Rivals’ Alex Hassell and Bella MacLean on Rupert, Taggie’s Age Gap Romance, Unaired Moments and More

Alex Hassell and Bella MacLean's exceptional onscreen chemistry as Rupert and Taggie increased the interest in Rivals — but what comes next for their age gap romance now that the show has been renewed for season 2?

"There was hope that people would go with this relationship. So the fact that actually it seems to have taken off — especially by young people — is amazing," Hassell, 44, exclusively told Us Weekly during a joint interview with MacLean, 27, who added, "It's so nice. We were so worried because we had such a lovely time. We were like, 'I just hope it translates.' And I'm so pleased."

Not every show has the same success when it comes to introducing a new fictional relationship. Hassell and MacLean, however, admitted there wasn't a specific secret to making fans care about Rupert and Taggie so quickly. Instead, they expressed gratitude for how Rivals has invested the time to show Rupert and Taggie's "pure" connection throughout the show’s inaugural season.

"It's really dependent on every character. The dynamic between Rupert and Taggie is they both give each other something that the other doesn't have," MacLean noted. "They're both trying to make each other grow as people and it doesn't feel like anyone is taking advantage of the other. It's a really pure relationship and I genuinely think our job is just honoring that. Fingers crossed that we did a good enough job in [translating that] on the show."

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Hassell couldn't agree more, adding, "It's really interesting that in some ways Rupert is extremely juvenile and in some ways Taggie is very, very wise and grown up. They both flip for each other in those roles. So it's not like there's this hierarchy or paternal thing."

Based on Jilly Cooper's novel of the same name, Rivals is centered around a feud between two men fighting for control of a television station in 1980s Britain. But while viewers were waiting to see whether Tony (David Tennant) or Rupert (Hassell) would come out on top, it was Rupert's surprising bond with Declan (Aidan Turner) that caught Us off guard.

The fictional couple got off to a rocky start when Rupert — who is 17 years Taggie's senior — touched her without her consent. While Rupert didn't face any consequences, that interaction paved the way for Rupert and Taggie to connect on a more emotional level.

"Rupert is being really inappropriate with Taggie at the beginning of his arc. At the very beginning of their relationship he gropes her and it's absolutely awful and [he] is a total asshole," Hassell noted to Us. "That is a big part of why I assume people are responding to [the relationship] —[the] fact that Taggie is this massive agent for change in Rupert. She's helping to shape and maybe improve this wild man."

Keep scrolling for Hassell and MacLean's answers to all those burning questions about their onscreen chemistry, Rupert and Taggie's potential journey in season 2 and details on other versions of that iconic kiss scene:

Forming a Friendship Before Filming

While reflecting on Rivals' success on Hulu and Disney+, Hassell and MacLean recalled building an offscreen friendship before they were cast in their respective roles.

"Bells and I really, really love each other and get on really, really well. I just instantly [knew] from our chemistry read. We had one after Bella was already cast and I wasn't," he told Us. "And we just instantly got on super well and knew how to act with each other. We just make each other laugh. So the idea that that is coming off to other people is really, really great."

MacLean called the reception to Rupert and Taggie’s onscreen chemistry "so nice," adding, "I genuinely think part of the work is done because Alex and I got along so well. In between takes we would always be giggling and there was such a [bond] with each other. We were so giggly that there was a sort of energy before we'd even go into the scenes of excitement."

She continued: "When we auditioned — I hope it was the same thing — but I just immediately knew before I'd even spoken to him. I was like, 'Oh my god, that's him.' And we ended up chatting outside before he went in for the audition and I was like, 'Oh, this guy's so great.' And he got it, which is so exciting."

MacLean gushed over how Hassell makes her "three times better at acting," to which he replied, "That's totally reciprocated. Working with people that you like working with, it makes everything so much easier and elevates everything."

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Making It Easy to Root for an Age Gap Romance

"Something about the age gap that is fascinating — because obviously it's in the book and it's a really important part of the story — is that it's a complex trope in TV shows and in films," Hassell shared. "It isn't a positive thing in culture that every 40-year-old man in every TV show has a young partner. But in this — and usually it has nothing to do with the story — it's justified because it is a really important part of Rupert's redemption."

Hassell referred to the positive response to Rupert and Taggie's romance as "really lovely" to hear.

"In terms of Jilly's writing, Rupert and Taggie are a core part of Rivals," he continued. "Thank goodness that people are responding in that way, because I think we'd have failed and the show would've failed [if that wasn’t the case]. But nonetheless, it's still extremely pleasing."

Rupert and Taggie's Pure Connection

"There was never a conversation whether there were going to be any sex scenes [between Rupert and Taggie in season 1]. It was something that they wanted to keep pure," MacLean shared with Us. "It was just all about making our relationship with what we had and luckily Alex and I had a really strong bond from the beginning."

Meanwhile, Hassell supported the slow burn aspect of Rupert and Taggie's romance.

"I don't want to get ahead of ourselves in terms of story lines and the books, but I did know that there was a wider arc of these two characters," he recalled. "Therefore, we were going into those scenes and those shared looks with an idea that something very significant was sparked very early."

Hassell and MacLean both thought the dance scene was the "starting point" for Rupert and Taggie's journey.

"[When we were] laying in a lot of that stuff into the looks, I suppose there was pressure [to get it right]. But the writing is so brilliant and the way the show puts them together is so brilliant," he continued. "Their relationship dynamic is so full that it didn't ever feel like we would have to do anything difficult, because it's all there."

The Aftermath of That Kiss

After eight episodes of build-up, Rupert and Taggie finally kissed in the season 1 finale. That major win doesn't mean Rupert and Taggie will start off the sophomore season in a relationship, though.

"Taggie really wants to be with Rupert. By the end of season 8 — well hopefully by them they would be together," MacLean quipped before clarifying, "But by the end of episode 8, she made it very, very clear that she really wants to be with him, she loves him and she can't hide that anymore. Basically I think Taggie's arc will be about rooting for Rupert. But whether or not they get together is another thing."

MacLean pointed out that "there's so much that can happen in season 2."

"There's so many other romances that will flare up. If it's Rivals, there definitely will be more romantic partners probably," the actress hinted, while Hassell mentioned Rupert's entanglement with Nafessa Williams' character Cameron. "There's a big obstacle when he says in that scene before they kiss that he sort of feels trapped. He has promised Cameron to look after her — and he doesn't even know what has just happened with Tony."

He continued: "I'm sure that he'll be having to try and work out what to do there. I hope the road to true love is bumpy. I hope that Rupert isn't changed too quickly and too much. Part of the pleasure is what Rupert does and gets up to …what a mischief maker he is — on some level — and that he has these huge blind spots."

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What Didn't Make It Into the Kiss Scene

"We didn't talk about filming the kiss too much. We talked about how we definitely thought it was important to happen, because there were some versions of the story in which it didn't happen or [happened] later," Hassell revealed. "We felt that if we were going in that way, that the audience would want that payoff."

MacLean said it was "so clear" where the story was heading for Rupert and Taggie.

"We felt really strongly there should be a kiss only because it's so back and forth the entire season,” she admitted."It would be so cruel to the audience."

Hassell and MacLean surprised Us when they revealed the various versions of the kiss, with MacLean saying, "We loved it. But the thing is there were a few different ones. There was one that was so really sweet. We — as Alex and Bella — are rooting for Taggie and Rupert so much as well."

According to Hassell, the scene leading up to the kiss "was really complex" for them.

"Because we really wanted to get that right and build the tension in the right way," he noted during the joint interview with MacLean. "We did it from a number of different setups and therefore did it a number of different times and all that. There was one where I lifted you up. I know you like that one."

The Obstacles Season 2 Will Throw in Rupert and Taggie's Way

"I'm really intrigued. There's so many obstacles in our way and Rupert is really conflicted morally. I wonder what will happen now with Taggie," MacLean questioned before the show's renewal was officially announced. "It will be a lot more bumpy, but what that means for Taggie is a really interesting thing. There's loads of ideas being thrown around. We've got to get season 2 fast."

How Declan Will Play a Role in Rupert and Taggie's Story

In addition to Rupert's complicated love life possibly preventing him from exploring a future with Taggie immediately, there's also her dad, Declan, who made Rupert promise that he wouldn't touch her. So how will that kiss affect Declan's friendship — and business relationship — with Rupert?

"I want to know if they tell or who finds out. This will be such an exciting story line," MacLean teased, while Hassell joked, "Actually it's just a kiss and then it's a secret for ages."

MacLean wondered whether Taggie would feel "betrayed" if Rupert "kept it a secret," saying, "It's so exciting." As for Declan and Rupert's friendship after the kiss, Hassell said his character "really values his relationship" with Taggie's father.

"That would be complicated. And he did keep his promise — partly for Declan — but I think for lots of other reasons. Rupert thought Taggie is too good for him and that he shouldn't pull her down to his level. So I think he tried to keep a respectful distance even though he didn't necessarily do it in the best way," Hassell explained. "Because he thought that that was the right thing to do in general — aside from just Declan's desires."

He continued: "But I think he definitely values his relationship and his deep friendship with Declan. But also they're starting Corinium, so they're going to try and go for the franchise. So they have to be functional as a team in that way as well."

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Seeing the Reaction to the Show — And the Romance

During her interview with Us, MacLean dished on the social media response to Rupert and Taggie. MacLean specifically has loved how fans clung to Rupert selling the Bluebell Wood to keep Taggie from moving away.

"Catriona [Chandler], who plays my sister, will send me so many videos of the Rupert and Taggie fan edits. One of the TikToks was like, 'Get a guy who would sell the Bluebell Wood for you," MacLean said. "I was like, 'Make that a thing.' I want a boy who can sell the Bluebell Wood [for me]."

Their Favorite Rupert and Taggie Scenes

"One of the scenes that turned out to be my favorite of the whole show was the dance. That was actually more challenging. I remember watching it and being like, 'Oh my God, I'm so happy they captured that moment,'" MacLean recalled. "It was a hard scene to film. Just to get the tone of it was really crucial — that is where everything changes for them and it's the start of their journey. So it was more challenging."

MacLean was blown away by the final cut of the scene.

"I was so pleased because it's really romantic and 'Lady in Red' is now one of my favorite songs. When I was watching it with my mom, she said to me, 'Oh my God, this was my song with my first boyfriend,'" she shared. "When she watched it, she got really emotional. Obviously I look just like my mom and she was watching me dance. It was so lovely."

Hassell had a similar soft spot for the dance sequence, adding, "It's so soon after the grope. It's the idea of her falling for him and them falling in love with each other in that way so soon afterwards. That was complex to me — to get my head around — how he should act. My first instinct was that he should be trying to be more apologetic or more of a gentleman. And Jilly was like, 'No, that's not how he is. He doesn't think he's done any wrong.' So that was really interesting."

Rivals is currently streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ internationally and has been renewed for a second season.