David Tennant on Rivals: Why Romance Matters Beyond the Scandal
David Tennant’s comments about Rivals explain why romance matters beyond the show’s scandalous reputation: intimate relationships reveal what its characters want, fear, and try to control. His character, Lord Tony Baddingham, makes that distinction particularly interesting. Tony’s declarations of love cannot always be separated from his ambition or desire to win.
For viewers drawn to the question of how Rivals helped Tennant “fall for romance,” the useful starting point is his documented discussion of the drama’s storytelling—not speculation about his personal relationships.
Last updated: November 13, 2026
This article discusses the premise and character relationships, with mild relationship spoilers but no major plot outcomes.
What Is Rivals About?
Rivals adapts Jilly Cooper’s novel into a drama about the competing ambitions of Britain’s wealthy social and television circles. Disney’s original announcement places the opening series in the independent television world of 1986.
David Tennant plays Lord Tony Baddingham, alongside Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black and Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara. The ensemble also includes Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook, Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, and Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara.
The business struggle gives the story its structure, while personal relationships complicate what everyone stands to gain or lose. That combination helps explain why a conversation about Rivals quickly becomes a conversation about romance.
For the official premise and cast, see Hulu’s Rivals page and Disney’s original series announcement.
What David Tennant Has Said About Intimacy in Rivals
In a May 2026 Radio Times interview, Tennant explained that the show’s intimate scenes help audiences understand its characters. His point was that these scenes have a storytelling purpose, rather than existing only to provoke a reaction.
In a separate Radio Times conversation about Tony and Cameron, he suggested Tony can believe he is in love in a particular moment while remaining opportunistic.
Those comments support a distinction between feeling something intensely and behaving lovingly. They do not establish that Tennant endorses Tony’s conduct.
Why Tony Baddingham Is a Complicated Route Into Romance
Tony is a powerful television executive, and Disney’s character guide describes his willingness to pressure others and exploit secrets. He is therefore an unusual character through whom to consider the appeal of romantic storytelling.
That tension is useful. A romantic storyline does not have to present its central figure as an ideal partner. It can explore the difference between what someone says, what they believe about themselves, and what they actually do.
Our interpretation: Tony invites viewers to ask whether affection can survive when another person’s independence conflicts with his interests. The dramatic question is not simply whether he wants a relationship, but what he expects that relationship to provide.
See Disney’s Rivals character guide for its official description of Tony and the wider cast.
Romance, Desire, and Possession Are Different Questions
One way to follow Rivals more closely is to separate attraction from care and care from control. The following table is an editorial viewing framework, not a diagnosis of any character or actor.
| Theme | Question to ask while watching | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Attraction | What draws these people together? | Chemistry explains interest, but not necessarily trust. |
| Affection | Do they consider each other’s needs? | Care becomes clearer through choices than declarations alone. |
| Possession | Can either person accept the other’s independence? | A relationship can become entangled with control. |
| Ambition | What professional or social advantage is involved? | A personal decision may also serve a competitive goal. |
| Vulnerability | What would honesty cost this person? | Emotional risk can make a quiet exchange as important as a confrontation. |
For example, a declaration of love followed by respect for a difficult decision means something different from a declaration followed by pressure. That is a general storytelling comparison, not a description of a specific scene.
Keeping those possibilities separate lets viewers appreciate a performance without treating every character’s behavior as a model for relationships.
What Jilly Cooper Brings to the Story
Penguin presents Rivals as a novel in which television competition, reputation, marriage, and love intersect. Its Rutshire Chronicles listing places the book second in the series.
That foundation matters because the romantic relationships are connected to a larger social world. Characters have careers, reputations, and alliances that can affect what they admit or pursue.
Our reading of that premise: Romance becomes more revealing when it interrupts a person’s preferred image of themselves. A character may think of themselves as decisive, loyal, respectable, or untouchable. Attraction can expose how fragile that identity is.
This is also why the business and relationship plots belong together. Both can involve negotiation, competition, and the uncomfortable possibility that another person wants something different.
The Actor’s Perspective Is Not the Character’s Morality
It is important to distinguish three separate subjects: Tennant’s explanation of his work, Tony’s fictional behavior, and an audience member’s interpretation.
An actor can make a destructive character understandable without approving of that character’s actions. Likewise, understanding why someone behaves badly is not the same as excusing the behavior.
When reading an entertainment headline about Tennant and romance, check whether it describes his appreciation of a genre, his approach to a performance, or an actual statement about his personal life. Those categories should not be mixed together.
This article focuses on his publicly documented comments about Rivals and the storytelling questions they raise.
Is Rivals Worth Trying if You Usually Skip Romance?
Consider it if you enjoy ensemble dramas where professional rivalry and private decisions affect each other. The premise offers more than a single relationship to follow.
It may be less suitable if you want a gentle, family-friendly love story. The series includes adult sexual content and complicated relationships; check your streaming service’s content guidance before watching.
A useful approach is to begin with the first episode and follow three questions: Who wants power? Who wants acceptance? Who is willing to be honest? You do not need to settle immediately on a favorite couple to understand the stakes.
Where to Find the Series and Improve Your Viewing Setup
Rivals has an official Hulu series page, while Disney promotes the series through Disney+ in the United Kingdom. Availability, included seasons, and subscription requirements vary by region, so check your local catalog before paying for access.
If playback interruptions keep breaking your concentration, see our guide to streaming apps buffering on smart TVs.
For conversations that are hard to follow, our guide to making TV dialogue clearer covers audio adjustments. If captions keep changing between episodes, read our explanation of streaming subtitles turning on automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does David Tennant play in Rivals?
He plays Lord Tony Baddingham, a television executive whose professional ambitions are entangled with personal rivalries and relationships.
Is Rivals based on a book?
Yes. It adapts Jilly Cooper’s novel Rivals, part of her Rutshire Chronicles series.
Is Rivals a romantic comedy?
Its premise combines romance with adult drama, social rivalry, and television-business conflict. Expect a broader ensemble story rather than a straightforward romantic-comedy setup.
What did Tennant say about the intimate scenes?
In his Radio Times interview, he described them as a way of understanding the characters and emphasized their narrative purpose.
Does the romance discussion concern Tennant’s personal life?
This article concerns his performance and comments about fictional relationships. It does not report a new development in his personal relationships.
Sources and Editorial Method
Series and publishing details were checked against Hulu, Disney, and Penguin. Comments attributed to Tennant come from the linked Radio Times interviews. Interpretive passages are identified as editorial analysis.
This is an independently written explainer, not a reproduction or summary of the full New York Times interview titled “How ‘Rivals’ Helped David Tennant Fall for Romance,” which was not available in full for this research.
- Hulu: Rivals official series page.
- Disney: Rivals series introduction.
- Disney+: Rivals character guide.
- Penguin: Rivals by Jilly Cooper.
- Radio Times: David Tennant interview, May 11, 2026.
- Radio Times: Tennant on Tony’s character and feelings, May 15, 2026.
Washim is a lifestyle and entertainment writer at MagazineSolo, specializing in fashion, beauty, wellness, celebrity trends, and modern living. She enjoys exploring fresh ideas and turning complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her goal is to inspire readers with useful tips, creative insights, and informative articles.
