Jilly Cooper, Romance Author And Rivals Writer, Dies Aged 88

Jimmy Cooper at a screening of Rivals last yearBest-selling author Dame Jilly Cooper has died at the age of 88.Dame Jilly was best known as the writer of the Rutshire Chronicles series of romance novels, which last year were adapted for television in the hit series Rivals.On Monday morning, her publishing house announced that she had died on Sunday morning after a fall.Dame Jilly’s two children said in a statement: “Mum was the shining light in all of our lives. Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds.“Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock. We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can’t begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.”Happy Prince, the production company behind Rivals (on which Dame Jilly also served as an executive producer), also paid homage to the writer in a tribute posted on social media.The stars of Rivals' first season“We are broken-hearted,” the post read. “Jilly was, is and always will be one of the world’s greatest storytellers and it has been the most incredible honour to have been able to work with her to adapt her incredible novels for television.“Crawling around on her sitting room floor with storylines on pieces of paper, sitting up late at her kitchen table holding hands with love and our tummies with laughter, receiving scoldings and heaps of wisdom in equal measure, watching her eyes sparkling as she sat behind the monitor on set watching Rutshire brought to life – every moment spent with Jilly Cooper was bloody marvellous.“We have been so lucky to be able to call her our friend – and know that her legacy will endure in her writing, her television and the encouragement to have fun that she gave us all.”View this post on InstagramA post shared by Happy Prince (@happyprincetv)Dame Jilly began writing romance novels in the mid-1970s with Emily, and was initially contracted at this time to pen one new book every six months.Several of her works were adapted for the screen including Riders, Octavia and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous.Dame Jilly was also a journalist and wrote non-fiction, self-help and children’s books over the course of her career.She is survived by her two children, Felix and Emily. She was married to publisher Leo Cooper from 1961 until his death in 2013.READ MORE:Rivals Shares Exciting First-Look Cast Photos As Season 2 Begins Filming – But There's Someone MissingThat Wild Rivals Cliffhanger Ending Could Have Looked Very DifferentThe 1 Part Of Rivals' TV Adaptation Jilly Cooper Didn't Like

Comments

Breaking news

Halloween warning after police seize drug bags called Simpsons Sweets

Metro

Disappointment in Kyiv as Zelensky leaves White House empty-handed

BBC News

Comments

Similar News

This champagne-soaked county filled with sprawling houses and sexy parties is the new Cotswolds - and my dear friend Jilly Cooper would agree, by SYBILLA HART

Huge bidding war looms for diaries of bonkbuster author Jilly Cooper 'that are even racier than Rivals'

Queen Camilla remembers her old friend Jilly Cooper as she chats to Salman Rushie at opening of Cliveden Literary Festival

Queen recalls Jilly Cooper's wish to 'get plastered'

Weekly quiz: What did Queen Camilla say about Jilly Cooper?

Dame Jilly Cooper's HUGE fortune is revealed - and who is set to inherit it after bestselling author's death at 88

How to stay married, by JILLY COOPER. No one knew more about affairs of the heart - and bedroom. Now we republish her joyously outrageous guide to surviving as a couple

My unlikely friendship with Jilly Cooper: We talked football over champagne and shepherd's pie at her kitchen table, writes IAN HERBERT - now I will miss her letters so much

'Spooked' University Challenge viewers gasp 'how did they know?!' as BBC episode closes with Jilly Cooper 'tribute'- despite being filmed before her death

Eamonn Holmes claims he was in the inspiration for a 'devilishly handsome' character in one of Jilly Cooper's racy novels as he pays tribute to the author following her death

What I want at my funeral, by JILLY COOPER. The writer imagined it for us before her death - to the charming items she wants in the coffin to the outfit she'll be wearing

In Jilly Cooper country, every man wanted to be in the saddle, and every woman was yearning for a good hard gallop, writes CHRISTOPHER STEVENS

SARAH VINE: Jilly Cooper was one of the kindest women I've ever known - the world is a far less fabulous place without her

'UK Gaza protests going ahead' and 'Romp in Peace, Jilly'

Revealed: How Dame Jilly Cooper died in the hours after falling at Grade II listed home in The Cotswolds - as tributes pour in following the Queen of the bonkbuster's death aged 88

Watch: Jilly Cooper's surprise cameo in hit TV series Rivals

Sex, glamour and posh people behaving badly: Dame Jilly Cooper, undisputed 'queen of the bonkbuster'

Senior politicians pay tribute to Tory supporter and countryside campaigner Jilly Cooper

The real-life pin-ups that inspired Jilly Cooper to create 'super-stud' character Rupert Campbell Black - including Queen Camilla's first husband Andrew Parker Bowles

Dame Jilly Cooper dies aged 88 after fall, with Queen playing tribute to 'legend'

Breaking news

Halloween warning after police seize drug bags called Simpsons Sweets

Anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests see tens of thousands pour onto US streets

Parallel Lives – A Way of Enjoying Our Fantasies

Brexit impact on UK economy will be negative for foreseeable future, Bailey warns

John Cusack says Trump should ‘go to hell!’ at ‘No Kings’ protest in Chicago

Disgraced George Santos ‘decompressing’ from ‘traumatic’ prison time after being released early by Trump

US will send survivors of strike on suspected drug vessel to Ecuador and Colombia, source says

Prince Andrew ‘gagged’ Virginia Giuffre to stop her tarnishing the Queen’s platinum jubilee, memoir claims

Plan to fire artillery over a California highway during JD Vance base visit irks governor

Scots NHS worker could lose home after landlord leaves wall 'dripping wet' for 11 months

Brexit impact on UK economy 'negative for foreseeable future,' Bank of England chief says

Inside shattered House of York as Prince Andrew bombshell rocks palace

Prince Andrew could enter 'self-imposed exile' abroad after losing his titles

Prince Andrew lost titles after King Charles had crisis talks with Prince William

Paul Gascoigne: 'I came back from the dead with an injection to my heart'

Hazrat Shahjalal Airport fire chaos as travellers stranded and flights suspended

Sarah Ferguson's spiral from Duchess of York to shamed palace outsider

Paul Gascoigne on why he was held by US cops in 'drugs swoop - but it was beef jerky'

Northern Lights in UK tonight 'likely' as rare red aurora alert issued

Woman 'tested poison on dogs to get dose right before lacing victim's stew'

Seven children found in dire conditions at home 'saturated with faeces and urine'

Ashton Kutcher admits 'his looks' hurt his acting career: 'It's frustrating'

Prince Andrew's campaign to smear Virginia Giuffre revealed: Emails show disgraced royal gave sex abuse victim's confidential social security number to Met officer in bid to dig up dirt on her - as calls grow for police probe into his 'despicable' actions

Murder victim's friend reveals how Jack the Ripper copycat lured her to her death - and her body has never been found

Jewish lawyer is questioned by police over wearing a Star of David necklace that 'antagonised' pro-Palestinian protesters during demo

Strictly's Karen Carney kicks off the show with Carlos Gu but takes a fall during live performance

Katherine Ryan gives birth! Comedian welcomes her fourth child as husband Bobby Kootstra reveals baby daughter's name and gushes over wife's 'greatness'

Thousands say no to digital ID cards as they march through London as politicians queue up to criticise plan

Vicky Pattison's skin specialist shares how she manages the Strictly Come Dancing star's rosacea

Strictly's Chris Robshaw opens up about 'feelings of not being good enough' as he reveals he struggled mentally after retiring from rugby

Only Fools And Horses star Sir David Jason rakes in staggering seven-figure sum in a year - and it's not just from his impressive TV career

Braless Monica Barbaro puts on an animated display as she films outdoor scene with Callum Turner on the set of new movie One Night Only

Disappointment in Kyiv as Zelensky leaves White House empty-handed

No Kings protests begin as huge anti-Trump rallies sweep across US

Piastri & Norris collide as Verstappen wins sprint

Here’s What Trump Could Unleash by Invoking the Insurrection Act

David Attenborough Becomes Oldest Daytime Emmy Winner at 99

Alison Rose, The New Yorker’s Femme Fatale, Dies at 81

U.S. to Repatriate Survivors of Its Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel

How The New York Times Covers Crowds: From Protests to Campaign Events

Chilling moment woman ‘opens suitcase in Paris bar containing body of schoolgirl, 12, she raped and murdered’

New clue in search for boys aged 16 and 17 who went missing over three weeks ago

Border Force crews in English Channel to ditch patrols in strike over pay

US Embassy issues warning to Americans in Trinidad and Tobago as tensions with Venezuela escalate

New grisly details emerge about NYC teen who allegedly beheaded mom’s boyfriend, according to reports

Brexit impact on UK economy ‘negative for foreseeable future,’ Bailey says

Tutankhamun’s tomb at risk of collapse in most fragile state since its discovery 100 years ago

Yemen's Houthi rebels raid a UN facility but all staff are reported safe

Netanyahu pours cold water on claims that Gaza’s Rafah crossing will reopen

Developing Rosebank oil field ‘pure climate vandalism’, Scottish Green insists

Green MSPs banned from backing budget until action seen on bus public ownership

Woman fell for cruel love scam from Somali doctor who made her do blood oath

Boy goes missing from Dundee industrial estate as cops launch probe

Socialite Lady Annabel Goldsmith remembered as 'irreplaceable' after death

Voting begins over future of Oxford Union president-elect after Charlie Kirk comment

Prince Andrew insisted on 'gag order' to stop allegations spoiling Queen's Platinum Jubilee, memoir claims

Strictly's Amber Davies' stroppy demands over £1million Love Island relationship