Gloucestershire-based author Dame Jilly Cooper has died at the age of 88.
Best known for her naughty novels, including Rivals which was turned into a smash hit series on Netflix, Jilly became a beloved literature icon and joined the many famous authors whose legacies were built in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.
The news of Jilly's passing was announced on Monday 6 October 2025 by her agent, Felicity Blunt. She released a statement saying that working with Jilly was 'the privilege of her career'.
Reflecting on her life, Felicity said Jilly was 'a woman who defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago'.
The statement on Felicity's website also featured a tribute from Jilly's children, Felix and Emily, who said: '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.'
Award-winning local photographer, Paul Nicholls, recalled the number of times he got to photograph Jilly throughout her career, including the image above taken in Stroud in 1999, he said: 'I loved photographing Jilly, she was so much fun and knew what a photographer wanted.
'Jilly, can you play the drums for me? YES! Jilly, will you wear this hat? YES! Her smile and fun lit up a room. I loved her.'
Ultimately selling more than 11 million books across her career, Jilly first shot to fame in 1969 with her first novel, How to Stay Married, going on to write numerous children's books and non-fiction titles, though she really began to see success with her series of romantic romps, The Rutshire Chronicles.
The series features fan-favourites Riders, Polo and the most recent best-seller, Tackle!
Another iteration in the raunchy Rutshire collection, Rivals saw Jilly enter the spotlight once again in her later years, with Netflix picking up the show and assembling an all-star cast of Poldark's Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara, David Tennant as Tony Baddingham, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, Emily Atak as Sarah Stratton and Alex Hassell as the 'dangerously charismatic' Rupert Campbell-Black.
The first season of Rivals launched onto screens across the nation in October 2024, arriving to critical acclaim and affectionate reference to Jilly transforming her home region into 'the Hotswolds'.
As well as receiving her Damehood in the 2024 King's New Year's Honours, Jilly also took to the stage alongside graduates at the University of Gloucestershire to receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters in 2009.
Though born in Essex, Jilly moved to Bisley in the Cotswolds in 1982 and remained there for the rest of her life – making her a true county treasure.
