Sussex


<p><em>Rivals</em> may be set behind the hedgerows of the Cotswolds but let’s be honest, Sussex has plenty of space for scandal, seduction and steamy shenanigans. To celebrate the arrival of <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/everything-you-need-to-know-about-rivals-season-2-release-date/">season two</a> of the award-winning series, follow us on a flight of fancy as we match the cast to real Sussex properties. Because if there’s one thing better than an aspirational pile, it’s picturing who would absolutely run riot in it – and in high style, too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-full-rupert-campbell-black-edwardian-mansion-nbsp">The full Rupert Campbell-Black Edwardian mansion&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.struttandparker.com/properties/sedgwick-park-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/sedgwickpark_riders.png" alt="Sedgwick Park, Sussex" class="wp-image-84678" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/sedgwickpark_riders.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/sedgwickpark_riders-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/sedgwickpark_riders-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/sedgwickpark_riders-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.struttandparker.com/properties/sedgwick-park-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sedgwick Park</a> is on the market with Strutt &amp; Parker for £3.75</figcaption></figure>



<p>If ever there were a house for Rupert Campbell-Black, this would be it. <a href="https://www.struttandparker.com/properties/sedgwick-park-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sedgwick Park</a> is a full-throttle Edwardian showstopper – Grade II-listed, sprawling over almost 20,000 square feet of very confident good taste, and occupying a site that&#8217;s had castles and houses standing on it since the 13th century. Grand proportions (steady), an imposing entrance with crested lintel (fitting), and a run of elegant reception rooms made for political plotting and post-polo entertaining. With 15 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, there’s more than enough space for house guests – and the inevitable overnight extensions, minus the awkward run-ins.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/Disney-Rivals-Alex-Hassell-2-1.jpg" alt="Alex Hassel as Rupert Campbell-Black in Rivals" class="wp-image-78765" /></figure>



<p>Set in 12.5 pristine acres, it’s basically Rupert’s playground: perfect for a spot of polo, the odd gallop across the lawn and, yes, even a game of naked tennis if the mood takes. A turf labyrinth and an impressive ship-themed water garden known as the White Sea are handy tools for strategic modelling. Close to Horsham and well positioned for Gatwick and London, it’s sophisticated, glamorous, and just the right side of outrageous – rather like the man himself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lord-tony-baddingham-country-estate-nbsp">The Lord Tony Baddingham country estate&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.fineandcountry.co.uk/horsham-haywards-heath-and-surrounding-villages-estate-agents/property-sale/8-bedroom-detached-house-for-sale-in-thakeham-coolham-road/4399434" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/thakeham_riders.png" alt="Thakeham Manor, Sussex" class="wp-image-84677" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/thakeham_riders.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/thakeham_riders-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/thakeham_riders-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/thakeham_riders-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.fineandcountry.co.uk/horsham-haywards-heath-and-surrounding-villages-estate-agents/property-sale/8-bedroom-detached-house-for-sale-in-thakeham-coolham-road/4399434" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thakeham Manor</a>&nbsp;on the market with Fine &amp; Country for £7.5 million</figcaption></figure>



<p>If ever a house screamed power, control and a touch of menace, it’s this one – perfect for Lord Tony Baddingham.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fineandcountry.co.uk/horsham-haywards-heath-and-surrounding-villages-estate-agents/property-sale/8-bedroom-detached-house-for-sale-in-thakeham-coolham-road/4399434" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thakeham Manor</a> is an Arts-and-Crafts inspired statement piece with serious swagger: over 14,000 square feet of polished grandeur, all grand hallways, lofty ceilings and just enough theatrical flourish to remind visitors who’s in charge. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/5245_RIVALS2_Ep01_RV_300625.jpg" alt="David Tennant as Tony Baddingham in Rivals" class="wp-image-78769" /></figure>



<p>The sweeping drive and stone-pillared gate set the tone – impressive, imposing, and not exactly welcoming unless you’re firmly on the guest list. Inside, six reception rooms afford plenty of space for plotting revenge, avoiding prickly encounters and hosting those slightly performative poolside gatherings, while seven bathrooms suggest a man who values both luxury and distance. There&#8217;s even a ballroom. Set in 17 acres, it also (rather pointedly) trumps the competition on size – whether that’s deliberate or compensatory, we’ll let you decide. Along with a two-bedroom annexe there&#8217;s a gym, boathouse, pool and glasshouse. A helipad has even been tucked in. Like Baddingham, it’s big, bold and unapologetically showy. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-declan-o-hara-farmhouse-nbsp">The Declan O-Hara farmhouse&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/firtollroad_riders.png" alt="Fir Toll Road, Sussex" class="wp-image-84679" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/firtollroad_riders.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/firtollroad_riders-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/firtollroad_riders-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/firtollroad_riders-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gbtwrstus250374" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A country house on Fir Toll Road</a>&nbsp;on the market with Savills for £2.8 million</figcaption></figure>



<p>This feels exactly like the sort of place where Declan O’Hara would alternate between righteous fury, a stiff drink and an even stiffer moustache.&nbsp;Nestled on Fir Toll Road,&nbsp;this enlarged dwelling is believed to date from the 15th century and has been stylishly modernised into a seriously impressive East Sussex country house – part rural idyll, part high-functioning social theatre, and entirely capable of hosting one of Maud’s more memorable parties (camel appearances not entirely ruled out).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/R-104-01234.jpg" alt="Aidan Turner as Declan O-Hara in Rivals" class="wp-image-78774" /></figure>



<p>Set close to the picturesque village of Mayfield and within easy access of elegant Tunbridge Wells, it offers over 6,000 sq ft of beautifully flexible living space. Inside, it’s all character fireplaces, beams, warmth (yes, there&#8217;s underfloor heating) and polished comfort. Twin staircases rise to the first floor beneath a tall feature window, leading to six bedrooms with vaulted ceilings. Outside, an all-weather tennis court, pool and paddocks set the scene for gatherings that rarely stay low-key for long, while a self-contained studio handles guests and returning offspring.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cameron-cook-swanky-townhouse-nbsp">The Cameron Cook swanky townhouse&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/marineparade_int_riders.png" alt="Townhouse on Marine Parade, Brighton" class="wp-image-84680" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/marineparade_int_riders.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/marineparade_int_riders-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/marineparade_int_riders-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/marineparade_int_riders-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.fineandcountry.co.uk/brighton-and-hove-estate-agents/property-sale/6-bedroom-house-for-sale-in-bn2-brighton-marine-parade/4526361" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bedford House</a>&nbsp;is on the market with Fine &amp; Country for £3 million</figcaption></figure>



<p>This feels exactly like the sort of place where Cameron Cook would glide in heels, close a deal over a power lunch and still have time to outmanoeuvre everyone in the room.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fineandcountry.co.uk/brighton-and-hove-estate-agents/property-sale/6-bedroom-house-for-sale-in-bn2-brighton-marine-parade/4526361" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bedford House</a>&nbsp;is an elegant Grade II-listed Regency townhouse in the heart of Brighton&#8217;s Kemp Town, overlooking Marine Parade with direct Channel views, and very much reimagined for someone who likes their success with a side of timeless style.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/RIVALS_DAY57_050825_AB__9621_1.jpg" alt="Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook in Rivals" class="wp-image-78783" /></figure>



<p>Behind the handsome facade, it’s all sleek modern confidence: a designer kitchen with bespoke carpentry, generous living spaces and a three-bedroom basement apartment complete with cinema room. This space can be accessed either via an internal staircase or its own street entrance (because versatility is power). Upstairs, the principal suite brings full main-character energy with sea views, playful wallpaper by Timorous Beasties, and of course a dressing room. There’s also a third-floor guest suite. Outside, you&#8217;ll find an EV charging point and gated parking (a genuine Brighton luxury), along with a south-facing courtyard patio. Sharp and stylish, it’s exactly the sort of townhouse for a woman who knows her worth –&nbsp;and probably your weaknesses, too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-freddie-jones-mega-money-gaff-nbsp">The Freddie Jones mega-money gaff&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/blackdown_riders.png" alt="Home Farm, Sussex" class="wp-image-84682" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/blackdown_riders.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/blackdown_riders-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/blackdown_riders-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/blackdown_riders-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/blackdown-haslemere-west-sussex-gu27/hsm012341614" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Home Farm</a>&nbsp;on the market with Knight Frank for £9.5 million</figcaption></figure>



<p>This feels exactly like the sort of place where Freddie Jones would stride in, take one look around, and decide this is exactly what £9.5 million of hard-earned success is supposed to feel like.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/blackdown-haslemere-west-sussex-gu27/hsm012341614" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Home Farm</a>&nbsp;originally formed part of the historical Blackdown Park Estate and is now a full-on new-money Sussex country retreat. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/RIVALS2_ValentinesExclusive_Disney--1000x667.jpg" alt="Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones in Rivals" class="wp-image-78792" /></figure>



<p>Seven bedrooms and five reception rooms are spread across five floors, offering plenty of space for entertaining, expanding, or simply enjoying the fact you no longer need to ask the price of anything. Outside, 30 acres encompass South Downs parkland, fields and woodland, and the property&#8217;s elevated position means stunning views stretching far beyond, and signals wealth without needing to say a word. It’s bold, it’s sprawling, and it knows exactly what it is: a very comfortable arrival at the top table. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-sarah-stratton-pleasure-palace">The Sarah Stratton pleasure palace</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://astonvaughan.web.lifesycle.co.uk/properties/452145" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/t-2.png" alt="Art Deco-style home, Sussex" class="wp-image-84683" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/t-2.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/t-2-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/t-2-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/t-2-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This <a href="https://astonvaughan.web.lifesycle.co.uk/properties/452145" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Art Deco-style home</a>&nbsp;is on the market with Aston Vaughan for £2.75 million</figcaption></figure>



<p>This feels exactly like the sort of place where Sarah Stratton would know exactly what she’s doing – and exactly who she’s doing it for.&nbsp;A sleek <a href="https://astonvaughan.web.lifesycle.co.uk/properties/452145" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Art Deco-style home</a> on Roedean Road, it reimagines 1930s glamour while a luminous facade suggests thriving success.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/R-105-00359.jpg" alt="Emily Attak as Sarah Stratton in Rivals" class="wp-image-78794" /></figure>



<p>Inside, it’s all modern ease and confident design: light, open-plan living, generous proportions and just enough cosiness to make it feel like home – when she’s in it, at least. At the heart of the house is a big, sociable first-floor living space complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and a sea-facing balcony, designed very much for entertaining, lingering and not asking too many questions about who’s staying over. It’s a house that adapts as easily as Sarah does – polished enough for glossy TV life, relaxed enough for the inevitable complications behind it, and very much set up for a woman who’s always been good at keeping her options open. </p>



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If ‘Rivals’ relocated to Sussex, these are the houses they might live in

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