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. 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
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