Who's who in Rivals season 2? Meet the returning characters & new faces
by Explore Disney+ Contributor
15 May 2026
From familiar power players to formidable new arrivals, season two expands the Rivals ensemble in bold new ways
Rutshire is larger, louder and juicier than ever, as Rivals returns for its second season. Familiar faces find themselves entangled in ambition, attraction and rivalry that's messier and more competitive than ever. Find out what the cast had to say about the latest series in our cast interviews, then read on for our ultimate guide of who’s who in Rivals season 2
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Returning Rivals cast & characters
Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black
About the character
Retired show-jumper, Conservative Member of Parliament, and Tony Baddingham’s arch-nemesis as a founder of Venturer. After the successful launch of his consortium, his love life somehow gets even more complicated, and he starts to crack under the pressure.
Where you’ve seen Alex Hassell before
If Rupert looks familiar, you’ve probably spotted Hassell in The Tragedy of Macbeth or as Translucent in The Boys.
David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham
About the character
A sharp-suited TV executive at the centre of the franchise war with Rupert, he protects his power with blackmail and a fiery temper, dragging his enemies’ secrets into the light of day and pressuring his staff into submission.
Where you’ve seen David Tennant before
Best known for his role as the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, Tennant has also starred in The Thursday Murder Club and voiced Scrooge McDuck in DuckTales.
Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara
About the character
Wooed away from the BBC, he arrives at Corinium expecting a golden opportunity, only to resign once he sees the reality of working with Tony Baddingham. He’s a gifted journalist with a short fuse, and the last person you’d want figuring out he’s been played.
Where you’ve seen Aidan Turner before
Anyone who remembers Ross in Poldark or Kíli in The Hobbit trilogy will recognise him right away, probably by the eyebrows.
Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara
About the character
Tender-hearted but no pushover, Declan’s middle child is usually the one holding the family together while keeping an eye on her younger sister. She comes across as gentle, though she can be stubborn when it counts.
Where you’ve seen Bella Maclean before
She played Jem in Sex Education and Bella Wilfer in the National Theatre’s London Tide.
Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
About the character
The American TV executive Tony brings into Corinium to produce Declan’s talk show, she arrives determined to reach the top of the hierarchy and will do anything to get there. Anyone who mistakes her for an easy mark is in for a miserable surprise.
Where you’ve seen Nafessa Williams before
Her previous work includes Thunder in Black Lightning and a role in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton
About the character
As the deputy prime minister’s new wife, she knows how to turn attention into leverage and never wastes an opportunity. She’s a talented social climber and knows exactly how to use the people around her to get what she wants.
Where you’ve seen Emily Atack before
Best known for playing Charlotte in The Inbetweeners UK, Atak has also showcased a more personal side of her comedy in The Emily Atack Show.
Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
About the Character
A self-made electronics millionaire who doesn’t quite fit into Rutshire’s old-money crowd, he brings refreshingly blunt honesty to a world obsessed with status and fake niceties.
Where you’ve seen Danny Dyer before
His unmistakable Cockney accent has barged into living rooms via Eastenders, The Football Factory, and Mr. Bigstuff.
Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker
About the character
A romantic novelist who’s been overlooked by her TV-presenter husband for far too long, she’s had enough of being sidelined in her own life. She’s polite about it, but she notices more than people assume.
Where you’ve seen Katherine Parkinson before
She has a gift for sounding politely appalled, as seen in Humans and Here We Go.
Luke Pasqualino as Bas Baddingham
About the character
Tony’s charismatic younger brother runs Cotchester’s hotspot, Bar Sinister. He may have family ties to Corinium, but his loyalty lies elsewhere.
Where you’ve seen Luke Pasqualino before
Since getting his start in acting as Freddie in Skins UK, Pasqualino has portrayed d'Artagnan in The Musketeers and Maurizio in Shantaram.
More returning cast members
Gabriel Tierney, Claire Rushbrook, Lisa McGrillis, Rufus Jones, Oliver Chris, Gary Lamont, Catriona Chandler, and Victoria Smurfit are all back for more action in Season 2.
New Rivals season 2 cast & characters
Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon
About the character
Rupert Campbell-Black’s aggrieved ex-wife, and the mother of his two children, is back in the picture.
Where you’ve seen Hayley Atwell before
She previously played Grace in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, as well as Peggy Carter in Marvel’s Agent Carter and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Rupert Everett as Malise Gordon
About the character
Helen’s husband and Campbell-Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor arrives on the scene, and it doesn’t spell good news for Malise.
Where you’ve seen Rupert Everett before
His aristocratic delivery is hard to miss in Napoleon and My Policeman. He also voiced Prince Charming in Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, and appeared in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
More new cast members
Other guest stars heading to Rutshire include Maxim Ays, Holly Cattle, Oliver Dench, Amanda Lawrence, Bobby Lockwood, Eliot Salt, and Jonny Weldon.
Need a Rivals recap before streaming season 2?
Catch up on the key events of season one before diving into the next chapter of Rivals in our handy recap.
