Emily Atack joined her "Rivals" co-stars and notable figures including Stanley Tucci for a lively party celebrating the birthday of Felicity Blunt, an executive producer for the Disney+ show.
The actress, who portrays Sarah Stratton, shared moments from the festivities on Instagram. The celebration took place in a barn setting, with drinks flowing and guests enjoying the atmosphere. Attendees included cast members such as Bella Maclean, Rufus Jones, Alex Hassell, Catriona Chandler, Lisa McGrillis, Gary Lamont, Hubert Burton, and Katherine Parkinson, along with showrunner Dominic Treadwell-Collins.
Felicity Blunt, the wife of actor Stanley Tucci, also celebrated her 45th birthday. The group sang "Happy Birthday" as she blew out candles on a cake made of cheese. Blunt, who also served as the literary agent for the late "Rivals" author Dame Jilly Cooper, maintained a close relationship with the author, communicating daily.
Atack was accompanied by her fiancé Alistair Garner and their son Barney. Other guests, including Bella Maclean, were seen dancing. Blunt, dressed in a sparkly silver dress, cut her cheese cake and appeared ready to make a speech.
"Rivals," based on Dame Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel, debuted on Disney+ in October 2024 and quickly garnered a following. The series, set in the 1980s television industry, follows the rivalry between media mogul Tony Baddingham and Rupert Campbell-Black over a television franchise, with intertwining personal dramas.
The show was renewed for a second season, which received positive reviews, with critics praising its ability to match the success of the first season.
The synopsis for "Rivals" describes it as a drama capturing the "joy, excess, and brazen power-grabbing of the affluent elite in 1980s England," focusing on the competition for the Central South West television franchise and the resulting personal chaos.