The Rutshire drama is far from over. Disney+ and Hulu have officially renewed Rivals for a third season, and the news comes ahead of the second season’s conclusion later this year. The critically acclaimed series, based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved Rutshire Chronicles novels, will return with 12 new episodes.
The renewal announcement arrived on June 16, 2026, just weeks after the first part of Season 2 left fans reeling from a tragic mid-season finale. The second season’s remaining six episodes are scheduled to drop in November 2026.
What to Expect From Season 3’s Plot
Disney+ has offered a glimpse into what’s coming in the third season. The official synopsis hints at escalating drama as the fallout from Season 2’s revelations continues to unfold.
“As the dust settles post the scandalous revelations in Season Two, we see the stakes become higher and the alliances more fragile, with nothing staying buried for long. New romances blossom, old flames rekindle and shocking secrets will be spilled in this third series which takes everyone’s favourite rivalries to the next level.”
Lee Mason, Vice-President of Scripted at Disney+ EMEA, expressed enthusiasm about the renewal: “The phenomenal response to Rivals is a credit to the bold, irreverent and endlessly entertaining world created by Dame Jilly Cooper, our cast, creative team and production partners at Happy Prince. We’re delighted to be bringing audiences a third season on Disney+/Hulu. Expect more ambition, more romance, more rivalries and, of course, more scandal as we return to Rutshire for another irresistible chapter.”
The Returning Cast
The main cast is expected to reprise their roles for Season 3. Key returning actors include:
- David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham
- Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black
- Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara
- Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara
- Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
- Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker
- Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
- Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara
- Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham
- Oliver Chris as James Vereker
Guest stars from Season 2, including Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon and Rupert Everett as Malise Gordon, are also set to return. New additions to the cast for the third season have not yet been announced.
Production Team and Tribute to Jilly Cooper
The third season will be produced by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios, with executive producers Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Laura Wade, and Felicity Blunt at the helm.
The producers shared their bittersweet feelings about the renewal, noting the absence of Dame Jilly Cooper, who passed away in late 2025.
“We’ve been delighted and overwhelmed by the audience’s response to season two of Rivals – testament to the hard work from everyone working on Rivals both on and off screen. Our one sadness is that Jilly didn’t get to witness the love for season two. But she’s still very much with us in spirit and would be so delighted that season three has been green lit.”
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When to Expect Season 3
While a specific release date for Season 3 has not been announced, the gap between the first and second seasons was approximately a year and a half. Given that the second half of Season 2 airs in November 2026, a late 2027 or early 2028 premiere for Season 3 seems plausible. The show will continue to be available on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally.
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