I’ve just looked at who’s playing Rupert Campbell-Black in Rivals and…

[HeidiPie1525]

I don’t think they’ve got the right actor at all.

I don’t think Alex Hassell is sexy, charismatic or attractive enough to play RCB and think there are better & sexier actors available.

Yes, I’m butt hurt about it as I grew up on Jilly Cooper books and I know I’m not the only one who think the casting is just wrong.

I’m still looking forward to watching it, I think it will be fun and Jilly silly!

Who do I think should have played him? Alex Pettyfer (he’s arrogant enough!) or Oliver Jackson-Cohen, he has a look in his eye

 

[meleeka]

Who do I think should have played him? Alex Pettyfer (he’s arrogant enough!) or Oliver Jackson-Cohen, he has a look in his eye

Good call!

It's been many years since I read the book, but I thought he was blonde.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Oh wow I’ve just read riders literally a few weeks ago is there a show/movie I’ve just downloaded rivals on E books xx

 

[Bernster]

Don’t really remember the story but yeah not wowed by the casting. More fun would be a re do of Riders !

 

[Sanversera]

I think AH will make a good RCB.

 

[rextherobber]

I loathed RCB, but also thought he was blond. Billy was much nicer (it's decades since I read the book, am now doubting his name was Billy....)

 

[canteron]

Scroll through this and there is a trailer for the film. But RCB was definitely dark haired, Billy more of a blond!

Alex Hassell gets slapped in the face in teaser trailer for Rivals TV adaptation

The short clip posted on Wednesday sees The Boys star step into the role of Rupert Campbell-Black while David Tennant plays Lord Tony Baddingham.

www.southwalesguardian.co.uk

 

[Pinkvboots]

They did a film about it years ago and RCB was blonde in that.

 

[Pinkvboots]

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0095401/

 

[Pinkvboots]

 

[Fred66]

I loathed RCB, but also thought he was blond. Billy was much nicer (it's decades since I read the book, am now doubting his name was Billy....)

In the books RCB was vile to the majority of people but did have some redeeming features his love for his dogs, for Billy. In the sequels he remains in the main selfish and uncaring but more people get drawn into the sphere of his redeeming features. It does make him a more relatable and likeable character as he seems to like authentic, unpretentious and loyal people and reserves his disdain and obnoxious characteristics for the opposite.
He was blonde in the book.
The 3 castings I think are nothing like I imagined in the book are:

Rupert - definitely blonde in the book
Suggestion: Tom Hiddleston

Tony - I got the impression of him being muscly and swarthy but sexy as powerful men can be
Suggestion: Clive Owen

Freddie - meant to be from Yorkshire and avuncular
Suggestion: Ralph Ineson

 

[BigRedDog]

Did anyone read her latest. Tackle! It is about football. RCB is a main character. Appalling book, like a parody of the old Jilly Cooper. I threw it away after about 75 pages.

 

[dapple_grey]

I was disappointed with the casting but think if Alex Hassell was blonde it would work.

He's described as 'blonde and beautiful' in the books and his looks are often how he gets away with his behaviour. Tabitha and Perdita are also blonde and often described as taking after RCB.

I'm a big Jilly Cooper fan and have re-read the OG books (Riders, Polo etc) a number of times. I got Tackle for Christmas and have to say I was so disappointed. But then I'm not a fan of football so found it hard to stick with!

 

[cariadbach10]

Did anyone read her latest. Tackle! It is about football. RCB is a main character. Appalling book, like a parody of the old Jilly Cooper. I threw it away after about 75 pages.

I’ve kept on trying with the audio book version, but it is rather like AI wrote this one.

 

[Hackback]

Glad it's not just me. I tried to read Tackle but it just didn't do it for me and I gave up. Pretty disappointing, I loved the other books.

 

[Cavalier]

I bought it when it came out but still haven’t tried reading it yet

 

[HopOnTrot]

I loathe football so didn’t even buy tackle! May add the originals to my Kindle for holiday!

 

[Hackback]

I've just watched the trailer. I couldn't tell you which characters any of the actors were playing, but it looked like it might be cheesy fun. Or it might just be cringey. Anyway, I've decided to treat it as a completely new experience and not link it to the book at all, hopefully so I don't get annoyed at all the discrepancies. Only thing is it's on Disney or Disney + which we don't have.

 

[Clover Girl]

I loathed RCB, but also thought he was blond. Billy was much nicer (it's decades since I read the book, am now doubting his name was Billy..

 

[Clover Girl]

The character of RCB was apparently based on the current Queen’s first husband

 

[Orangehorse]

The character of RCB was apparently based on the current Queen’s first husband

There are quite a few candidates for that - Johnny Kidd was another.

 

[tda]

Just seen an interview with Jill Cooper on tv, it showed some clips of the new series, looks like the chap who plays RCB has the facial expressions, but is still not blonde

 

[tristars]

I thought aiden turner was mentioned somewhere, he of poldark

 

[Mrs G]

Yes Im afraid Marcus Gilbert will always be the quintessential RCB in my eyes so I would probably have been disappointed with whoever they chose!

 

[Orangehorse]

Aiden Turner is playing Declan!!!! I always envisaged him as more like Terry Wogan.

Rupert was definitely blonde.

 

[Sandstone1]

Anyone going to watch this? It starts tomorrow. I do not have disney plus. will it be worth getting for a month to watch?

 

[canteron]

Apparently so, especially if you want to relive the 80’s excess!

 

[teddy_]

Agree that Alex Hassell is all wrong. I think James Norton would have been a good RCB, he is good at playing complete sh*ts - after all. I am going to 'An Evening with Jilly Cooper & Cast' later on this month and I cannot wait .

 

[Hackback]

I can't wait. Hope it's not a big let down. I'm going to try and dissociate it from the books and treat it like a new experience

 

[lar]

I just watched the first episode. It's a lot of fun. There's a LOT of bonking. But my god have they miscast Rupert.