Rivals fans figure out what baffling 'Perdita' note Declan burnt from Rupert's dirty dossier really meant
Jilly Cooper fans have been binge-watching Rivals - the Disney+ adaptation of the bonkbuster novels - since it landed on the streamer last week, with many taken with leading man Alex Hassell, who plays heartthrob Rupert Campbell-Black. Set in the '80s, Rivals follows the residents of fictional county Rutshire as MP Rupert and TV boss Lord Tony Baddingham's rivalry spills out into their Cotswolds village.
In one particular episode, Tony's latest hire, TV presenter Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner), prepares to grill Rupert on live TV - and uncovers scandalous dirt on Rupert that viewers never learn after Declan decides not to reveal it on air at the last minute. However, with fans just spotting the name 'Perdita' on Declan's piece of paper, those who've read Jilly Cooper's books have spotted the major Easter Egg that will undoubtedly feature in a future series of the drama.
"I loved #Rivals, enjoyed the Perdita foreshadowing, gave me hope for more," one fan wrote. Another tweeted: "Perdita ?!? What an Easter egg in #Rivals does this mean we get #polo too ?!?"
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"As a lifelong fan of the #RutshireChronicles I have to say that #Rivals is bloody brilliant!!! Also the #perdita Easter egg was a chefs kiss #DisneyPlus I need more #jillycooper immediately please!!!!!!" one eager fan tweeted.
Fans of Jilly Cooper's novels will know that Perdita is the heroine of Polo - the sequel to Rivals in the author's Rutshire Chronicles who turns out to be the illegitimate daughter of Rupert Campbell-Black. If Rivals is renewed for a second series by Disney+, Perdita is likely to be introduced, with Rupert learning of his daughter's existence.
The series stars David Tennant as Lord Baddingham, while the likes of Victoria Smurfit, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer within the star-studded cast. Alex Hassell stars as Rupert Campbell-Black, who was based on Andrew Parker Bowles, the first husband of Queen Camilla, among other real-life people.
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In an interview with The Telegraph in 2002, Jilly talked about Andrew, Michael and another of their friends, David Somerset, the 11th Duke of Beaufort, as inspirations for the rakish Rupert. “They were a wildly dashing and exciting group and their bravery and charisma were the essential elements of Rupert’s character.”
Jilly's late husband Leo was also one of the men who Rupert was based on as well as Michael Howard, the 21st Earl of Suffolk, who she was friends with for more than 40 years.
Rivals is streaming on Disney+.
