Rivals author Jilly Cooper shares Disney+ drama changes including raunchy opening scene

Rivals author has teased how the Disney+ adaptation of her fan-favourite book differs from what she wrote more than almost 40 years ago.

The wait is now over after months of excitement building around the premiere of Rivals, which dropped in full on Friday, October 18.

Set in the 1980s, the eight-part drama revolves around the feud between TV controller Lord Baddingham (played by David Tennant) and ex-Olympian and Tory MP Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell).

The series delves into the “ruthless of independent television” in the mid-80s and the complicated relationships of the elite.

While author Cooper is the mastermind behind the show, she admits to having little say in its creation.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

When speaking to News about the “wonderful adaptation,” the 87-year-old said: "How much of a say did I have? Not much.”

She then admitted to suggesting changes in some of the earlier scenes, elaborating: "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 regards to how it differs from her work, Cooper said the opening moment of a “mile high” sex scene “was not in the book.”

She added: "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."

Actor Tennant also spoke of the sex scenes and how important it was to feature these raunchy moments in the story, although they weren’t his favourites.

Opening up to Radio Times, he said: "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+.