WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Rivals.
The much-anticipated drama Rivals has become the talk of the town as fans eagerly delve into the show’s origins and inspiration.
The steamy 1980s sensation Rivals has hit Disney+, with all eight episodes landing on the streaming service on Friday, October 18, boasting an all-star cast that includes David Tennant and Alex Hassell.
From its first scene featuring former Olympian-turned-MP Rupert Campbell-Black’s high-flying escapades in the mile high club, to the titillating exploits and shocking revelations that unfold thereafter, Rivals is set to leave viewers utterly captivated.
As such, there’s been a buzz of interest around whether any of the show’s risque plot points mirror reality.
Is Rivals based on real life?
The Disney+ series Rivals takes its roots from the 1980s book by celebrated writer Jilly Cooper, serving as the second instalment in her Rutshire Chronicles.
Despite the tantalising prospect of being grounded in real-life events, that notion is purely fictional.
The drama transports audiences to the entirely made-up county of Rutshire, nestled within the Cotswolds, complete with a cast of larger-than-life characters.
Nevertheless, rumour has it that Cooper found inspiration for the character of the lecherous Rupert Campbell-Black in several real-life notables.
Reports have frequently suggested that figures such as Queen Camilla’s former spouse Andrew Parker Bowles, the late Earl of Suffolk “Mickey” Suffolk, and David Somerset, the 11th Duke of Beaufort, lent their charismatic traits to Cooper’s creation.
Tailor and fashion designer Rupert Lycett Green is also said to have influenced the protagonist’s personality.
Speaking to The Telegraph in 2002, she revealed: “They were a wildly dashing and exciting group.
“Their bravery and charisma were the essential elements of Rupert’s character.”
Additionally, she clarified: “This was because of their charm and glamour, not for any of Rupert’s naughty behaviour! “.
However, it wasn’t always certain that Campbell-Black would appear in her book ‘Rivals’.
Despite having been a prominent figure in many of her books including ‘Riders’, ‘Polo’, and ‘The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous’, there was a time she considered excluding the charming rogue from the novel.
In a conversation with MailOnline, the author, now 87, shared: “Originally, I intended to leave out Rupert, my hellraising hero, because in Riders he was cruel both to women and his horses. But I missed his glamour and humour.”
Rivals is available to watch on Disney+.