Happy Prince lands new run for Disney+ hit

Disney+ has ordered a third series of Rivals, after series two broke records for the streamer in the UK.  

Based on Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles novels, the eighties-set Happy Prince production will continue to follow blossoming and rekindled romances among a group of upper-class characters. It features an ensemble cast including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer. 

The first part of the second season debuted in May, becoming the biggest EMEA original premiere for Disney+ in the UK and Ireland. The second part is set to return in November on Disney+ in the UK and internationally, and on Hulu in the U.S. 

Season three will be executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb Laura Wade and Felicity Blunt. It was commissioned by vice president of scripted content for Disney+ EMEA, Lee Mason.  

Mason said: “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.”  

Happy Prince’s chief creative officer Dominic Treadwell-Collins and creative director Alexander Lamb added: “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 sprit and would be so delighted that season three has been greenlit.”