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Ted Lasso and Bridgerton favourites confirmed for all-new adaptation of Jilly Cooper story
The all-star cast is bringing the Rivals creator's tantalising work to life in a new audiobook.
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- Tilly Pearce
Published: Tuesday, 7 July 2026 at 2:11 pm
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Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’s Corey Mylchreest are leading an all-star cast in a new audiobook adaptation of a short story by Rivals creator Dame Jilly Cooper.
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A Pressing Engagement, part of a short story collection first released in 1981, takes listeners back to 1978 London where a young secretary named Hester finds herself stuck in a dead end relationship and boring job.
So when she’s offered the chance to assist a film producer, Hester sees this as her ticket out of her boring life – but she struggles to break the news to her boss.
Instead, she decides to announce her engagement to childhood friend Nico... who has absolutely no idea of her plot.
Rhea Norwood. Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Vanity Fair and IHG Hotels & Resorts
Joining Waddingham and Mylcreest in the cast (per Deadline) are Heartstopper’s Rhea Norwood, who will star as Hester, as well as The IT Crowd’s Richard Ayoade, Bridgerton’s Bessie Carter and Rye Lane’s Vivian Oparah.
The project has been in development for a little over a year – with Cooper overseeing the beginning of production before her death last October at the age of 88.
Her Estate, her agent Felicity Blunt and production company Happy Prince, which made Rivals, have collaborated on bringing the adaptation to life.
It was written by Dare Aiyegbayo, a scriptwriter on both seasons of Rivals, and is directed by Sarah Esdaile.
The series will be available to listeners exclusively on Audible upon release.
Corey Mylchreest. Dave Benett/WireImage
On the announcement, Blunt said: "It is bittersweet to see this glorious adaptation of A Pressing Engagement launch after Jilly’s passing.
"But she would have been orgasmic to know that more of her characters have been brought so perfectly to life. Jilly was a romance writer for the ages and this Audible production delivers all her hallmark naughtiness, joy, humour and yearning."
The new project comes as fans wait eagerly for the second half of Rivals season 2, which comes to Disney+ in November.
Part one, which was released across May and June, ended on a cliffhanger with the heartbreaking death of a beloved character – something that will have a major effect on everyone in the town of Rutshire, where the raunchy series is set.
Season 3 of Rivals has also already been confirmed.
Watch trailer
A Pressing Engagement will be available from 16 July on Audible. Start your 30-day free Audible trial.
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Authors
Tilly PearceFreelance Writer
Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.
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