9 Jilly Cooper Book Characters We Need To See in 'Rivals' Season 3

3 days ago 12

Aidan Turner and Luca Pasqualino in Rivals

Published Jun 21, 2026, 2:33 PM EDT

Therese Lacson is a Senior TV Editor who has been with Collider since 2021. She got started in this business over ten years ago working primarily as an interviewer and critic. At Collider, she works closely with the features team to support the writers and also ideates and develops content daily. She has covered major industry events including Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, and San Diego Comic-Con. Although she reviews and covers both film and television, her focus is in television and her expertise is in fantasy and sci-fi genre shows. Her favorite shows to cover include House of the Dragon, Bridgerton, Fallout, 9-1-1, and Rivals.

Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for multiple Jilly Cooper novels.Rivals fans rejoice! The Hulu series has officially been greenlit for Season 3 with another 12 episodes on the way. Based on author Jilly Cooper's blockbuster series, the Rutshire Chronicles, Rivals not only covers the titular book, but has been dipping into the rest of the Rutshire novels in Season 2. While we've still got a long way until Season 3, any fan of Cooper's books will know that there's a lot more story to tell beyond just Rivals, the second book in the series. Full of horses, affairs, and some of the most privileged people on this planet, the Rutshire Chronicles is a series bursting at the seams with drama.

The series has already announced the casting for book characters Alejandro Mendoza (Santiago Cabrera) and David Hawkley (Rupert Evans), both characters who appear in Cooper's subsequent books, Polo and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous. They'll be appearing in Part 2 of Season 2, which will return in November after that explosive ending. It's a good sign for anyone hoping to see more of Cooper's beloved characters on the show. However, we have a few more requested characters who we'd love to see on our screens, just in case anyone from the Rivals creative team is curious. (And in lieu of having to fan cast this entire list, the images coordinate to the closest connection we've seen to this character in the series.)

Jake Lovell

Hayley Atwell as Helen in Rivals Season 2

While Rivals looks beyond the book it's based on, Season 3 also could be a good opportunity to bring back characters from Rupert's (Alex Hassell) past from Riders. We've already met Helen (Hayley Atwell), Rupert's ex-wife, and Malise (Rupert Everett), Rupert's ex-showjumping manager, but Jake Lovell is the missing link.

Not only was Jake ultimately the straw that broke the camel's back in Rupert and Helen's marriage, but him running off with Helen during the Olympics caused a cascading effect on everyone's lives. Rupert was forced to re-evaluate his lifestyle, Helen finally worked up the courage to leave her husband, and Jake's actions would ripple through his family for generations, down to his own son, who is featured prominently in the later Rutshire books. Getting a glimpse of Jake in some way, whether it's through a flashback or a mention in passing, would set up some riveting storylines to come.

Roberto Rannaldini

If you think Tony Baddingham is bad, you ain't seen nothing yet! While it's hard to imagine anyone topping David Tennant's sinister performance, the real baddie of Cooper's novels is the notorious Roberto Rannaldini. Arrogant, possessive, and creepy, this libertine with a Napoleon complex is probably one of the most dastardly people Cooper has ever created. He's the cause of several problems, and is the primary antagonist of three of Cooper's novels.

With David Hawkley coming into the picture, it's a sign that The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous is on the table for adaptation. Rannaldini is as essential to Cooper's universe as Rupert Campbell-Black. However, considering some of his vilest actions, if the show was to tone him down or combine him with Tony completely, we certainly wouldn't have any complaints.

Billy Lloyd-Foxe

Luca Pasqualino riding a horse in Rivals

Another character who got his start in Riders, Rivals has decided to sidestep the inclusion of Billy Lloyd-Foxe into the show canon, and that's a shame. Before he met Taggie (Bella Maclean), Rupert's soulmate was Billy. His best friend and a fellow showjumper, there is no one more loyal and steadfast than Billy. While Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson) is up to her elbows in romantic struggles and Bas (Luca Pasqualino) is making his move on Taggie, it's time for Rupert's real best friend to get in the mix.

Of course, book readers will know that Billy makes an appearance at Rupert's wedding to Taggie later in Polo, but we shouldn't have to wait until the wedding to get to see our other favorite double-barreled showjumper. Plus, after retirement, Billy worked for the BBC, and given the concept of the show revolves around television franchises, maybe it's time Rupert called in favors with his friend after that Golden Gauntlet disaster. On top of all that, Billy's wife, Janey, is a journalist who might just give Beattie Johnson (Annabel Scholey) a run for her money.

Kitty Rannaldini

Rivals Caitlyn Taggie O'Hara At Freddie Jones Bella Vista

While I can accept that Rannaldini might have to have some of his traits folded into other characters, I simply can not do without Kitty. In The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, Kitty is Rannaldini's third wife, though she essentially functions as his live-in assistant. In charge of his schedule and his professional life, Kitty holds down the fort while Rannaldini gallivants around Rutshire and Europe, sleeping with women left and right (consensually or not).

Much like Taggie, Kitty is taken for granted and constantly underestimated. Thankfully, Kitty finds her true love with another character on this list, and her triumphant escape from Rannaldini is one of those moments that would be a heart-pounding scene to watch on screen. After Rivals wraps up Rupert and Taggie's happy ending, it would certainly be a treat for another wholesome relationship to take the limelight after.

Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw

Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it's your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

🦁Gryffindor

🐍Slytherin

🦡Hufflepuff

🦅Ravenclaw

PLACE THE HAT →

What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows.

ACourage — I act even when I'm afraid, because what's right matters more than what's safe. BAmbition — I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there. CLoyalty — I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me. DWisdom — I think before I act and I'm always hungry to understand more.

NEXT QUESTION →

A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are.

AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible — I won't stand by. BWork out the best strategy to address it — a smart move beats a rash one. CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need. DAnalyse what's actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution.

NEXT QUESTION →

What does success look like to you? What you're working toward defines who you're becoming.

ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds. BAchieving the goals I set for myself — influence, status, and earned respect. CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always. DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning.

NEXT QUESTION →

What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person.

ABeing a coward when it mattered — looking back and knowing I did nothing. BMediocrity — fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world. CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most. DIgnorance — being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential.

NEXT QUESTION →

The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.

ABreak the rules — if it's the right thing to do, no rule should stop me. BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines. CProbably follow the rules — but I'd find a way to help within them if I could. DThink it through carefully — is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient?

NEXT QUESTION →

What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.

AThe protector — I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about. BThe strategist — I give sharp advice and I'm the one who figures out how to fix things. CThe constant — I'm always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me. DThe guide — I help people think things through and see perspectives they've missed.

NEXT QUESTION →

You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.

AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won. BYourself at the height of your power — respected, successful, and in control. CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together. DYourself with all the answers — every book read, every mystery solved.

NEXT QUESTION →

The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: "You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?" This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.

ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won't. BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary. CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down. DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever.

REVEAL MY HOUSE →

The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been Chosen

After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.

🦁 Gryffindor

You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you're terrified — especially then.

Gryffindors don't act because they're fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.
You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.
You charge toward what's right even when the odds are terrible.
Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts's greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.

🐍 Slytherin

You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.

Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.
You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.
You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.
The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.

🦡 Hufflepuff

You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.

Hufflepuff is not the "safe" house or the "leftover" house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.
You show up. You work hard. You don't need glory or recognition — you do what's right because it's right.
Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.
Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world's finest. And now you join them.

🦅 Ravenclaw

Your mind is your greatest gift, and you've always known it.

Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.
Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it's about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don't know something yet.
You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.
Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

Angel Solis de Gonzalez

Santiago Cabrera in The Flight Attendant

With Alejandro Mendoza coming and Perdita (Holly Cattle) already introduced, bringing in Angel just makes sense. In Polo, when Perdita goes to Argentina to train with polo players, she meets both Alejandro and Angel. Angel, who has a devastating past after losing his brother during the Falklands War, inherently hates the English. Perdita, being the upstart and naive new rider coming into the Mendoza yard, is the symbol of everything he should hate. However, as the two bond, they develop a surprisingly heartfelt and platonic relationship that serves them well beyond as teammates.

Angel also has one of the most intense revenge stories — like Inigo Montoya levels of intense — that has not only a shocking reveal but a satisfying ending. With Alejandro being set to appear in Part 2 of Season 2, don't be surprised if you hear his name batted around by Alejandro himself.

Ricky France-Lynch

Alex Hassell on a horse in Rivals Season 2

A core character of Polo, Ricky France-Lynch falls into the same category as Billy, as one of Rupert's friends who has sadly not been included in the Rivals series. However, with the introduction of Perdita, it feels essential that we meet Ricky. As a star polo player, Ricky is basically the Rupert Campbell-Black of the polo world, but after a horrific disaster leads to the death of his son and him being sent to prison, his life is completely shattered.

As a father figure to Perdita (who also happens to have a crush on him) and a support to Perdita's mother, Daisy (more on her below), Ricky is crucial to both women's stories. His own storyline, especially if the show was to pivot directly into Polo, is also a major part of the novel. Of course, the show already has Bas and the Carlisle twins, but come on, Rivals. How can you deprive me of El Orgulloso?

Daisy Macleod

Perdita written in a piece of paper in Rivals Season 1

Daisy is a tragic figure. She got knocked up at a very young age after going to a sex party where she was essentially drugged and assaulted, and from that came her daughter, Perdita. As a young, single mother, she then quickly married a man who ended up being the world's worst father and husband, and by the time Polo really kicks off and Perdita has grown up, she is back on her own. Interestingly enough, in Season 2, we've already seen mention of this sex party in Episode 3 when Beattie Johnson interviews a woman who remembers going to the party where Rupert Campbell-Black was also in attendance. Does that mean that we might get a Daisy storyline somewhere down the line? I hope so!

One of Perdita's most important and complicated relationships is with her mother (they make Maud and Taggie seem tame by comparison) and Daisy's own story is fraught with drama and broken hearts. Reminiscent of Lizzie and a softer-spoken Maud, Daisy has a lot of potential to stir things up in Rutshire, especially if the show hews close to the book.

Lysander Hawkley

One of Cooper's best characters comes in the form of Lysander Hawkley. Lysander is the protagonist of The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous. In the story, Lysander, a struggling jockey, makes money on the side by essentially selling his services as one of the hottest men in the Cotswolds. Many of the husbands in Rutshire are, by default, lacking in faithfulness. By faking (or not) affairs with married women, Lysander's presence serves to not only irk the husbands but jolt them back into action, running back to their wives for fear they'll leave him for this golden Adonis figure.

As a character, Lysander is as wholesome as they come. He's kind, charismatic, and surprisingly pure of heart. His sweet and unexpected romance with Kitty is one for the books, and his mentor/mentee relationship with Rupert is something that sustains long past his novel. With his father already cast in the show, it seems more like a matter of when rather than if we'll see Lysander. But still, Rivals, don't you dare cut this sweet himbo from the story.

Luke Alderton

Holly Cattle as Perdita in Rivals Season 2

The only character who can top Lysander in wholesome goodness might be Luke Alderton. In Polo, Perdita first meets Luke when she is in Argentina. As an American, he can communicate with Perdita a bit easier and helps her to adjust to the teaching and training style of the Argentineans. Luke is everything you'd want in a man. He's humble, patient, and noble. His romance with Perdita is equal parts frustrating and enrapturing. As a wild child, Perdita finds a perfect balance in Luke, who is also a skilled polo player in his own right. And as one of the most honorable men in Cooper's books, it might be nice to have a character around who we don't have to actually worry about.

The series has already laid a bit of groundwork for Luke, as we see in the very first episode of Rivals that the plane Rupert is on is an Alderton Airlines plane. If the show decides to center its story more around Perdita, then Luke is non-negotiable. His brother Red, however? We can do without him.