Stars of the hit series Heated Rivalry have shared a surprising behind-the-scenes secret about the show's first season finale. Hudson Williams, who plays Shane, has revealed that a memorable intimate moment involving a phone call was largely improvised by him and his co-star Connor Storrie.
The Moment of Improvisation
In a new interview with Variety, Williams disclosed that the scene in question, from the finale which dropped on 26 December, was not entirely scripted. The moment sees Ilya, played by Storrie, attempting to distract Shane with oral sex while he is on a call with teammate Hayden.
"Yeah, to a degree," Williams confirmed about the improvisation. He explained that the idea was born from playful rehearsals in the makeup trailer, which was set up in a separate cottage near the filming location. While Williams was preparing his monologue, Storrie began experimenting with physical comedy.
"Connor, being the great scene partner he is, he was like, 'I'll be here doing this.' Then he did something and we were hitting each other, goofing off," Williams recounted. A specific slap from Storrie sparked the idea. "I was filming myself on my phone doing this. I was like, 'Do that again.' I couldn't hold in my laughter because it was so brilliant."
Getting the Green Light
The actors didn't just run with the idea themselves. Williams immediately showed the playful rehearsal footage to the show's intimacy coordinator, Chala Hunter. Her reaction was one of immediate approval. "She was cackling. She's like, 'You have to do that,'" Williams said.
Director Jacob Tierney also gave the improvisation his blessing, telling the pair to "go for it" and "go crazy." This official approval allowed the moment to be incorporated into the final filmed scene, blending scripted material with the actors' own spontaneous contributions.
Williams described the filming process: "The first take was the first time I broke broke because Connor is taking all the liberties. I am shoving him. I'm slapping him back. I'm putting the phone away to get in the gasps and moans. I'm so happy with how that scene turned out."
A Scene Built on Trust and Character Development
While this particular moment involved improvisation, Connor Storrie has previously emphasised that all intimate scenes are carefully planned with the intimacy coordinator beforehand. The ability to improvise in this instance stemmed from the deep trust and comfortability between the two actors, both with each other and with their characters' evolving relationship.
Williams reflected that the scene's humour ultimately serves the story, marking a shift in Shane and Ilya's dynamic. "You get that when you're in a relationship," he said. "In Episodes 1 and 2, it's lust — it's charged and fast. But now we have humour and levity within the sex." He sees the moment as a sign that the characters have transitioned into being "boyfriends."
Storrie echoed this sentiment in his comments to Variety, noting that certain vocalisations and physical touches were added by the actors. "The things that aren't fully scripted are some of our touches, some of our body kisses and stuff, and that just came down to establishing a bunch of boundaries beforehand," he explained.
Storrie credited the safe environment on set for allowing such creative freedom: "Hudson and I, separately, we're just like, 'I'm not weird about that. I'm not squeamish.' I trust him. I also feel confident enough in the production to voice anything if I ever feel uncomfortable, so I'm like, 'So, let's go all the way.'"
The revelation offers fans a unique glimpse into the collaborative and trusting process behind the show's celebrated intimate scenes, highlighting how actor chemistry and a secure working environment can lead to memorable, character-driven moments.
