Rivals author Jilly Cooper shares how Disney+ drama differs from book with first scene

Rivals: Official teaser trailer

Rivals author Jilly Cooper has shared how the Disney+ interpretation deviates from her original work written nearly four decades ago.

Thrilled fans can at last immerse themselves in the world of Rivals as the eagerly anticipated adaptation made its debut on Disney+ this past Friday, October 18.

Thrust back into the decadent 1980s, viewers are enticed by the eight-part drama that centres on the fierce rivalry between a television executive, Lord Baddingham, depicted by the renowned David Tennant, and ex-Olympic athlete turned Conservative MP Rupert Campbell-Black, brought to life by Alex Hassell.

Exploring the cutthroat era of independent broadcasting during the mid-1980s, the show navigates through the intricate web woven by the relationships of the elite.

Despite being the brains behind the novel, author Jilly Cooper has disclosed that her contributions to the television adaptation were quite limited.

Rivals author Jilly Cooper at the Disney show's premiere. (Image: GETTY)

The cast of Rivals on Disney include Emily Atack and Alex Hassell. (Image: DISNEY PLUS)

Chatting with BBC News to express her thoughts on the "wonderful adaptation," the 87-year-old commented: "How much of a say did I have? Not much.

"I did occasionally say, 'No, I don't think they should be jumping on each other quite so early in the story' and things like that."

In reference to the changes from her original storyline, Cooper highlighted that the provocative mile high opening sex scene "was not in the book."

She continued: "It's fun. It's quite naughty too. There is a lot of sex.

"In one episode, they have every member of the cast coupled and fornicating for the next 20 minutes and all of that."

Rivals cast: Rupert Campbell-Black is played by actor Alex Hassell. (Image: DISNEY PLUS) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Actor Tennant opened up about the steamy scenes in his latest project, admitting to Radio Times: "I mean, it's not something I look forward to."

"I don't have to do nudity as much as you do [Alex Hassell], but everyone has a bit of that kind... part of the story is about how people manage their sexuality for good, for ill, in positive ways, in negative ways.

"That's part of what Jilly [Cooper] wrote, and that's the story that we decided to tell, and I think it's important that you meet that and you don't shy away from it."

Rivals is available to watch on Disney+.