TETBURY locals and visitors might have been a touched confused earlier this week when they were greeted with a Welcome to Cotchester' sign upon driving into the picturesque Cotswold town, writes Kevin Painter.

Film crews transported Tetbury back in time to the 1980s with cars, clothes, hair, shops and even its own newspaper.

But do not worry, Tetbury was only temporarily displaced for the fictitious town of Cotchester as our timeless town was used as the perfect backdrop for a new eight-part series Rivals.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Louise Wall next to the Cotchester sign in TetburyLouise Wall next to the Cotchester sign in Tetbury (Image: Kevin Painter)

This new series on Disney+ is based on provocative novel Rivals which was written by Jilly Cooper, who lives in Bisley.

Camera crews returned to Tetbury last week to do some background and location shots and although no stars were present this time I'm sure everyone in the town will remember the motorcade complete with an amazing 1980s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher lookalike being driven through the town.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: 1980s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher lookalike being driven through Tetbury 1980s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher lookalike being driven through Tetbury (Image: Kevin Painter)

Rivals dives headfirst into the cutthroat world of independent television in 1986, where the shoulder pads are big and ambitions even bigger. 

It follows the thrilling story of Rupert Campbell-Black and Tony Baddingham's longstanding rivalry which comes to a head. 

The star-studded cast includes the likes of former Dr Who David Tennant, Poldark's Aidan Turner and EastEnders' Danny Dyer. 

In the fictional upper-class county of Rutshire, the series depicts a long-standing rivalry between two powerful men which is about to boil over.

Ex-Olympian, MP, notorious womaniser Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and his Rutshire neighbour Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) controller of the independent TV franchise Corinium Television go head-to-head.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Tetbury transformed back in time to the 1980sTetbury transformed back in time to the 1980s (Image: Kevin Painter)

Caught in the crossfire is TV presenter Declan O’Hara played by Aidan Turner who is no stranger to Tetbury as he previously starred in Poldark.

Rivals brings a 2020s lens to the 1980s, offering a raw exploration of a complicated moment in British history when class, race, sex, wealth, and sexual liberation meant that, for the very privileged few, there were no limits to what they could achieve.