Emily Atack plays tennis naked in an eye-popping first trailer for Disney+ series Rivals, which has been dubbed the streamer’s ‘sexiest show yet’.
In the first full teaser trailer for the series, based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s best selling novels, the blonde bombshell, 34, appears totally naked along with her co-star in the garden.
The raunchy show is based on Jilly’s 1988 novel, and follows the cutthroat world of independent television in 1986.
The story focuses on the tense rivalry between Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) and stars Emily as Sarah Stratton.
The sexy character is described as ambitious and not afraid to use her looks to get to the top.
In the trailer, Tennant plays the ambitious and egotistical controller of Corinium Television and is a far cry from his usual jovial self.
Emily Atack, 34, plays tennis naked in an eye-popping first trailer for Disney+ series Rivals which has been dubbed the streamer’s ‘sexiest show yet’
In the first full teaser trailer for the series, based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s best selling novels, the blonde bombshell appears alongside a host of famous faces, all transported to the 1980s
The racy eight-part series is based on Jilly Cooper’s raunchy 1988 novel, and follows the cutthroat world of independent television in 1986
He’s seen shouldering a rifle and wearing a tweed jacket with a matching tie and flat cap, while encouraging his friend to shoot with him and spend his newfound wealth.
At the very start of the trailer, Bella Maclean tells Aiden that ‘exciting things are about to happen to them,’ which sets the precedent for the whole sexy affair.
For the show, the Poldark star has also undergone a transformation, sporting a distinctive moustache to play TV presenter Declan O’Hara, who brings his wife and children to Lord Tony Baddingham’s new estate.
Declan is described as fiercely intellectual, with an even fiercer temper, and is wooed to Corinium TV from the BBC by Tony.
But tensions soon rise and throughout the trailer Aiden is spotted getting into fistfights to protect his daughter (played by Bella Maclean) from rakish toffs.
Characters such as the dashing ex-Olympian, Member of Parliament, incorrigible flirt, and dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black.
Described by Tony as an ‘arrogant brat’ the star soon causes mayhem by flirting with every woman in sight.
Led by David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Alex Hassell, Rivals boasts an impressively star-studded cast (Aidan pictured)
For the show, the Poldark star has brought his wife and children to Lord Tony Baddingham’s new estate but it soon leads to chaos
In the trailer Scottish actor David ,who plays Lord Tony Baddingham, the ambitious and egotistical controller of Corinium Television is a far cry from his usual jovial self
During a recent interview with Watch To Watch, Aidan joked about his appearance for the role, saying: ‘I look like I’m from circa 1975 but it’s for Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, which I’m filming until October.
‘I hadn’t read Rivals before. It seems very British so it wasn’t really on my radar, but it’s really fun. But after we wrap the tache is definitely going to go and I’m going to take a break – I’d love a big holiday!’
The show will focus on the tense rivalry between Rupert and Tony as well as the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England.
Nafessa Williams is also pictured as Cameron Cook, a ferociously talented American TV executive who is brought to England by Tony to produce Declan’s new prime-time talk show.
She soon finds herself caught between the two powerful men who deeply underestimate her – at their peril.
Alex is playing the role of ex-Olympian, Member of Parliament, incorrigible rake, and dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black who sets his sights on Bella Maclean’s character
The show will focus on the tense rivalry between Rupert and Tony as well as the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England (pictured L-R Alex Hassell, Danny Dyer, Jilly Cooper, David Tennant, Aidan Turner)
Katherine Parkinson stars as Lizzie Vereker, a romantic novelist suffering from a distinct lack of romance in her life and who is consistently overlooked by her preening and self-centred TV presenter husband, James Vereker, played by Oliver Chris.
In contrast to the rather sexier scenes, Katherine appears in the trailer to be significantly more self conscious and her attempts at romance seem to fall flat.
Bella plays Taggie O’Hara, Declan’s tender-hearted yet strong-willed eldest daughter, who becomes an unexpected temptation for Rupert.
Aidan spilled the beans about the steamy content for the show in an interview with The Times, revealing: ‘We have so much sex on our show, we have to have two intimacy coaches. Two!
‘Every day we’re in a different huge manor house somewhere, having garden parties.
Nafessa Williams is also pictured as Cameron Cook, a ferociously talented American TV executive who is brought to England by Tony to produce Declan’s new prime-time talk show
Katherine Parkinson stars as Lizzie Vereker, a romantic novelist suffering from a distinct lack of romance in her life but who tries to spice things up – with embarrassing consequences
Bella plays Taggie O’Hara, Declan’s tender-hearted yet strong-willed eldest daughter, who becomes an unexpected temptation for Rupert
‘And it is that thing as well, which happens sometimes in shows — and I see it happening [here], though none of us have kind of admitted to it, but it’s definitely there — where there’s a slight methody thing happening.
‘We’re all up for the party. We went out the other night to the Ivy. We had a late night, lots of cocktails. Never wanted a season two of anything more in my life.’
Also starring the show is Victoria Smurfit as a former actress and Declan’s bohemian, fickle wife, Maud, while Catriona Chandler plays their younger and wilder daughter Caitlin.
Claire Rushbrook plays Lady Monica Baddingham, Tony’s dependable, upper-crust wife who has absolutely no interest in the dramatic goings-on within her husband’s empire.
On the other hand, Rufus plays Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Stratton, and is in the throes of a midlife crisis.
Danny Dyer stars as Freddie Jones, a self-made electronics millionaire, while Lisa McGrillis has been cast as his social-climbing wife Valerie.
And Luke Pasqualino is starring as the charming Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Tony’s younger brother and the proprietor of Cotchester’s hot spot, ‘Bar Sinister’.
According to Disney+, Rivals is a ‘joyously mischievous rollercoaster ride, steamy in its love stories and packed with larger-than-life characters.’
Danny Dyer is also starring as Freddie Jones, a self-made electronics millionaire, while Lisa McGrillis has been cast as his social-climbing wife Valerie
Also starring the show is Victoria Smurfit, Catriona Chandler, Claire Rushbrook, Emily Atack, Luke Pasqualino and Danny Dyer
Following the casting announcement executive producer and Rivals author Jilly commented: ‘I’m utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals’ (pictured in March)
Following the casting announcement earlier this month, executive producer and Rivals author Jilly commented: ‘I’m utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals.
‘Featuring some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better ensemble cast.
‘I cannot wait to be on set and see them bring the characters I love so much to life.
‘The minute we met with Alex we knew he’d perfectly embody my all-time hero, the iconic, racy, ruthless, and devastatingly handsome, Rupert Campbell-Black. Viewers are in for a treat!’
According to Disney+, Rivals is a ‘joyously mischievous rollercoaster ride, steamy in its love stories and packed with larger-than-life characters.’
The streaming service continues that it brings a ‘2020s lens to the 1980s’, offering a ‘raw exploration of a complicated moment in British history when class, race, sex, wealth, and sexual liberation meant that, for the very privileged few, there were no limits to what they could achieve’.
Rivals is being produced by Happy Prince, which is part of ITV Studios, and will air globally on Disney+, on Hulu in the US and on Star+ in Latin America.