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

HeidiPie1525

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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 😉
 

canteron

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Fred66

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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

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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

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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!
 

Hackback

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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.
 

tda

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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
 

teddy_

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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

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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 😁
 
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