David Tennant talks new Rivals in the latest issue of Radio Times

Today’s Radio Times cover stars are none other than David Tennant and Nafessa Williams ahead of the return of Rivals 👀

David chats all things Tony Baddingham, the chaos of Rivals, and working with legendary author Jilly Cooper, and that’s not all! To celebrate the return of the show there are four covers to collect each featuring an iconic duo from the show!

A few highlights from the interview:

Who are the characters you'd want to spend time with?

Taggie's the only truly good person. Lizzie's lovely, but she's having an extra-marital affair, so she's not off the hook entirely. Tony's wife Monica is fairly pure of heart, but she's a dreadful snob. Tony's just a piece of work.

Do you have anything in common with Tony?

I must do, because he's delivered through the prism of me. Maybe you should ask my wife. Luckily she's not here, otherwise I may not come across very well!

What were you like in the eighties?

I was in hand-me-down school uniforms which

never quite fitted. I bought charity shop clothes like a boot-lace tie that I was very pleased with, and a bolero jacket. I had short spiky hair on top and a long, flat bit down the back. I was trying to channel Bono from U2.

Your career began just a few years after the period depicted in Rivals. Did you ever encounter any of the intense rivalry or misogyny depicted?

Not at close quarters. We almost giggle at the sexual politics when we see it in Rivals, because it feels so implausible now. That gives me hope that the world is moving in a vaguely progressive direction.

How affected were you by Jilly's death?

It was shocking, because there was no sense of her being diminished.

She was so alive and vital, then suddenly she was gone. There's a great sadness that she's not around to see this second series being let loose, but her presence runs through every scene like a stick of rock.

The new issue of Radio Times is out now in shops and digitally.