British author Dame Jilly Cooper has sadly died at the age of 88, her family has confirmed.
The Riders and Rivals author died following a fall at her home, with her children, Felix and Emily, confirming the sad news in a statement today.
"Mum, was the shining light in all of our lives," the statement began.
"Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds. Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.
Dame Jilly Cooper wrote a number of bestselling novels
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"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."
Dame Jilly's literary agent, Curtis Brown, also confirmed her passing, whilst Felicity Blunt praised her five-decade career that shaped British culture and literature.
Jilly Cooper was made a Dame last year
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The novelist gained widespread acclaim for her romantic fiction, particularly the Rutshire Chronicles series, which captivated readers across generations with its witty portrayal of upper-class British society.
The Rutshire Chronicles became a cultural phenomenon that recently found new audiences through television adaptation.
The series achieved remarkable success on Disney+, with Rivals becoming a major hit for the streaming platform since its debut 12 months ago.
Dame Jilly served as an executive producer on the adaptation, which brought her beloved fictional world to screens worldwide.
Dame Jilly Cooper was one of the nation's best-loved authors
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Production company Happy Prince is currently filming a second series scheduled for release in 2026.
Her agent noted that Dame Jilly would be most fondly remembered for this chart-topping series that defined her literary legacy.
Lee Mason, Executive Director of Scripted at Disney+ EMEA, paid tribute to the author, calling her "irreplaceable" and "a trailblazer in British literature celebrated for her joyful, naughty and insightful writing in a world often too serious."
Mr Mason acknowledged the honour of bringing Dame Jilly's cherished fictional universe to television screens, stating: "It has been a privilege to bring her beloved world of Rivals to television."
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RIP the fabulous Jilly Cooper. She was 88
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) October 6, 2025
Rupert Campbell Black had quite the influence on my early 20s pic.twitter.com/9ZRXal8n4n
The Disney+ executive concluded by saying the company's thoughts were with the author's loved ones, adding they would "raise a glass – of champagne, naturally – to her extraordinary legacy."