The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →In Disney+’s adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, the cast’s descriptions point to more than a clash between a charming aristocrat and an ambitious television boss. Set in 1986, the series places desire, class, family loyalty and professional power inside a battle over independent television. The actors’ comments offer distinct ways into that ensemble—without reducing its women, outsiders or family members to side characters in the feud.
What is Rivals about?
Disney describes the series as an adaptation of Cooper’s novel, set in the “ruthless world of independent television in 1986.” In fictional Rutshire, Corinium controller Tony Baddingham and Rupert Campbell-Black are on a collision course as the future of the television company is contested. Tony recruits BBC presenter Declan O’Hara, but Declan grows angry when Tony does not deliver on his promises. Cooper’s official synopsis describes a rival group forming to pitch for the franchise, while marriages and reputations shift under the pressure of competition. Disney’s series announcement and Cooper’s novel page establish those different adaptation and book perspectives.
The rivalry gives the story its engine, but the cast descriptions suggest why it is not simply a contest between two men. Rupert carries aristocratic status and political clout; Tony controls a television company and is driven by the need to win. Their orbit includes people with their own ambitions, loyalties and limits.
Rupert Campbell-Black: Alex Hassell plays the seductive problem
Disney’s cast announcement describes Rupert as an ex-Olympian and MP, an “incorrigible rake” who is “dangerously charismatic.” Jilly Cooper called him her “all-time hero,” saying Alex Hassell would embody an “iconic, racy, ruthless, and devastatingly handsome” character. Those are Cooper’s and Disney’s deliberately admiring framings, not a neutral list of virtues.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Hassell said the production helped him inhabit Rupert by telling people in a room to treat the character as the most attractive man in the world. In a Disney+ season-two interview, executive producer Laura Wade offered a more conflicted summary: Rupert is “just a guy trying to be good, but with thirty-seven years of not being good behind him.” The tension between charisma and a long record of selfish choices is central to how the character is presented.
Tony Baddingham: David Tennant makes ambition personal
Disney characterizes Tony as single-mindedly ambitious and egotistical. David Tennant describes the feeling beneath that ambition as being shut out of an elite circle: “there’s a club you’re not allowed to be in.” His Tony responds by pushing harder. Asked what Tony values most, Tennant’s answer was one word: “Winning!”
That framing makes Tony’s control of Corinium more than a job title: it is also his route to recognition and power. Disney’s season-two interview says Tony is vulnerable after a blow but more determined to succeed. These are Tennant’s and Disney’s interpretations of the character, not a clinical diagnosis.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Taggie O’Hara: Bella Maclean emphasizes her moral agency
Disney calls Taggie tender-hearted yet strong-willed and says she helps hold her family together. Bella Maclean described her as having “quite an amazing moral compass.” Maclean also said Taggie is willing to speak her mind and stand up to Rupert.
That matters in a story where Rupert’s magnetism can easily dominate the conversation. Taggie is not defined only by her connection to him: Maclean’s description foregrounds judgment, resolve and a willingness to challenge someone with considerable social power.
Declan O’Hara: Aidan Turner plays a proud professional under strain
Disney describes Declan as fiercely intellectual and hot-tempered. Recruited from the BBC by Tony, he becomes angry when the promises that brought him to Corinium are not kept. Turner said he drew on television presenters, including William F. Buckley Jr., and lightly based aspects of Declan on his own father.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
In Disney’s season-two interview, Declan is caught between pride in his work and distress about his family. That split links the show’s workplace contest to its domestic stakes: professional success does not insulate him from the consequences of choices made at home.
Cameron Cook: Nafessa Williams describes an outsider with authority
Disney introduces Cameron as a “ferociously talented American TV executive” brought to Corinium to produce Declan’s talk show. The announcement says the two powerful men underestimate her at their peril. Williams called Cameron “strong, so smart, and so firm in who she is.”
Recommended Free Tools
Williams connected to Cameron’s arrival in an unfamiliar place and said she drew on family memories of 1980s style. Cameron’s position makes her both a professional force and a newcomer navigating a world shaped by other people’s assumptions. Her story is not just a bridge between Declan and Tony; it is also about competence and authority in a workplace where powerful men may fail to recognize them.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Lizzie Vereker and Freddie Jones: desire meets existing loyalties
Lizzie Vereker, played by Katherine Parkinson
Disney identifies Lizzie as a romantic novelist whose husband, James, overlooks her. The interview report presents her as a watchful writer observing the neighbours around her. Parkinson said Cooper told her, “you know you’re playing me?” Parkinson also discussed the particular attentiveness of playing a writer invested in other people’s lives.
Disney’s 2026 interview says Lizzie’s second-season story explores both the pull and difficulty of an affair with Freddie Jones. That description keeps her writing and observation in view alongside the romance.
Freddie Jones, played by Danny Dyer
Disney’s cast announcement describes Freddie as honourable, loyal and lovable: a self-made electronics millionaire who remains an outsider to Rutshire’s cliques despite his money. In the 2026 interview, Dyer described the relationship with Lizzie as involving two people in love who are married to other people. The complication is part of the story, not something to smooth away when describing the attraction.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchBest Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Who else is in the ensemble?
Disney’s cast announcement sketches a wider set of relationships around Corinium and the O’Haras:
- Maud O’Hara is described as Declan’s bohemian, fickle wife.
- James Vereker is identified as a self-centred presenter and Lizzie’s husband.
- Monica Baddingham is described as Tony’s dependable, upper-crust wife.
- Bas Baddingham is Tony’s younger brother.
- Sarah Stratton is described as ambitious.
These are the official announcement’s brief character sketches; they should not be mistaken for a complete account of each character’s development.
How does the television series relate to Cooper’s novel?
The series adapts Cooper’s novel, but the available official descriptions serve different purposes. Cooper’s synopsis focuses on the rival franchise bid and the effects of competition on marriages and reputations. Disney’s announcements establish the adaptation’s 1986 setting, cast and character framing. The actors’ interviews explain performance choices and their own readings of the roles. Those sources support a useful overview of the characters, but not a scene-by-scene comparison of book and series.
Cooper’s official page lists the novel in paperback, tie-in paperback, ebook and audiobook formats. It notes that Georgia Tennant narrates the newer audiobook released to coincide with the 2024 adaptation. See the book and formats on Jilly Cooper’s official site. The author’s site also links to Disney+ and Hulu. Disney’s 2024 release said the series was to debut on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ elsewhere; streaming availability depends on territory.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
