# The Making of RIVALS: Mega-Episode with Alex Hassell, Nafessa Williams, Katherine Parkinson, Bella Maclean & diretor Elliot Hegarty & writer Laura Wade on the Disney+ Hit

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342/the-making-of-rivals-mega-episode-with-alex-hassell-nafessa-williams-katherine-parkinson-bella-maclean-diretor-elliot-hegarty-writer-laura-wade-on-the-disney-hit
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342/the-making-of-rivals-mega-episode-with-alex-hassell-nafessa-williams-katherine-parkinson-bella-maclean-diretor-elliot-hegarty-writer-laura-wade-on-the-disney-hit.md
Podcast: [The Filmmakers Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342)
Published: 2026-05-22T21:25:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/KILM9372637342.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/KILM9372637342.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342/episodes/the-making-of-rivals-mega-episode-with-alex-hassell-nafessa-williams-katherine-parkinson-bella-maclean-diretor-elliot-hegarty-writer-laura-wade-on-the-disney-hit
Duration seconds: 3505

## Resource

The Making of RIVALS: Cast & Creators on the Disney+ Smash Hit Grab your shoulder pads and pour a glass of champagne! This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, we are doing a massive takeover of the show everyone is talking about: the phenomenal Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s legendary novel, RIVALS. Because the ensemble is so huge, one interview wasn't enough. In this special mega-episode, Directors Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir sit down for four separate masterclasses with the creators and the breakout stars to discover exactly how they brought the cutthroat, glamorous world of 1980s Rutshire to the screen. (Prefer to watch? You can catch all four of these interviews as fully filmed video episodes on our YouTube channel!) 🎬 IN THIS MEGA-EPISODE WE DISCUSS: Part 1: The Creators (Elliot Hegarty & Laura Wade) We kick things off with lead director/executive producer Elliot Hegarty and writer/creator Laura Wade. They break down the pressure of adapting a beloved 80s classic, directing a massive ensemble cast, and striking the perfect tonal balance between high-stakes drama and laugh-out-loud comedy. Part 2: The Brilliant Women of Rutshire (Katherine Parkinson & Lisa McGrillis) Acting powerhouses Katherine Parkinson (Lizzie Vereker) and Lisa McGrillis (Valerie Jones) share their insights on finding emotional truth within high-camp 80s comedy and how they collaborate with directors on massive, fast-paced TV sets. Part 3: The Breakout Stars (Bella Maclean & Luke Pasqualino) Bella Maclean (Taggie O'Hara) and Luke Pasqualino (Basil Baddingham) dive into the realities of the High-End TV audition process and how to build a memorable character arc and stand out in a massive ensemble cast. Part 4: The Power Players (Alex Hassell & Nafessa Williams) We wrap up the show with Rutshi…

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