PG Tips steals a march on its Rivals.

5 May 2026

There was no monkeying around when the chaps from PG Tips were offered the opportunity to turn their packaging into a celebration of the second series of surprise hit 'Rivals'.

The success of Disney+'s adaptation of Jilly Cooper's bonkbuster 'Rivals' last year caught many off guard because it didn't, on the face of it, sound like a very promising idea. Cooper may have developed national treasure status over the years but this was more in spite of her literary output than because of it. Nonetheless, news of an intriguing cast stirred interest and it swiftly became the guilty pleasure of many more people than might have been expected.

In the 1980s, when Jilly Cooper was tip tapping heated fantasies on the Olympia typewriter she dubbed 'Monica', PG Tips was also in its pomp. Yorkshire Tea was a niche brand yet to make an impact and the chimpanzees of PG Tips kept their tea at the top of the tree.

It's fitting then that PG Tips should choose to associate itself with 'Rivals' and its commensurate celebration of the 1980s as we edge closer to the second series of the smash hit.

Special packaging adorned with the sock puppet chimp adopted by PG Tips dressed as a country squire will soon be available in shops and no doubt the brand will be hoping that viewers settle down to watch the steamy goings on with a fresh mug of their tea in their hands.