David Tennant has done a perfect job of reminding us all that, while sex scenes may look sexy on-screen, filming them is anything but.
The Doctor Who legend, 54, stars in Rivals, a Disney+ period comedy-drama based on the novel by Jilly Cooper.
Cooper’s involvement should give you a hint of what the show involves, but for those unacquainted with her romance writing, Ben Shephard had the perfect descriptor.
As Tennant sat opposite him on the This Morning sofa today, the host began: ‘One of the things that strikes you when you watch the first series (of Rivals) is it was quite a physically amorous series for many of the cast members.’
Cracking up immediately, Tennant asked: ‘What are you suggesting?’
‘Well, I’m suggesting you were at it a lot, all of you, if you want me to be a bit more explicit,’ Shephard quipped.
Tennant jokingly added that ‘every element of life is explored’ in the hit show, going on to detail a rather nasty injury he received during a racy scene.
‘I was launching myself onto a wooden bed at one point, and unfortunately, my knee collided with the bed frame in a rather unfortunate way.
‘Not very sexy.’
Shephard then asked if the actor now has a ‘stunt double’ for those NSFW shoots, since he ‘can’t afford to be buckling the Tennant knees; they’re too valuable!’
‘You can never quite tell when you’re going to fall over and embarrass yourself, can you?’, he mocked in response.
‘You certainly don’t want to do it when you’re wearing a modesty pouch!’
Rivals first launched last October, with a second season commissioned just weeks later.
Its story is set in the 1980s in the fictional county of Rutshire, depicting how ruthless the world of independent television can be as three men’s professional rivalry comes to a head.
The hit drama also stars Danny Dyer, Catherine Parkinson, Emily Atack, and Alex Hassell, while huge stars Hayley Attwell and Rupert Everett will appear in season 2, which has already promised more ‘dramatic twists’ and ‘even more desire’ as loyalties are ‘pushed to the edge’.
What’s more, the second outing will feature 12 episodes, while the first had eight.
Initially, Tennant admitted that signing on for the role brought with it ‘a great deal of expectation’.
On portraying Lord Tony Baddingham, he shared with Radio Times: ‘I mean, people love this book, and it has meant a great deal to people for generations now, so that always takes a bit of a deep breath, knowing that you’re taking something on that you don’t want to break because there are people who have very clear ideas of what these characters are or have expectations for what they’re looking for.’
He continued: ‘But, at the end of the day, you’re just going to go, “I have a script, and I have the version of the characters that I can give you; this is how it occurs to me, and these are the people I’m working with”.’
Speaking previously about what fans can expect from the next instalment, Dyer further teased that things are about to get even raunchier—so watch those knees, Mr. Tennant!
The former EastEnders actor plays married entrepreneur Freddie Jones, who strikes up a romance with Lizzie Vereker (Parkinson), the wife of obnoxious TV host James Vereker (Oliver Chris).
Dyer told Metro at the TV Baftas earlier this year: ‘It’s so lavish and lush. I’m very excited about it. I’m concentrating on bringing Freddie back.
‘This series is so much better than the first. It’s that difficult second album thing, other than the writers and producers have absolutely nailed it. I can’t wait for people to see it; it’s a beautiful job for me.
‘If you want a bit of naughtiness in your life, go and watch it. Rivals has plenty of naughtiness.’
However, he doesn’t want people to assume the programme is only about Sex.
‘[Parkinson and me] got quite choked up when we went to the screening. And that’s odd,’ he explained, describing the show as a portrait of real love.
‘It was a certain moment, and it got me.
‘You look at each other as it’s weird watching yourself, but it’s just so beautifully shot, and the music and everything just added to it.’
A release date is yet to be announced for season 2, but the cast has been hard at work on set since May, meaning we could be getting more Rivals action as early as 2026.
Rivals is available to stream on Disney+.
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