Rivals mansion where Danny Dyer's character lives drops asking price

A mansion that is home to Danny Dyer's character on Disney+ series Rivals has dropped in price by £1.5m after failing to woo buyers.

The house, called Bella Vista on the show, is in Lisvane, Cardiff, and was put up for sale with an £8m price tag in May before estate agents reduced it to £6.5m this month.

Based on one of Dame Jilly Cooper's so-called "bonkbuster" novels, Rivals features an all-star cast including David Tennant and Emily Atack, and more episodes of season two were released on Wednesday.

The site up for sale is 24 acres, and includes a tennis court, wine cellar and a gym - and is one of Wales' most expensive homes.

Built in 1999 and called Foxfield, it was previously occupied by businessman Peter Thomas.

The former owner of Peters Pies and chairman of Cardiff RFC died in 2023 aged 79.

Estate agent Jemma Friday said: "Properties of this scale and calibre are incredibly rare in Cardiff, and this new guide price presents an exciting opportunity for prospective buyers."

The property is listed as having seven en-suite bedrooms, a valet car garage and a large drawing room, according to the Fine and Country website.

Rivals is the second of Cooper's hugely successful Rutshire Chronicles, a series of books that chronicle the lives of English upper and upper-middle classes in a fictional area of the Cotswolds, originally published in 1988.

Set against the backdrop of 1980s excess and large country estates, the series tells the story of the rivalry between the aristocratic Rupert Campbell-Black and TV executive Lord Tony Baddingham.

Dame Jilly Cooper died in 2025 aged 88, but made headlines earlier this year after asking the executive producers of the show to stop making her macho men cry on screen.

Steve Tandy's side break a 34-match losing streak against the All Blacks that dates back to 1953.

BBC's Jonathan Head reports from the first ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia in Bangkok.

The Great British Bake Off presenter says he has not been in contact with the convicted rapist "for many years".

Noor Nanji, culture correspondent, explores how these stories represent the consequences of changes that began years ago, rather than being a sudden cultural shift.

The TV star fell victim to a practical joke from the Hollywood stars of the Dune franchise.