{"id":93858,"date":"2026-05-09T06:18:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T06:18:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/rivals-bella-maclean-defends-taggie-ruperts-divisive-age-gap\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T06:18:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T06:18:51","slug":"rivals-bella-maclean-defends-taggie-ruperts-divisive-age-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/rivals-bella-maclean-defends-taggie-ruperts-divisive-age-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"Rivals’ Bella MacLean Defends Taggie, Rupert\u2019s Divisive Age Gap"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Rivals<\/em> star Bella MacLean<\/strong> is defending the show\u2019s \u201cdivisive\u201d 16-year age gap between Taggie and Rupert.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so worried about what people would think,\u201d MacLean, 29, told Elle UK<\/em> on Tuesday, May 5. \u201cBut Gen Z seem to love it! My girlfriends send me these really funny reels of me and Rupert on TikTok.\u201d<\/p>\n

MacLean urged viewers to keep an open mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of the way it\u2019s done, because they really loved each other at first sight, I just feel like it\u2019s a soul connection with them,\u201d she noted. \u201cTaggie is wise beyond her years \u2014 she sees him for all his faults and believes he can change, and he really sees her.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continued: \u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s so painful. There\u2019s so much going against them, but there\u2019s a pureness to their love. It\u2019s very Disney princessy, which I still love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Based on Jilly Cooper<\/strong>\u2018s novel of the same name, Rivals<\/em> is centered around a feud between two men fighting for control of a television station in 1980s Britain. But while viewers were waiting to see whether Tony (David Tennant<\/strong>) or Rupert (Alex Hassell<\/strong>) would come out on top, it was Rupert\u2019s surprising bond with Taggie stole the show.<\/p>\n

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The fictional couple got off to a rocky start when Rupert \u2014 who is 16 years Taggie\u2019s senior \u2014 touched her without her consent. While Rupert didn\u2019t face any consequences, that interaction paved the way for Rupert and Taggie to connect on a more emotional level.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough it\u2019s set in the 80s, we\u2019re telling it from a 21st Century lens. It\u2019s still a massive age gap,\u201d MacLean explained. \u201cI feel so strongly about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead at season 2, MacLean promised it\u2019s \u201cdefinitely not over\u201d for Rupert and Taggie.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is going to be very tumultuous,\u201d she teased. \u201cI want Taggie to have a fairytale ending \u2014 she\u2019s such a good person. So when she has her heart broken, I feel protective, like a mother hen.\u201d<\/p>\n

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