Rivals Alex Hassell Talks Racy, Uncomfortable Sex Scenes

Rivals star Alex Hassell has reflected on the 'physically unsexy' and 'deeply uncomfortable' sex scenes as the new series is tipped to be the raciest yet.

Based on Dame Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel, the comedy-drama debuted on Disney+ in October 2024 and immediately became a huge hit. The eight-episode first series ended in December 2024 and was soon renewed for a second outing.

Alex, who plays Rupert Campbell-Black in raunchy Disney+ show, will soon be back on screen for the second season, which drops on May 15. 

In the first episode of season two, there's a pool party in a mansion before viewers see a montage of Campbell-Black and Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) in various sex positions.

Speaking of filming the scenes, in which intimacy co-ordinators were involved, Alex told The Times: 'You're covered up where you need to be and there's padding between you. 

'But it's a deeply unsexy environment and quite physically uncomfortable because I'm all oiled up and trying to hold Nafessa in place.'

It comes after other cast members addressed what's in store for viewers ahead of the second season.

Danny Dyer plays electronics businessman Freddie Jones, who is having an affair with romance author Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson).

The actor explained: 'We’re delving into the complications of two people who are madly in love but married with children to other people.

'There are a lot of people rooting for infidelity, which is quite rare.'

Aidan Turner stars as TV journalist Declan O'Hara, who has faced a struggle balancing work demands with former actress wife Maud (Victoria Smurfit).

He described a steamy shower sex scene between the couple as 'fun' to film, telling the Daily Mirror: 'Victoria and I are very comfortable with each other.

'We’ve worked together quite intimately since the first series and we just clicked straight away – it might be the Irish thing.'

Emily Atack, best known for playing Charlotte Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners, plays the role of saucy seductress Sarah Stratton.

She opened up about a complex dinner party scene and how it pushed her acting skills, explaining: 'You’ve got to know the lines inside out, know every bit of the rhythm of it.'

The actress went on to say how the show 'did it all in one go', which was a new experience for her.

She described a moment in the scene where her character has to 'break down' and added it was genuine, having had a feeling of 'I've done it'.

Emily recently reflected on playing 'flawed' women ahead of the raunchy new series being released this month.

In an interview, she described 'promiscuous and naughty' Sarah as 'an absolute f***ing nightmare'.

She told The Times: 'People in the past never wanted to admit that they identify with characters like Sarah as she's promiscuous and naughty.

'Now, characters like her, people are going, 'Why am I rooting for them?' I'm all for that. I want to play a flawed woman in a right bl**dy pickle.'

Rivals returns on May 15 on Disney+.