The production used a huge amount of local crew and suppliers and was the first project to film at TBY2; it also doubled Bristol for London

Disney+’s new adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s rambunctious novel Rivals was filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location in Bristol and the West Country.

ITV Studios’ prodco Happy Prince produced the 8 x 60’ series, set in the Cotswolds and London in the 1980s. Cooper’s novel centres on the excesses and power-struggles among the social elite in the ruthless world of independent TV.

Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Nafessa Williams, Emily Atack, Catriona Chandler, Danny Dyer, Rufus Jones, Lisa McGrillis, Luke Pasqualino, Claire Rushbrook and Victoria Smurfit star.

Rivals became the first project to film at TBY2, The Bottle Yard’s facility that opened in 2022. Shooting began in March 2023 and ran for six months. Series producer Eliza Mellor said: “Bristol and The Bottle Yard Studios were the perfect production base for Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, which is set in the glorious countryside of the Cotswolds.

“We were very excited to be the first production to use the two main stages of TBY2 and they certainly lived up to our expectations.

“We were able to build the TV studio, complete with a 1980’s control room on one of the stages and used the second stage for other Corinium TV interiors, the Priory kitchen and sitting room and many other small sets that were needed across the series.

“We also had our production and art department offices on site at The Bottle Yard and the staff were on hand to help with all our requirements. We were able to find all the locations within a 30-mile radius of The Bottle Yard. And one of the big attractions of filming in the Bristol area is that there are so many local crew of a very high calibre to choose from.”

Location-wise, Bristol also doubles for London in the drama, dressed with red buses. Bristol Film Office facilitated several city locations, with Corn Street near St Nicholas Markets used for a scene in which guests arrived for a lavish TV awards ceremony.

Filming also took place on board the supersonic jet at Aerospace Bristol in Filton. “It was amazing to see dozens of extras, dressed like travellers from the 1980s, boarding the supersonic jet as if they were about to take off on a real flight,” said Adam Jones, head of commercial operations at Aerospace Bristol. “We look forward to welcoming fans of the programme to the museum for a taste of that supersonic passenger jet experience!”

Local resources on the hefty production were key, as explained by Gary Matsell, head of production at ITV Studios. “Bristol has lots of very experienced and talented crew and it was a pleasure to work there.

“The core crew was approx 120, but there were lots of dailies, suppliers, 2nd unit crew etc, who would come and go. Probably 90% were local to the West of England region. We had trainees in every department, most of whom were also local.

“Overall, Bristol worked well for Rivals because of the variety of locations and facilities we required. Access to the studio as well as more urban locations, but easy access to the Cotswolds and other areas around Bristol, was key to creating the fictional Rutshire of Rivals.”

“Rivals has been an incredibly significant scripted title for our regional industry,” remarked Laura Aviles, Bristol City Council’s head of film. “It’s a truly West Country production both on the page and behind the scenes. With such a stellar cast, it was the ideal first booking for The Bottle Yard’s premium TBY2 facility. Thanks to the work of Bristol Film Office supporting city locations, plus the exceptional private locations the wider region has to offer and our highly skilled local crew base, the show’s producers found everything they needed right here.”

Rivals is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, Laura Wade, Jilly Cooper and director of scripted content for Disney+ EMEA, Lee Mason. The series is written by Treadwell-Collins with Laura Wade. Lead director is Elliot Hegarty, who also serves as executive producer on episodes 1-4. Eliza Mellor is series producer.

With thanks to The Bottle Yard Studios and Bristol Film Office.