Shirtless hunk Alex Hassell has been announced as David Tennant’s and Aiden Turner’s co-star in the upcoming Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s raunchy 80s romance novel Rivals.
English actor Alex, 43, has been acting since 2001 and has appeared in a string of prominent productions.
After starring in British staples The Bill and Silent Witness, Alex bagged a role as superhero Translucent in series one of the ongoing black comedy The Boys.
Two years later, he had his longest television series stint as Vicious in Cowboy Bebop, an American space Western series based on the anime of the same name.
He donned an ice blonde wig again in 2022 for his role as Metatron in the final series of the BBC /HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials.
Meet Rivals actor Alex Hassell! Shirtless hunk is joining David Tennant and Poldark’s Aiden Turner for Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s VERY raunchy 80s romance novel
After starring in British staples The Bill (pictured) and Silent Witness, Alex bagged a role as superhero Translucent in series one of the ongoing black comedy The Boys
Two years later, he had his longest television series stint as Vicious in Cowboy Bebop, an American space Western series based on the anime of the same name
He donned an ice blonde wig again in 2022 for his role as Metatron in the final series of the BBC /HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials
Alex’s first Hollywood role came in 2017 when he starred opposite Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac in black comedy crime film Suburbicon.
The star is also heavily involved in the theatre with some of his first roles being in plays such as Blood And Ice and Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman.
He has more recently starred as Hal in Henry IV Parts I and II, and Henry in Henry V, for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Alex is the co-founder of The Factory Theatre Company whose patrons include Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, and Bill Nighy.
He has been married to Emma King for thirteen years and she also starred in Cowboy Bebop, playing Godard.
It comes after the first pictures from steamy new drama Rivals dropped on Thursday, ahead of its highly anticipated release at an unconfirmed date this year.
Jilly Cooper’s racy story is the second book of the Rutshire Chronicles which follows British upper-class families and the show-jumping and polo crowd, in numerous different sexually charged scenarios.
Led by David Tennant, Rivals boasts an impressively star-studded cast which also includes Danny Dyer, Emily Atack, Rufus Jones.
Alex’s first Hollywood role came in 2017 when he starred opposite Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac in black comedy crime film Suburbicon
The star is also heavily involved in the theatre with some of his first roles being in plays such as Blood And Ice and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
He has been married to Emma King for thirteen years and she also starred in Cowboy Bebop, playing Godard (pictured in the role)
It comes after the first pictures from steamy new drama Rivals dropped on Thursday, ahead of its highly anticipated release at an unconfirmed date (pictured: author Jilly Cooper in 1978)
In the series, Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) and Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex) have a rivalry that seeps into the world of Corinium television station.
The Scottish actor, 53, is playing Lord Tony Baddingham, the ambitious and egotistical controller of Corinium Television.
He can be seen shouldering a rifle and wearing a tweed jacket with a matching tie and flat cap, while staring tensely into the distance behind a pair of sunglasses.
While Aidan has also undergone a transformation, sporting a distinctive moustache to play TV presenter Declan O’Hara.
Declan is described as fiercely intellectual, with an even fiercer temper, and is wooed to Corinium TV from the BBC by Tony.
During a recent interview with Watch To Watch, Aidan joked about his appearance for the role, saying: ‘I look like I’m from circa 1975 but it’s for Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, which I’m filming until October.
‘I hadn’t read Rivals before. It seems very British so it wasn’t really on my radar, but it’s really fun. But after we wrap the ‘tache is definitely going to go and I’m going to take a break – I’d love a big holiday!’
Meanwhile, Alex is playing the role of dashing ex-Olympian, Member of Parliament, incorrigible rake, and dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black.
Jilly Cooper’s racy story is the second book of the Rutshire Chronicles which follows British upper-class families and the show-jumping and polo crowd
Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) and Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex) have a rivalry that seeps into the world of Corinium television station
Aidan Turner, transforming with a distinctive moustache, plays fictional TV presenter Declan O’Hara
The show will also focus on the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England (pictured L-R Alex, Danny Dyer, Jilly, David and Aidan)
The show will focus on the tense rivalry between Rupert and Tony as well as the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England.
Nafessa Williams is also pictured as Cameron Cook, a ferociously talented American TV executive who is brought to England by Tony to produce Declan’s new prime-time talk show.
She soon finds herself caught between the two powerful men who deeply underestimate her – at their peril.
The actress can be seen looking authoritative and confident in a red satin blazer, standing in front of a slew of TV monitors.
In contrast, Katherine Parkinson plays Lizzie Vereker, a romantic novelist suffering from a distinct lack of romance in her life and who is consistently overlooked by her preening and self-centred TV presenter husband, James Vereker, played by Oliver Chris.
Finally, Bella Maclean is playing Taggie O’Hara, Declan’s tender-hearted yet strong-willed eldest daughter, who becomes an unexpected temptation for Rupert.
Aidan spilled the beans about the steamy content for the show in an interview with The Times, revealing: ‘We have so much sex on our show, we have to have two intimacy coaches. Two!’
Nafessa Williams (pictured) is Cameron Cook, a ferociously talented American TV executive who is brought to England by Tony to produce Declan’s new prime-time talk show
Katherine Parkinson plays Lizzie Vereker, a romantic novelist who is consistently overlooked by her preening and self-centred TV presenter husband, James Vereker (Oliver Chris)
Finally, Bella Maclean is pictured sitting on a couch in wooden living room with her pet dog, playing Taggie O’Hara, Declan’s tender-hearted yet strong-willed eldest daughter, who becomes an unexpected temptation for Rupert
Emily Atack plays Sarah Stratton, described as ambitious and not afraid to use her looks to get to the top
He continued: ‘Every day we’re in a different huge manor house somewhere, having garden parties.
‘And it is that thing as well, which happens sometimes in shows — and I see it happening [here], though none of us have kind of admitted to it, but it’s definitely there — where there’s a slight methody thing happening.
‘We’re all up for the party. We went out the other night to the Ivy. We had a late night, lots of cocktails. Never wanted a season two of anything more in my life.’
Also starring the show is Victoria Smurfit as a former actress and Declan’s bohemian, fickle wife, Maud, while Catriona Chandler plays their younger and wilder daughter Caitlin.
Claire Rushbrook plays Lady Monica Baddingham, Tony’s dependable, upper-crust wife who has absolutely no interest in the dramatic goings-on within her husband’s empire.
While Emily Atack and Rufus Jones will be playing husband and wife, with Emily playing Sarah Stratton, described as ambitious and not afraid to use her looks to get to the top.
Also starring the show is Victoria Smurfit, Catriona Chandler, Claire Rushbrook, Emily Atack, Luke Pasqualino and Danny Dyer
On the other hand, Rufus is playing Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Stratton, and is in the throes of a midlife crisis – everyone knows it.
Danny Dyer is also starring as Freddie Jones, a self-made electronics millionaire, while Lisa McGrillis has been cast as his social-climbing wife Valerie.
And Luke Pasqualino is starring as the charming Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Tony’s younger brother and the proprietor of Cotchester’s hot spot, ‘Bar Sinister’.
Following the casting announcement executive producer and Rivals author Jilly commented: ‘I’m utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals’.
‘Featuring some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better ensemble cast. I cannot wait to be on set and see them bring the characters I love so much to life.
‘The minute we met with Alex we knew he’d perfectly embody my all-time hero, the iconic, racy, ruthless, and devastatingly handsome, Rupert Campbell-Black. Viewers are in for a treat!’
According to Disney+, Rivals is a ‘joyously mischievous rollercoaster ride, steamy in its love stories and packed with larger-than-life characters.’
The streaming service continues that it brings a ‘2020s lens to the 1980s’, offering a ‘raw exploration of a complicated moment in British history when class, race, sex, wealth, and sexual liberation meant that, for the very privileged few, there were no limits to what they could achieve’.
Rivals is being produced by Happy Prince, which is part of ITV Studios, and will air globally on Disney+, on Hulu in the US and on Star+ in Latin America.
The screenplay is written by executive television producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins, of EastEnders fame.
Following the casting announcement executive producer and Rivals author Jilly commented: ‘I’m utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals’ (pictured in March)
