The hit television drama Rivals appears to be doing more than entertaining viewers – it's also helping to revive some of the most iconic dinner party dishes of the 1980s.
Supermarkets and restaurants across the UK are reporting growing demand for nostalgic favourites including prawn cocktail, quiche Lorraine, rum baba, tiramisu and banana split, with many attributing the trend to renewed interest in the era sparked by the adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper's bestselling novel.
Set in the glamorous and scandal-filled world of 1980s Britain, Rivals has become a major streaming success, introducing a new generation to the fashions, lifestyles and dining habits of the decade.
The renewed appetite for retro dishes has already made its way onto restaurant menus.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has reportedly added both pavlova and a modern take on rum baba to menus across his restaurant group.
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Meanwhile, supermarket chain Waitrose has recorded sharp increases in sales of several traditional dishes associated with 1980s entertaining.
According to the retailer, sales of its luxury prawn cocktail have risen by 170% year-on-year, while apple tarte tatin sales are up 104% over the same period.
The supermarket also reported increased demand for products such as tiramisu and corned beef, prompting it to launch a special 1980s Dinner Party Guide, described as a celebration of some of the decade's most memorable foods.
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A survey commissioned by Waitrose suggests the nostalgia trend is resonating with shoppers.
Around 24% of respondents said they would like to eat more bread and butter pudding, while 19% said they still enjoy a classic banana split.
Disney+ has officially renewed hit drama Rivals for a third series following the success of its second season.
The adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved Rutshire Chronicles novels has become one of Disney+’s biggest UK dramas, with the streaming service confirming that filming on the new series will begin next year.
The ensemble cast is expected to return, including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson, Alex Hassell and Emily Atack.
Rivals S2 EP05. Hulu, Disney+
The third series will mark the first chapter of the TV adaptation produced following the death of Dame Jilly Cooper, who served as an executive producer on the show before passing away.
Showrunner Dominic Treadwell-Collins said the team was thrilled by the response to the latest season but saddened that Cooper was not able to see its success.
“We’ve been delighted and overwhelmed by the audience’s response to season two of Rivals - testament to the hard work from everyone working on Rivals both on and off screen,” he said.
“Our one sadness is that Jilly didn’t get to witness the love for season two. But she’s still very much with us in spirit and would be so delighted that season three has been green lit. We’re so thrilled to continue to work with Disney as we dive deeper into the Rutshire Chronicles and expand the Cooperverse even further.”
Victoria Smurfit is back with Maud O'Hara for Disney+' Rivals Season 2. Robert Viglasky Photography
Although the series will continue to be titled Rivals, the television adaptation is now expected to draw storylines and characters from across Cooper’s wider Rutshire Chronicles collection.
The original novel Rivals was published in 1988 and was the second book in the series, following Riders, which was released three years earlier.
Future episodes are expected to incorporate elements from other novels including Polo, The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, Score! and Pandora.
Treadwell-Collins said the creative team sees the books as part of a larger shared universe, allowing them greater freedom when developing future storylines.
“We've planned season three and what we're doing is looking at the books as a universe, as the Cooper-verse,” he explained.
“So we can pick and choose and play and yeah, we're going to be doing that in this series - and we want to keep on doing that.”
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Last month, Ireland's Classic Hits Radio got to chat to Victoria Smurfit and Lisa McGrillis ahead of the release of season 2 of the high-energy show.
Victoria portrays Maud O'Hara, a 'washed-up acctress' forever stuck in her glory days. She's married to Declan O’Hara, and craves attention - and success. Lisa plays Valerie Jones, wife of Freddie Jones. She desperately wants to be a part of the Cotswolds group of wives she’s mixing with, but always ends up being the butt of their jokes.
Victoria and Lisa spilled the tea on the chaos about to unfold in this Disney+ series - and it is boiling hot!
