Actor Nigel Adams, still adorned in his on-screen attire, was apprehended on the bustling set of the Disney+ series "Rivals," amidst allegations of assaulting his former partner. On June 4th, the 45-year-old character actor, who played a supporting role, found himself surrounded and detained by six officers at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, where the second season of the drama was actively being filmed.
Moments before his dramatic arrest, Adams had been immersed in a polo scene alongside Danny Dyer, capturing the essence of the show's competitive spirit. However, an hour later, the serene atmosphere of the set was shattered by the arrival of two police cars. Fellow cast members, still clad in their elaborate costumes from the polo match, stood in stunned silence as Adams was led away in handcuffs, a sight that left everyone in disbelief.
The arrest stemmed from an alleged assault that took place on May 31st at a residence in Weston-super-Mare, prompting a police response at 2 a.m. It is believed that officers from Avon and Somerset Police had received a tip-off regarding Adams's whereabouts on the "Rivals" set that week.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded as cast members remained in character, having just wrapped up filming the polo match scene. "The atmosphere was electric. Danny was in the middle of a tense polo scene when, out of nowhere, police arrived to arrest one of our extras," recounted a source to The Sun. "It was truly shocking."
Adams, who portrayed a polo match spectator, appeared utterly astounded as he was taken into custody. The historic Berkeley Castle, where the highly anticipated second season of the Jilly Cooper adaptation was under production, served as the backdrop for this unexpected turn of events.
Adams spent two nights in police custody before facing charges of assault causing actual bodily harm at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Friday. He refrained from entering a plea and was granted conditional bail ahead of his next court appearance at Bristol Crown Court on July 7th.
Over the course of his career, Adams has appeared in various television productions, including "Doctor Who," "Casualty," "House of the Dragon," and "The Forsyte Saga." In 2022, he starred alongside Ray Winstone in the film "Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher." Despite his day job as a bricklayer, Adams has been gradually expanding his presence in television in recent years.
The alleged assault reportedly occurred at Adams's ex-girlfriend's home in Weston-super-Mare. In a statement to the publication, the production company Happy Prince addressed the incident: "On June 4th, the police visited our set in regard to an unrelated matter involving a supporting artist. We cooperated fully with their investigation. However, we have no further information as this matter is not connected to 'Rivals' or our production."
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that a man from Locking, Somerset, was arrested at Berkeley Castle on June 4th and subsequently charged with assault and causing actual bodily harm. The incident occurred amidst the filming of "Rivals'" second season, which was greenlit in December 2024 following the show's immense popularity with viewers.
Set in 1986, "Rivals" delves into the cutthroat world of television, highlighting the intense rivalry between characters portrayed by Alex Hassell and David Tennant.
