Katherine Parkinson reveals how Rivals season 2 episode 9 [spoiler] leads to “nasty and horrible” outcome

*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Rivals season 2 episode 9.*

Well, who saw that Lizzie and Freddie twist coming?

Whilst the residents of Rutshire may all be stepping out on their marriages and having their secret liaisons quietly unveiled in different ways, Rivals fans may have not anticipated that Freddie (Danny Dyer) and Lizzie's (Katherine Parkinson) affair would be unknowingly unearthed by a child.

Or perhaps, if you've read the original Jilly Cooper novel then you may have, according to series star Parkinson.

By the end of episode 9, James's (Oliver Chris) daughter reveals to him that she saw "Freddie Bear" jumping out of their window into the garden. "His bottom was out and he ran into the woods," she says whilst munching away on her fish fingers. The admission leaves James – who originally thinks his daughter's describing a new cartoon – dumbfounded, and he's soon left piecing things together as he stares at Lizzie, horrified.

Reflecting on that moment and how the truth impacts the Vereker household in the episodes to come, Parkinson told Radio Times: "That, I think, is from the book – it's a direct story from the book, Freddie Bear. I love the slow dawn on James's face in that scene, when I've got Valerie in my kitchen not wanting to sit on my grubby chair."

She adds: "[James] does a much nastier thing than Freddie would ever do, in a later episode. He's horrible."

But exactly what James ends up doing, we'll have to wait and see in next week's instalment. James is hardly the most likeable of characters, having cheated on Lizzie with Sarah (Emily Atack) and in these latest episodes, demonstrated a thirst to get to the top by any means necessary. Now working alongside his wife Lizzie for their own chat show, could his revenge include upending Lizzie's career?

What we do know so far is that Lizzie and Freddie's relationship has been tested in its own way, with Freddie starting up a sex life with his wife Val (Lisa McGrillis), a revelation that comes much to the surprise of Lizzie.

Read more:

• Rivals stars reveal impact of heartbreaking surprise death – and how season 2 picks up with unexpected romance
• Aidan Turner reveals they cut “angrier” Rivals season 2 bonfire scenes – and how they were “surprising” to play

McGrillis previously told Radio Times that Val and Freddie's newfound connection comes in the wake of Val's grief over Monica's death. She said: "She was desperate to be friends with a Lady. I love that little detail that they put into Val's storyline, that she was heartbroken. Actually, it really makes Valerie appreciate what she has – a son at Eton, a house in Spain and each other. And forgets about Sharon!

"She needs some human touch, love and affection and it brings them [Freddie and Val] closer together, doesn't it?"

Speaking to the tensions it creates for Lizzie and Freddie though, Parkinson said: "In a way, he's not doing anything wrong and in another way, you get into the knotty aspects of an affair. Obviously, she's trying to avoid any kind of marital relations with James and I'm sure she wouldn’t be learning anything she learnt with Freddie with him. So, something feels imbalanced, doesn't it?"

As we see, the pair manage to chat things out, but with James now knowing about Lizzie and Freddie, several spanners could be thrown into the mix – just the usual amount of chaos in Rutshire!

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Rivals season 2 episodes 7-9 arrive on Wednesday 11 November on Disney+, with the remaining three episodes then arriving weekly. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.

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