Contestant Katherine Parkinson praises series that shows women’s views on sex | Television

Bafta winner Katherine Parkinson has praised TV series Rivals for showing a “sexist” view of women.

Speaking at a screening in Bristol, where much of the material was filmed, Parkinson, who plays romance writer Lizzie Vereker in the show, said there were not enough examples on television of a woman’s sexuality.

The award-winning Disney+ series follows the iconic British television series set in the rural Cotswolds in the fictional Rutshire region. The country has become known for its violent sex shows featuring various characters.

The first three episodes of the second series arrived on the platform on Friday, and fans of the popular game from the first season will not be disappointed when the characters do what A five-star Guardian TV review called it “a serious problem” within the first 10 minutes.

Parkinson, who appeared in his sex show with co-star Danny Dyer in the final episode of the first season, told the audience at Everyman Bristol: “The best thing Rivals does is…

“Because Jilly (Cooper) clearly wrote about women’s views on sex.

Parkinson, who won a Bafta last week for her role as Rachel in Here We Go, was joined by her co-star Annabel Scholey, who plays ruthless journalist Beattie Johnson, a production team from production company Happy Prince, the mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, and members of Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios.

The series, based on Rutshire Chronicle’s Jilly Cooper, was filmed in the studios, which are owned by the city council, with many of the locations featured in the series within a 30 mile radius around Bristol.

The screening celebrated the region’s role in creating the popular series and as a champion of moving filmmaking outside of the London channel.

Godwin said: “The West Country is proud to be the real Rutshire, somewhere for people around the world and something that encourages more visitors to come and fall in love with our area.

“The competitions being held here will directly and indirectly help add millions of pounds to the country’s fastest growing economy.”

Filming for the second series, which began in May 2025, was overshadowed by the death of Cooper, who suffered severe head injuries in a fall. Gloucestershire home in October.

The Bristol audience was asked to raise a glass in Cooper’s memory before the first episode.