Exclusive
‘Rivals’: How Well Do Alex Hassell & Bella Maclean Know Rupert & Taggie? (VIDEO)
There’s no doubt that Alex Hassell and Bella Maclean love Rupert Campbell-Black and Taggie O’Hara, both as individual characters and as a pair. The characters were created by the late Jilly Cooper, who chronicled their love story in Rivals and additional novels in her collection.
But how well do Hassell and Maclean know Rupert and Taggie when it comes to the book versus the TV series? While in the studio for Swooon’s digital cover shoot, we quizzed the stars in a round of Rutag-themed trivia.
When asked about the publishing year for Cooper’s Rivals, both Hassell and Maclean were off by just one year. They redeemed themselves when they were asked about what Rupert brought Taggie back from Spain in Season 1. (Answer: a Fabergé egg!) Hassell couldn’t help but note that Rupert bought this gorgeous (and very expensive) gift for Taggie while away with Cameron (Nafessa Williams). “The most expensive boiled egg,” Maclean quipped.
Our next book-related question was about what Bas calls Taggie when she steps out in her Hunt Ball look. “A Christmas cracker,” Maclean quickly answered, which prompted me to ask what a Christmas cracker is. (“I was envisioning like a cookie,” was an actual thing I said.) The costars went into elaborate detail about Christmas crackers, so now I am fully educated.
Rivals book readers will remember that Rupert subtly showed his love for Taggie by reading Overcoming Dyslexia. Hassell and Maclean were stumped on this question, but their reaction to the answer will make your heart melt.
“That is so cute,” Hassell said, before adding, “He’s not as cute in the TV series.” (I made sure to note that there’s still time for Rupert to pick up this book at the local Rutshire bookstore in the show.) Maclean gushed, “Oh my god, that makes my heart hurt. That is so sweet.”
Watch the full video above to see the rest of Alex Hassell and Bella Maclean’s Rivals trivia rundown.
Rivals, Season 2, Part 1, Streaming Now, Hulu & Disney+
Rivals, Season 2, Part 2, November 2026, Hulu & Disney+
