British author Jilly Cooper, whose popular Rutshire Chronicles novels were the basis for the hit Disney+ series Rivals, has died. She was 88. The novelist’s longtime agent, Felicity Blunt, confirmed the news on Monday morning (October 6), revealing that Cooper passed away on Sunday (October 5) after suffering a fall.

In 2024, Cooper attracted new audiences when the Disney + adaption of Rivals became a roaring success. With a second series in the pipeline, her popularity is set to continue for years to come - but this isn't the only Cooper book to hit screens. Find out more about the author's television work below.

The author Jilly Cooper has died aged 88. Cooper’s books were “bonkbusters” – a form of blockbuster fiction that was most popular in the 1980s and 1990s, characterised by explicit sex, scandalous plots and large casts of characters.

Author Dame Jilly Cooper, known for her romance novels, has reportedly died at the age of 88. The BBC has reported that her children, Felix and Emily, confirmed the news. She died on Sunday morning after suffering a fall over the weekend. In a statement, they said:

Dame Jilly Cooper was “a great people watcher” who changed the way “we read books as women”, according to her friend Angela Rippon. The author, known as “queen of the bonkbuster” for her Rutshire Chronicles books including Riders, Polo and Rivals, died aged 88 on Sunday after a fall.

Jilly Cooper and Leo Cooper had spent 53 years together. Let's have a look at their turbulent married life, including infidelity, infertility and more.

Dame Jilly Cooper, the beloved author known for novels such as Riders and Rivals, has died at the age of 88 - but she previously revealed details of how she'd like her funeral

Eamonn Holmes claims he inspired ‘devilishly handsome’ character in one of Dame Jilly Cooper’s novels - The GB News host spoke about the exchange after news of the bestselling author’s death aged 88