Rivals star Alex Hassell has revealed how author Jilly Cooper pushed him to make Rupert Campbell-Black’s behaviour towards Taggie considerably more forceful
The character, played opposite Bella Maclean, is a confident womaniser, but Hassell initially tried to give him a softer edge
Cooper’s guidance encouraged the actor to embrace Rupert’s dominant, old-school machismo instead
Hassell admitted the role felt far removed from his own upbringing, yet the performance has become a major career highlight
Rivals returns to Disney+ on 11 November, with new episodes released weekly.