Danny Dyer reveals why Rivals made his kids cry and ban him from school run – and it’s not the sex scenes
DANNY Dyer has revealed why Rivals made his kids cry and had him banned from the school run.
The former EastEnders actor stars in the hit drama alongside the likes of David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Emily Atack.
Rivals is an adaptation of the 1988 novel by Dame Jilly Cooper which focuses on the rivalry between two powerful men.
Set in 1980’s Britain, it follows the lives of characters that work in and around an independent commercial television station named Corinium.
Danny, 47, stars as Freddie Jones, who is a self made electronics businessman that is stuck in a loveless marriage.
He admitted that bosses made him completely change his appearance to play the role because he’s losing his hair.
Speaking on Rivals The Official Podcast, he revealed: “I’ve never wore a wig for anything.
“I’m at an age now, I’m a grandfather and I am losing my hair, I’m accepting it.”
Danny admitted that his two children Sunny Jo, 17 and son Arty, 11, were so shocked by the changes, they said he was no longer allowed to take them to school.
“When you get a job and they go, oh, we’re thinking of a wig. I thought, oh, I see.”
“But it was my tache. Yeah. And that was a last minute call … There was pictures up of sort of Alan Sugar. With a tight perm and a big beard.
“And they were saying, oh, maybe we’ll go down that route. And then it was the lastminute.com that’s like, oh, actually, we think, you know, we want you to have a moustache.”
He continued: “I broke it to my children and they cried and said, ‘oh, you can’t pick us up from school then’. I said, okay, well, you know, let’s just wait.
“And then actually they grew to love it like I did. And I loved having a fringe for a bit,
“I was flicking that around as much as I possibly could, you know.”
Danny also admitted that before he signed onto star in the hit Disney+ series, he was looking for a change in direction for his career.
Rivals: The Cast
An ensemble of stars make up the huge cast of the hit Disney+ show Rivals.
Alex Hassell – Rupert Campbell-Black (A retired Olympian show jumper who is now a Tory MP and sports minister)
David Tennant – Lord Baddingham (The managing director of Corinium Television)
Aidan Turner – Declan O’Hara (Former BBC journalist who is lured over to Corinium)
Victoria Smurfit – Maud O’Hara (Declan’s wretched wife and a former actress)
Nafessa Williams – Cameron Cook (No-nonsense American TV producer who works for Corinium)
Bella Maclean – Agatha ‘Taggie’ O’Hara (Eldest daughter of Declan and Maud who wants to own her own catering business)
Katherine Parkinson – Lizzie Vereker (A romance author and resident of Rutshire)
Oliver Chris – James Vereker (TV host at Corinium and Lizzie’s self-absorbed husband)
Danny Dyer – Freddie Jones (Self-made successful electronics businessman and resident in Rutshire)
Lisa McGrillis – Valerie Jones (Freddie’s wife who is a notorious social climber)
Emily Atack – Sarah Stratton (The second wife of MP Paul Stratton, who wants to become a TV presenter)
Rufus Jones – Paul Stratton (British MP going through a mid-life crisis)
Claire Rushbrook – Monica, Lady Baddingham (Tony’s wife)
Luke Pasqualino – Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham (Tony’s younger and promiscuous half-brother)
Gary Lamont – Charles Fairburn (Controller of programmes at Corinium)
He felt the show came at just the right time as he admitted: “But for me, I was certainly looking to do something different.
“And it starts with looking different. I’ve never had any opportunities to look completely different.
“You know, my way of being versatile is just to have a shave. I think it really helps with the way my physicality with Fred.
He added: “Fred, who’s such a lovely, gentle soul, really.”
Rivals is available to watch on Disney Plus.