Rivals

It is Christmas time and everyone is celebrating except Declan, who worries about Maud's extravagant party plans for their son's twenty-first birthday on New Year's Eve. Taggie is eager to reunite with an old flame and works to make the night perfect, but the evening is full of surprises as worlds collide. A serious event shocks Taggie and she is taken aback when Rupert offers help. Will Taggie accept Rupert's apology? Where will the chips fall for all concerned when the hangovers fade?

Keen to punish Rupert, Declan prepares to interview and obliterate him live on television. Meanwhile, Tony invites Freddie to his prestigious pheasant shoot, eager to recruit him to the Corinium board. With a little nudge from Rupert, Taggie starts to assert herself, but she worries that Declan has lost his way. The nation waits with bated breath for Rupert and Declan's showdown. Will Tony finally get his wish to bring down Rupert Campbell-Black?

It is a busy week at Corinium Studios. Preparations are underway for the first beauty pageant and a historic interview with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Declan's ego is growing with each successful show, but he strives for journalistic glory and to prove his integrity. As Tony breathes down his neck, will he play ball? If not, is Corinium big enough for both of them?

Cameron attends an awards ceremony in Spain alone, and is surprised to bump into Rupert staying at the same hotel. Out of Rutshire and away from prying eyes, could this be the start of something new, and what could it mean for Tony or Taggie? Meanwhile, Rupert takes a gamble to help new company Venturer take on rival Tony's Corinium. Will it pay off or will Declan and Freddie think Rupert has finally gone too far?

When Tony learns that Rupert, Declan, and Freddie have formed Venturer to challenge his bid for the television franchise, he is furious. Things look up when Corinium is nominated for another prestigious award, and his relationship with Cameron deepens. Meanwhile, Taggie offers to help campaign for Venturer, which means a chance to get closer to Rupert. But with Rupert linked to Cameron, can Taggie ever really get close?

Paranoid, Tony demands loyalty, but can he trust those closest to him? Corinium and Venturer prepare for a gladiatorial public meeting to decide if Rupert, Declan, and Freddie can contend for the franchise against Tony. Both teams pull out all the stops to impress local residents and the IBA, but as fissures appear, could Tony and his dirty tricks derail Venturer before they have really started? With secrets exposed, which relationships will survive, and which rival will ultimately win out?