The Biggest Differences Between The 'Rivals' TV Show And The Book
In the last week we have thought of little else but Disney+'s Rivals. The eight-part series is full of 1980s glamour, plenty of sex scenes and a fierce rivalry between two feuding TV companies, fighting to secure the IBA bid.
The series is an adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper's novel of the same name, and while it is an incredibly faithful adaptation, as with any TV show there are always going to be some differences from the book. And these are all the biggest differences we noticed between the TV show and the book.
Rivals' biggest differences between the TV show and the book
The opening scene
In the series: The iconic opening shot of Rivals is, of course, Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Beattie Johnson (Annabel Scholey) joining the 'mile high' club on their way back from New York. They then join the rest of the passengers for the remainder of the flight, where Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) and Rupert begin firing shots at one another.
In the book: The novel opens with Rupert and Tony boarding the plane to New York, however, not before Rupert and Beattie have sex in his hotel room. Their pre-flight fun causes the plane to be delayed and Beattie stays on the ground and doesn't join the flight. We then read the whole process of Tony recruiting Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) to join Corinium, including the first time they sleep together, whereas in the series she has already been signed up.
Tony recruiting Declan
In the series: Following his return from New York, Tony heads to the BBC where we witness Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner) getting into arguments with his producer over his interview with the deputy prime minister. Declan storms off and that's when Tony offers him the job.
In the book: We only hear about Declan's recruitment to Corinium and meet him and his family for the first time on the page when they move into The Priory.
Taggie's age
In the series: Taggie O'Hara (Bella Maclean) is 20-years-old in the series.
In the book: Taggie is just 18-years-old in the novel.
Lizzie's writing
In the series: After meeting the O'Hara family and spotting a copy of one of her old novels it inspires Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson) to start writing again and we later see her writing a book called Rivals.
In the book: Lizzie is always writing and hasn't stopped, paying more attention to her novel writing than to James Vereker (Oliver Chris). He also has affairs with their nannies in the novel, which isn't brought up in the series.
Rupert Campbell-Black
In the series: Rupert is dark haired and becomes minister for sport after his argument with Paul at the garden party over Sarah Stratton (Emily Atack).
In the book: Rupert is famously blonde in the novel and already the minister for sport when the book begins.
Charles Fairburn and Gerald Middleton
In the series: Charles Fairburn (Gary Lamont) is controller of programmes at Corinium and is secretly having a relationship with Rupert's secretary Gerald Middleton (Hubert Burton). Until the New Year's Eve Party in which Gerald tells him he can't have anything serious with Charles as he wants to succeed in politics and for that he needs a wife. Charles is left heartbroken and ends up having a panic attack. Taggie gets him taken away in an ambulance. Following this incident Tony demotes Charles to head of religious programming.
In the book: Charles is head of religious programming from the start of the novel, and instead a different character is the controller of programmes, who then suffers a nervous breakdown and Cameron takes over the role. During the book while there's allusions to Charles being gay, there's never any relationship between him and Gerald.
Patrick and Cameron
In the series: In episode three we meet Declan and Maud O'Hara's (Victoria Smurfit) oldest child Patrick who comes home for Christmas. They throw him a birthday party on New Year's Eve which is where he meets Cameron and falls head over heels in love with her. The pair spend the evening together but nothing happens apart from a kiss. She then heads home where she's confronted by Tony who agrees to make her controller of programmes if she has sex with him.
In the book: Patrick actually has a girlfriend during his New Year's Eve party, but forgets all about her when he meets Cameron. Cameron ends up spending the whole of New Year's Day with Patrick. She is later confronted by Tony. Patrick then tries to turn up to Cameron's house at one point and throws Tony's car keys in the bushes, so when everyone drives past they'll see Tony's car parked at Cameron's.
Valerie telling Monica about Cameron
In the series: During the fourth episode Valerie Jones (Lisa McGrillis) tells her husband Freddie all about Tony's alleged affair with Cameron. While Freddie tells her to keep out of it, Valerie goes and tells Monica Baddingham (Claire Rushbrook), hoping it will bond them. Monica doesn't react, but she later gives Tony a telling-off indirectly by warning their son Archie to not fraternise with the staff.
In the book: This moment doesn't happen in the book, and throughout the novel Monica is presented as being less bothered about her husband, much preferring the company of her dogs. While in the TV series she has a lot more warmth.
Taggie visiting Rupert's ex-wife
In the series: In the fourth episode Taggie goes to Rupert's ex-wife Helen to plead with her to tell Rupert not to go on her father's show. Taggie then goes to the TV station and begs Rupert not to go on the show.
In the book: This moment never happens in the book and Taggie first meets Helen later on in the novel when she accompanies Rupert and his children to Helen's home.
Declans's departure from Corinium
In the series: During episode five Declan finally leaves Corinium after having enough of Tony's mistreatment to everyone. Declan refuses to interview Margaret Thatcher if he can't ask his own questions and so Tony gives the interview to James instead. Declan goes to quit but Tony blackmails him with photos of Maud and a director having sex, threatening to sell them to the newspapers. Declan, then after a day of drinking with Freddie and Rupert turns up drunk to judge the beauty pageant. He attacks the Reverend live on air after discovering what he did to Daysee Butler (Lara Peake). He goes to Tony's office and quits on the spot, and smashes a window on his way out.
Tony then instructs Joyce to send out the photos of Maud and the director out to the papers, but they've mysteriously disappeared and it later turns out Joyce had got rid of them, and hands them back to Declan.
In the book: Declan does quit Corinium but the circumstances are less dramatic and there's no blackmail of the photos either. He refuses to do the interview with Margaret Thatcher and later he and Rupert are both on the judging panel for the beauty pageant. It's shortly after this that he quits and forms Venturer with Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer) and Rupert.
The trip to Spain
In the series: Episode six opens with Cameron in Malaga waiting for Tony to arrive so they can attend an awards ceremony later on together. However, Rupert then turns up and they have a very fun weekend together, before Rupert steals Corinium's plans for the IBA bid.
In the book: In the novel this trip actually takes place in Madrid, not Malaga.
Sarah's pregnancy
In the series: Episode eight opens with Lizzie and James presenting their new show, at the same time as Sarah, who has been having an affair with James, looks at a positive pregnancy test.
In the book: While Sarah and James do have an affair, there's never any mention of a pregnancy.
Seb and Taggie
In the series: During the final episode Seb Burrows (Milo Callaghan) turns up to take Taggie on a date after she's spent the day canvassing for support with Rupert. Rupert is furious with this but Taggie goes anyway.
In the book: There's nothing remotely romantic between Seb and Taggie during the book, but Taggie does go on a date with Baz to a fancy dinner event where Rupert is also in attendance. Rupert gets beyond jealous and his frustration is shown throughout the night.
The ending
In the series: The final episode sees a lot go down. Maud leaves to London to join a play, Monica threatens to divorce Tony and take the kids with her, Venturer win part of their bid, Rupert and Taggie finally share a kiss and crucially Cameron hits Tony over the head with a TV award, leaving him pretty much for dead.
In the book: Ok so the ending is very different in the book. Firstly Maud doesn't leave her family to go for a play in London. Secondly, Monica never threatens Tony about the affair and is not really part of the over-arching storyline when it comes to the IBA bid. Rupert and Taggie actually end up getting married in the end of the novel and very importantly Cameron never hits Tony over the head, in fact she has a very nice happy ending.
So what does this mean for the series going forward? Well we're going to need a season two ASAP.
Rivals is available on Disney+ now.
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