Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Director Jamie Jay Johnson spoke to HeyUGuys at the Rivals Season 2 SXSW London Premiere at the Barbican, London, bringing an infectious enthusiasm and a director's-eye view of what it took to bring the glittering, chaotic world of 1980s Rutshire to life. In a lively and revealing conversation, Johnson discussed the extraordinary challenge of period authenticity — VFX-painting out uPVC windows, recreating the carnage of the 1987 Great Storm — and shared a delicious tease about what's waiting in the second half of the season, describing episode seven as very juicy indeed.
Interviews for Rivals Season 2 at the SXSW London Premiere at the Barbican, London. The series stars David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer, Victoria Smurfit, Claire Rushbrook, Oliver Chris, Lisa McGrillis, Emily Atack, Rufus Jones, Luca Pasqualino, Catriona Chandler, Annabel Scholey, Gary Lamont, Hubert Burton, Gabriel Tierney, Lara Peake, Bryony Hannah, Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett; it was written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade and directed by Elliot Hegarty, Jamie J Johnson and Dee Koppang O'Leary.
Colin Hart and Abigail Shii ask the questions.
Plot: As the battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches boiling point, Lord Tony Baddingham grows more ruthless than ever — weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power. Set against the shimmering excess of 1980s Britain, marriages fracture under ambition, illicit affairs threaten to detonate families, and long-buried secrets ignite with devastating consequences. Loyalties bend, hearts splinter, and the question hangs in the air: what is the true cost of war?
Rivals Season 2 will be available on Disney+ from 15th May 2026.
#RivalsSeason2 #Rivals #JamieJayJohnson #SXSWLondon #HeyUGuys #DisneyPlus #Hulu #TVDrama #BehindTheScenes #RedCarpet
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For syndication or usage opportunities please contact syndication@heyuguys.co.uk.
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More from HeyUGuys:
Website ► HeyUGuys.com
Follow us on Twitter ► twitter.com/HeyUGuys
Subscribe here! ► bit.ly/HeyUGuysYTSub
Facebook ► facebook.com/HeyUGuys
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Director Jamie Jay Johnson spoke to HeyUGuys at the Rivals Season 2 SXSW London Premiere at the Barbican, London, bringing an infectious enthusiasm and a director's-eye view of what it took to bring the glittering, chaotic world of 1980s Rutshire to life. In a lively and revealing conversation, Johnson discussed the extraordinary challenge of period authenticity — VFX-painting out uPVC windows, recreating the carnage of the 1987 Great Storm — and shared a delicious tease about what's waiting in the second half of the season, describing episode seven as very juicy indeed.
Interviews for Rivals Season 2 at the SXSW London Premiere at the Barbican, London. The series stars David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer, Victoria Smurfit, Claire Rushbrook, Oliver Chris, Lisa McGrillis, Emily Atack, Rufus Jones, Luca Pasqualino, Catriona Chandler, Annabel Scholey, Gary Lamont, Hubert Burton, Gabriel Tierney, Lara Peake, Bryony Hannah, Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett; it was written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade and directed by Elliot Hegarty, Jamie J Johnson and Dee Koppang O'Leary.
Colin Hart and Abigail Shii ask the questions.
Plot: As the battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches boiling point, Lord Tony Baddingham grows more ruthless than ever — weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power. Set against the shimmering excess of 1980s Britain, marriages fracture under ambition, illicit affairs threaten to detonate families, and long-buried secrets ignite with devastating consequences. Loyalties bend, hearts splinter, and the question hangs in the air: what is the true cost of war?
Rivals Season 2 will be available on Disney+ from 15th May 2026.
#RivalsSeason2 #Rivals #JamieJayJohnson #SXSWLondon #HeyUGuys #DisneyPlus #Hulu #TVDrama #BehindTheScenes #RedCarpet
---------------------
For syndication or usage opportunities please contact syndication@heyuguys.co.uk.
---------------------
More from HeyUGuys:
Website ► HeyUGuys.com
Follow us on Twitter ► twitter.com/HeyUGuys
Subscribe here! ► bit.ly/HeyUGuysYTSub
Facebook ► facebook.com/HeyUGuys
Instagram ► instagram.com/HeyUGuysOfficial
TikTok ► tiktok.com/@heyuguysofficial
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