Alex Hassell, who plays the womanizing Rupert Campbell-Black in the television adaptation of Jilly Cooper's "Rivals," has revealed candid advice he received from the late author regarding his on-screen relationship with co-star Bella Maclean. In an interview with Radio Times, Hassell recounted Cooper's directive to "break her like a young horse" during a scene where his character, Rupert, becomes physically aggressive with Maclean's character, Taggie.
Hassell, 46, admitted that he initially struggled to embody Rupert's "alpha, macho lothario" persona, finding the character vastly different from his own background as the son of a vicar and nurse. He expressed fear that he could not authentically portray the character's aggressive magnetism. However, Cooper's instruction pushed him to embrace the darker, more forceful aspects of Rupert's nature.
"For a while, I was trying to make him likeable," Hassell told Radio Times. "When he danced with Taggie, I felt he would be tacitly apologising to her, but Jilly said to me, 'No, he grabs her and tries to break her like a young horse.' I was like, 'Woah!'"
The actor also shared his pride in having met Cooper before her passing in October 2025, stating it was "moving to remember" her telling him she was "really proud" of his performance.
The second season of "Rivals" is set to conclude with episodes 7-12, which will address the mid-series finale and the death of Monica Baddingham. The upcoming episodes promise continued "style and scandal" as the characters navigate ongoing feuds, including Lord Tony Baddingham's (David Tennant) conflict with Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner). The trailer indicates a potential happy ending for Taggie and Rupert, concluding with the pair leaning in for a kiss.
The first three of the final six episodes are scheduled to be released on November 11, with the remaining three episodes following on a weekly basis.