Tag Archives: Aidan Turner

RIVALS Season 2 trailer

RIVALS Season 2 trailer

Aidan Turner

RIVALS Season 2 trailer

Disney+ has just dropped a provocative new trailer for RIVALS, billing the drama series as “the naughtiest show on television,” and if the first season was any indication, that’s not mere marketing hyperbole. The show brings back its formidable ensemble from season one, including David Tennant, Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, and Emily Atack, alongside Alex Hassell, who emerged as one of the breakout performers last time around. Fresh blood arrives in the form of Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett, promising to shake up an already volatile mix.

At the heart of season two lies an intensifying battle for the Central South West television franchise, with the war between Corinium and Venturer escalating into genuinely dangerous territory. Tony Baddingham, played with delicious menace by Tennant, has shed whatever restraint he might have possessed and now operates as a ruthlessly efficient destroyer, methodically dismantling his competition through weaponized scandal and psychological manipulation of anyone foolish enough to stand close to him. The season arrives under bittersweet circumstances, following the death of Jilly Cooper, the novelist behind the original source material who served as executive producer on the first season. Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world, and her friend Queen Camilla even visited the set during production of season two, a touching acknowledgment of Cooper’s cultural significance.

The second season of RIVALS, which exists in that curious streaming ecosystem as a Hulu original in the United States while airing on Disney+ internationally, launches May 15 and will roll out in two six-episode batches, giving viewers just enough time to recover between bouts of backstabbing, bedroom antics, and boardroom warfare.

🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬

From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor`s defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other.

In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

3 1
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18398555440144668
🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬 From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor's defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other. In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out. More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

BELFAST`s Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend.

Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice.

The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975.

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

246 5
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18160450297429027
BELFAST's Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend. Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice. The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975. Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

...

In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby.

A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans!

More at irishfilmtv.com.

281 4
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18091780592137006
In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby. A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans! More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he`s one of the greats ✨

Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there`s no one else who could have done it quite like him.

This is an actor who doesn`t perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you`re watching acting at all.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

10 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18057755624437987
✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he's one of the greats ✨ Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there's no one else who could have done it quite like him. This is an actor who doesn't perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you're watching acting at all. More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix *

This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby`s final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created.

The gypsy king`s last move is being made. Are you ready?

More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.

27 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18575536492016579
* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix * This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby's final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created. The gypsy king's last move is being made. Are you ready? More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.

...

Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK.

Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20.

More info at irishfilmtv.com.

8 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18078944513107913
Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK. Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20. More info at irishfilmtv.com.

...

The best characters aren`t heroes. they`re human.

Andrew Scott doesn`t do safe. from the priest in FLEABAG to tom ripley`s calculated desperation, he chooses roles that make you uncomfortable—and that`s exactly why you can`t look away.

In a new @sxsw interview, Scott gets candid about his most famous roles!

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

8 1
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 17861915130656855
The best characters aren't heroes. they're human. Andrew Scott doesn't do safe. from the priest in FLEABAG to tom ripley's calculated desperation, he chooses roles that make you uncomfortable—and that's exactly why you can't look away. In a new @sxsw interview, Scott gets candid about his most famous roles! Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

...

She swept the Globes. She swept the BAFTAs. And last night, Jessie Buckley swept the Oscars — becoming the first Irish woman in 98 years of Academy history to win Best Actress 🍀

For a girl from Killarney who started on a TV talent show, this wasn`t just a win. It was a coronation.

More Jessie Buckley Oscar glory at irishfilmtv.com.

14 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 17912974053341014
She swept the Globes. She swept the BAFTAs. And last night, Jessie Buckley swept the Oscars — becoming the first Irish woman in 98 years of Academy history to win Best Actress 🍀 For a girl from Killarney who started on a TV talent show, this wasn't just a win. It was a coronation. More Jessie Buckley Oscar glory at irishfilmtv.com.

...

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Irish Television

Aidan Turner in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

Aidan Turner in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

Aidan Turner in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

In the world of high society, where fortunes are made on whispered rumors and reputations crumble over tea, there exists a particular kind of power that has nothing to do with armies or titles. It’s the power of the pen, the cutting word, the strategic maneuver executed not on battlefields but in drawing rooms. This is the lethal territory of DANGEROUS LIAISONS, the celebrated adaptation by Christopher Hampton of Choderlos de Laclos’ incendiary 18th-century novel, now receiving a striking new production directed by Marianne Elliott at London’s Donmar Warehouse.

For Aidan Turner, the Irish actor who has spent recent years building a formidable career across television and stage, this production represents a particularly charged moment. Following his scene-stealing turn as the rakish Declan O’Hara in the wildly popular series RIVALS, Turner steps into the silk stockings of the Vicomte de Valmont, one of literature’s most notorious libertines. It’s a role that demands everything Turner has proven he can deliver in recent work: charisma that borders on dangerous, intelligence that cuts like glass, and the ability to make moral corruption look devastatingly attractive.

For Turner, taking on Valmont after his breakthrough in RIVALS feels like a natural progression rather than a departure. While Declan O’Hara was all rumpled charm and righteous fury, Valmont requires a different kind of magnetism, one more calculated and predatory. The character exists in that fascinating space where intelligence becomes its own form of seduction, where the ability to read people and manipulate their desires transforms into an art form. Turner has spent his recent career proving he can inhabit these morally complex figures without asking for our approval, and Valmont is the ultimate test of that particular skill.

Elliott’s production arrives at a moment when audiences seem particularly hungry for stories about power, corruption, and the systems that enable both. The director, celebrated for her work on ANGELS IN AMERICA and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, brings a precision and intelligence to theatrical storytelling that should serve this material beautifully. With Manville and Turner as her weapons of choice, she has actors capable of making us complicit in their characters’ crimes, of forcing us to recognize the seductive appeal of wielding influence without conscience.

Turner’s recent trajectory suggests an actor unafraid of darkness, willing to explore what happens when charm curdles into cruelty. From the swashbuckling Captain Ross Poldark to the more layered, morally ambiguous figures of his recent work, he’s demonstrated range while maintaining that essential quality all great actors possess: we can’t look away. Valmont demands we watch even as we’re appalled, that we understand his appeal even as we recognize his monstrousness. It’s a tightrope walk between seduction and revulsion, and based on Turner’s recent performances, he has the balance to pull it off.

🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬

From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor`s defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other.

In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

3 1
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18398555440144668
🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬 From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor's defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other. In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out. More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

BELFAST`s Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend.

Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice.

The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975.

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

246 5
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18160450297429027
BELFAST's Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend. Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice. The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975. Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

...

In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby.

A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans!

More at irishfilmtv.com.

281 4
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18091780592137006
In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby. A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans! More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he`s one of the greats ✨

Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there`s no one else who could have done it quite like him.

This is an actor who doesn`t perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you`re watching acting at all.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

10 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18057755624437987
✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he's one of the greats ✨ Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there's no one else who could have done it quite like him. This is an actor who doesn't perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you're watching acting at all. More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix *

This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby`s final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created.

The gypsy king`s last move is being made. Are you ready?

More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.

27 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18575536492016579
* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix * This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby's final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created. The gypsy king's last move is being made. Are you ready? More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.

...

Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK.

Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20.

More info at irishfilmtv.com.

8 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18078944513107913
Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK. Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20. More info at irishfilmtv.com.

...

The best characters aren`t heroes. they`re human.

Andrew Scott doesn`t do safe. from the priest in FLEABAG to tom ripley`s calculated desperation, he chooses roles that make you uncomfortable—and that`s exactly why you can`t look away.

In a new @sxsw interview, Scott gets candid about his most famous roles!

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

8 1
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 17861915130656855
The best characters aren't heroes. they're human. Andrew Scott doesn't do safe. from the priest in FLEABAG to tom ripley's calculated desperation, he chooses roles that make you uncomfortable—and that's exactly why you can't look away. In a new @sxsw interview, Scott gets candid about his most famous roles! Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

...

She swept the Globes. She swept the BAFTAs. And last night, Jessie Buckley swept the Oscars — becoming the first Irish woman in 98 years of Academy history to win Best Actress 🍀

For a girl from Killarney who started on a TV talent show, this wasn`t just a win. It was a coronation.

More Jessie Buckley Oscar glory at irishfilmtv.com.

14 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 17912974053341014
She swept the Globes. She swept the BAFTAs. And last night, Jessie Buckley swept the Oscars — becoming the first Irish woman in 98 years of Academy history to win Best Actress 🍀 For a girl from Killarney who started on a TV talent show, this wasn't just a win. It was a coronation. More Jessie Buckley Oscar glory at irishfilmtv.com.

...

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Irish Theatre

RIVALS wins international Emmy

RIVALS wins International Emmy

RIVALS wins International Emmy

The Disney+ period comedy-drama RIVALS has claimed the top honor at this year’s International Emmy Awards, taking home the prize for best drama series in a ceremony that celebrates television excellence from productions originating outside the United States.

The series, adapted from Jilly Cooper’s beloved bonkbuster novels, features Irish actors Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit among an ensemble cast that includes David Tennant, Katherine Parkinson, and Danny Dyer. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s, RIVALS follows a group of wealthy media figures navigating ambition, rivalry, and scandal in an era of excess and transformation.

The show became an unexpected hit following its October 2024 release, captivating audiences with its sharp wit, sumptuous production design, and deliciously soapy storytelling. The series’ success has already secured its future, with a second season announced in August that will welcome Rupert Everett, known for MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING, and Hayley Atwell of AGENT CARTER into the fold. The International Emmy win solidifies RIVALS as a standout achievement in international television, proving that period drama with a contemporary edge can still capture the cultural zeitgeist and resonate with viewers hungry for glamorous escapism wrapped in biting social commentary.

🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬

From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor`s defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other.

In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

3 1
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18398555440144668
🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬 From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor's defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other. In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out. More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

BELFAST`s Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend.

Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice.

The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975.

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

246 5
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18160450297429027
BELFAST's Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend. Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice. The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975. Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

...

In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby.

A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans!

More at irishfilmtv.com.

281 4
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18091780592137006
In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby. A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans! More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he`s one of the greats ✨

Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there`s no one else who could have done it quite like him.

This is an actor who doesn`t perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you`re watching acting at all.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

10 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18057755624437987
✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he's one of the greats ✨ Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there's no one else who could have done it quite like him. This is an actor who doesn't perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you're watching acting at all. More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix *

This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby`s final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created.

The gypsy king`s last move is being made. Are you ready?

More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.

27 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18575536492016579
* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix * This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby's final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created. The gypsy king's last move is being made. Are you ready? More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.

...

Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK.

Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20.

More info at irishfilmtv.com.

8 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18078944513107913
Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK. Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20. More info at irishfilmtv.com.

...

The best characters aren`t heroes. they`re human.

Andrew Scott doesn`t do safe. from the priest in FLEABAG to tom ripley`s calculated desperation, he chooses roles that make you uncomfortable—and that`s exactly why you can`t look away.

In a new @sxsw interview, Scott gets candid about his most famous roles!

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

8 1
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 17861915130656855
The best characters aren't heroes. they're human. Andrew Scott doesn't do safe. from the priest in FLEABAG to tom ripley's calculated desperation, he chooses roles that make you uncomfortable—and that's exactly why you can't look away. In a new @sxsw interview, Scott gets candid about his most famous roles! Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

...

She swept the Globes. She swept the BAFTAs. And last night, Jessie Buckley swept the Oscars — becoming the first Irish woman in 98 years of Academy history to win Best Actress 🍀

For a girl from Killarney who started on a TV talent show, this wasn`t just a win. It was a coronation.

More Jessie Buckley Oscar glory at irishfilmtv.com.

14 2
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 17912974053341014
She swept the Globes. She swept the BAFTAs. And last night, Jessie Buckley swept the Oscars — becoming the first Irish woman in 98 years of Academy history to win Best Actress 🍀 For a girl from Killarney who started on a TV talent show, this wasn't just a win. It was a coronation. More Jessie Buckley Oscar glory at irishfilmtv.com.

...

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Irish Television

RIVALS Season Two coming to Disney+

RIVALS Season Two coming to Disney+

RIVALS Season Two coming to Disney+

The champagne corks are popping in the Cotswolds as Disney+ officially greenlights RIVALS for a second season, with cameras already rolling as of May 2025. Jilly Cooper’s scandalous adaptation proved irresistible to viewers, transforming from a modest eight-episode debut into an expanded twelve-episode sophomore season that promises even more backstabbing, bedroom politics, and British upper-class debauchery.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect for the show’s breakout star. After years of bouncing between supporting roles in films like THE GENTLEMEN and television appearances that never quite captured the public imagination, this Cotswolds romp has become the career-defining moment that fans have been waiting for. The razor-sharp wit and aristocratic charm that made him a household name decades ago now feels perfectly calibrated for the ruthless world of 1980s British television, where power brokers circle like sharks in Savile Row suits.

Season one’s explosive finale left Lord Tony Baddingham’s fate hanging in the balance, while the simmering tension between Rupert Campbell Black and Taggie O’Hara reached a fever pitch that had viewers refreshing their Disney+ feeds for renewal news. The show’s success lies not just in its lavish period detail or the rolling hills of its countryside setting, but in how it captures the particular brand of cruelty that only the British elite can perfect, wrapped in enough sexual tension to steam up a Bentley’s windows.

The casting coup continues with Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett joining as Helen and Malise Gordon, adding fresh blood to an already intoxicating mix of ambition and betrayal. These aren’t mere additions to fill episode time; they’re strategic moves that promise to deepen the show’s exploration of how power corrupts and how the wealthy play games with other people’s lives as their favorite pastime.

What started as a nostalgic trip back to shoulder pads and excess has evolved into something more substantial, a meditation on class, privilege, and the particular way that British society packages its cruelties in good manners and better tailoring. The show understands that behind every perfectly manicured estate lies a web of secrets that could destroy reputations, marriages, and entire empires with a single well-placed whisper at the right dinner party.

With filming underway and an early 2026 release window taking shape, RIVALS has positioned itself as the prestige drama that doesn’t apologize for being entertaining, proving that sometimes the most revealing stories about power come wrapped in silk scarves and served with a perfectly chilled glass of champagne. The second season won’t just continue where the first left off; it will dig deeper into the moral quicksand that lies beneath every perfectly pruned hedge in this glittering world where everyone has something to hide.

🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬

From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor`s defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other.

In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

3 1
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18398555440144668
🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬 From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor's defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other. In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out. More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

BELFAST`s Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend.

Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice.

The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975.

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

246 5
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18160450297429027
BELFAST's Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend. Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice. The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975. Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

...

In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby.

A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans!

More at irishfilmtv.com.

281 4
Open post by irish_film_tv with ID 18091780592137006
In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby. A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans! More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he`s one of the greats ✨

Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there`s no one else who could have done it quite like him.

This is an actor who doesn`t perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you`re watching acting at all.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

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✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he's one of the greats ✨ Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there's no one else who could have done it quite like him. This is an actor who doesn't perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you're watching acting at all. More at irishfilmtv.com.

...

* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix *

This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby`s final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created.

The gypsy king`s last move is being made. Are you ready?

More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.

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* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix * This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby's final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created. The gypsy king's last move is being made. Are you ready? More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.

...

Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK.

Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20.

More info at irishfilmtv.com.

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Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK. Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20. More info at irishfilmtv.com.

...

The best characters aren`t heroes. they`re human.

Andrew Scott doesn`t do safe. from the priest in FLEABAG to tom ripley`s calculated desperation, he chooses roles that make you uncomfortable—and that`s exactly why you can`t look away.

In a new @sxsw interview, Scott gets candid about his most famous roles!

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

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The best characters aren't heroes. they're human. Andrew Scott doesn't do safe. from the priest in FLEABAG to tom ripley's calculated desperation, he chooses roles that make you uncomfortable—and that's exactly why you can't look away. In a new @sxsw interview, Scott gets candid about his most famous roles! Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

...

She swept the Globes. She swept the BAFTAs. And last night, Jessie Buckley swept the Oscars — becoming the first Irish woman in 98 years of Academy history to win Best Actress 🍀

For a girl from Killarney who started on a TV talent show, this wasn`t just a win. It was a coronation.

More Jessie Buckley Oscar glory at irishfilmtv.com.

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She swept the Globes. She swept the BAFTAs. And last night, Jessie Buckley swept the Oscars — becoming the first Irish woman in 98 years of Academy history to win Best Actress 🍀 For a girl from Killarney who started on a TV talent show, this wasn't just a win. It was a coronation. More Jessie Buckley Oscar glory at irishfilmtv.com.

...

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Irish Television

Aidan Turner returns in RIVALS Season Two

Aidan Turner returns in RIVALS Season Two

Aidan Turner returns in RIVALS Season Two

Cameras are rolling once again in Rutshire as RIVALS season 2 officially begins production, and Disney+ has given fans their first tantalizing glimpse behind the scenes with newly released images that showcase the stellar cast diving back into Dame Jilly Cooper’s world of scandal, ambition, and sexual intrigue.

The production photos, shared across Disney’s social media channels, capture the energy and anticipation surrounding the show’s return, with Aidan Turner prominently featured alongside Alex Hassell, Nafessa Williams, and newcomer Bella Maclean. Turner’s presence in these behind-the-scenes glimpses signals his continued central role in what promises to be an even more explosive installment of the power-hungry drama that took audiences by storm.

The returning ensemble cast reads like a who’s who of British television talent, with Aidan Turner’s return being particularly significant for fans who have followed his career trajectory from BEING HUMAN to POLDARK and now to RIVALS. Turner, who has established himself as one of Britain’s most compelling leading men, brings his trademark intensity and charisma to the morally complex world of 1980s power plays. His presence alongside David Tennant, Katherine Parkinson, Alex Hassell, and Nafessa Williams ensures continuity in the intricate web of relationships that drive the narrative. Turner’s ability to navigate both romantic tension and political intrigue made him a standout in the first season, and his prominent placement in the new behind-the-scenes imagery suggests his character will continue to be at the heart of the show’s most compelling storylines.

RIVALS season 1 is available to stream on Disney+.

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Irish Television

Aidan Turner in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

Aidan Turner in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

Aidan Turner in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

In a significant theatrical announcement, Aidan Turner will star alongside Lesley Manville and Monica Barbaro in an eagerly anticipated revival of LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at London’s National Theatre. This marks the first time Christopher Hampton’s celebrated adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ scandalous novel will grace the National’s stage, with performances expected to begin in spring 2026.

The production reunites acclaimed director Marianne Elliott with the venue after a nine-year absence, forming a centerpiece of Indhu Rubasingham’s inaugural season as Artistic Director. For Turner, this role represents another prestigious addition to a career that has evolved dramatically since his breakout in POLDARK. The Irish actor has strategically balanced his screen work with challenging stage performances, including his critically lauded turn in Martin McDonagh’s THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE.

Turner will share the stage with BAFTA and Olivier Award-winner Manville, who joins fresh from her triumphant, award-winning performance in OEDIPUS at Wyndham’s Theatre—a production now Broadway-bound. Completing the high-profile casting trio is Barbaro, known for her role in TOP GUN: MAVERICK. The creative team assembling around this production includes set designer Rosanna Vize, costume designer Natalie Roar, movement director Tom Jackson Greaves, lighting designer James Farncombe, and sound designer Ian Dickson.

Elliott’s return to the National, where her previous credits include ANGELS IN AMERICA, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, and co-direction of WAR HORSE, promises to bring fresh perspective to Hampton’s 1985 adaptation, known for its sharp wit, psychological complexity, and themes of manipulation and seduction. While exact dates, further casting details, and ticket information remain forthcoming, the production’s announcement as part of a 16-show season signals Rubasingham’s ambitious artistic vision for one of the world’s leading theatrical institutions.

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Irish Theatre

RIVALS renewed for 2nd Season

RIVALS renewed for 2nd Season

RIVALS renewed for 2nd Season

Disney+’s sultry period drama RIVALS has captivated audiences with its delicious blend of 1980s nostalgia and steamy storytelling, with confirmation of a second season sending fans into a frenzy. The adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved 1988 novel has proven to be the “bonkbuster” of the year, aching with old-fashioned small screen sex appeal that viewers simply can’t get enough of.

At the heart of the series stands Aidan Turner as the dishy Irish TV presenter Declan O’Hara, who found himself entangled in the cutthroat world of independent television during the Thatcher era when recruited by the scheming Lord Baddingham, portrayed with delightful menace by David Tennant. Turner’s career renaissance continues with this role, following his critically acclaimed performances in POLDARK and LEONARDO, cementing his status as television’s go-to leading man for period dramas that combine substance with smoldering intensity.

The excitement for RIVALS‘ return recently amplified when series star Danny Dyer, who plays self-made businessman Freddie Jones, shared a promising production update during the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. “We’re on the eve of starting the second series,” Dyer revealed on March 25, humorously adding details about improvements to his character’s appearance: “The old ‘tache is on its way back. I’ve got a better wig which I’m excited about.” His co-star Katherine Parkinson echoed this enthusiasm, noting that with the second series, “[Dyer’s] had some more money spent on him.”

This production update follows executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins’ January confirmation that writing for the new season was officially underway, sharing a photo of himself with fellow producers posing alongside a cardboard cutout of Turner. While specific plot details remain scarce, fans can anticipate resolution to Tony’s fate—the only character whose storyline was left dangling at the first season’s conclusion.

Turner is expected to return alongside the impressive ensemble cast including Dyer, Parkinson, Tennant, Victoria Smurfit, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Claire Rushbrook, Emily Atack, Catriona Chandler, Oliver Chris, Rufus Jones, Lisa McGrillis, and Luke Pasqualino. Williams’ character, the glamorous American TV producer Cameron Cook, provided an intriguing foil to Turner’s O’Hara in the first season, with their initial antagonism developing into a more complex dynamic.

Dame Jilly Cooper herself, serving as executive producer, expressed unbridled enthusiasm about the renewal: “I’m orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two.” While no premiere date has been announced, production appears to be moving forward with momentum that mirrors the show’s passionate fanbase.

For Turner, RIVALS represents another triumph in a career trajectory that has skillfully balanced commercial appeal with artistic integrity. His portrayal of O’Hara—passionate, principled, yet flawed—has added another memorable character to his increasingly impressive portfolio, further establishing him as one of the most compelling actors of his generation. As cameras prepare to roll on season two, all eyes will be on Turner to see how he further develops this character within Cooper’s deliciously decadent world of ambition, revenge, and desire.

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Irish Television

Aidan Turner hits RIVALS red carpet

AIDAN TURNER hits the RIVALS red carpet

AIDAN TURNER hits the RIVALS red carpet

Anticipation mounts as Disney+ prepares to unveil its latest sensation this week. The star-studded adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s iconic 1988 novel RIVALS features Irish talents Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit, who recently graced the red carpet at the show’s premiere.

RIVALS plunges viewers into the cutthroat world of television, chronicling the fierce competition between the ambitious Rupert Campbell Black and the formidable Lord Tony Baddinham. Set to debut on Disney+ on October 18th, the series promises a gripping narrative of power, ambition, and rivalry.

Aidan Turner, a versatile Irish actor, brings his considerable talent to this high-profile project. Turner first captured audiences’ attention with his portrayal of the brooding vampire Mitchell in the supernatural drama BEING HUMAN (2009-2011). He then solidified his status as a leading man with his captivating performance as the titular character in the BBC’s historical drama POLDARK (2015-2019). Turner’s ability to embody complex characters with depth and charisma has established him as one of Ireland’s most compelling exports to the small screen.

With RIVALS, Turner adds another potentially career-defining role to his impressive television repertoire, which has consistently demonstrated his range and appeal across genres. As audiences eagerly await this latest offering, Turner’s involvement heightens expectations for what promises to be a must-watch series.

Watch Trailer

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Irish Television