix's Stranger Things, this is set in the 80s (1986 to be precise), and celebrates the decade that bought us shoulder-pads, perms, and Wham!

There's even a Jimmy Savile joke that's like a sly, knowing nod to camera, but some may still find it in bad taste.

Would Mary Whitehouse approve? Certainly not. But that's EXACTLY why you'll love it. Luckily for us, the fun police hasn't managed to leech out all the cheekiness here.

And don't be fooled by the sex, Champagne, and - at times - shocking language. This is a very well made TV series. It's class, with a camp twist.

Rivals will air on Disney+ from Friday, October 18, 2024.