Dame Jilly Cooper, the beloved author renowned for her racy and witty novels, actively engaged with the Disney+ adaptation of her best-selling book Rivals, even playfully scolding the production team for making her quintessential "macho men" too emotional on screen, an executive producer on the show has disclosed. This candid insight into the author’s hands-on involvement emerged during a panel discussion at the Hay Festival on Sunday, offering a poignant glimpse into Cooper’s vibrant personality and unwavering vision for her characters, just months after her unexpected passing last October at the age of 88.
Jilly Cooper’s Enduring Literary Legacy and the Genesis of Rivals
Jilly Cooper’s literary career spanned decades, establishing her as a national treasure whose books, particularly the Rutshire Chronicles, captivated millions with their intoxicating blend of aristocratic drama, equestrian pursuits, and often scandalous romance. Her distinctive voice, characterised by sharp wit, keen social observation, and a profound love for the English countryside, resonated deeply with readers. Novels like Riders, Rivals, Polo, and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous became synonymous with a particular brand of escapist, yet often insightful, storytelling. Her works, frequently set against the glamorous backdrop of the Cotswolds, explored themes of power, passion, ambition, and infidelity within the upper echelons of British society, often featuring larger-than-life characters who were both deeply flawed and utterly charming.
Rivals, first published in 1988, is a cornerstone of the Rutshire Chronicles. It plunges readers into the cutthroat world of 1980s television, where the fierce rivalry between two powerful men, the charismatic but volatile TV boss Tony Baddingham and the dashing Member of Parliament Rupert Campbell-Black, ignites a series of dramatic personal and professional clashes. The novel is celebrated for its intricate plotting, its colourful cast of characters, and its unflinching portrayal of ambition, loyalty, and betrayal. Its enduring popularity made it a prime candidate for a screen adaptation, a project that finally came to fruition with Disney+. The decision to adapt Rivals for a global streaming audience underscored the timeless appeal of Cooper’s storytelling and the potential for her narratives to transcend generations.
A Hands-On Author: Cooper’s Active Role as Executive Producer
The adaptation of Rivals by Disney+ was no ordinary production; it had the rare privilege of Dame Jilly Cooper’s direct involvement. She served as an executive producer, a role that typically entails overseeing the creative direction and financial aspects of a project. However, for Cooper, it meant a genuine and active participation in shaping how her beloved characters and narratives would translate from page to screen. This level of engagement from an author of her stature is invaluable, providing an authentic tether to the original material and ensuring the spirit of her work is preserved.
Laura Wade, a writer and executive producer on the show, shared insights into this unique collaboration during her appearance at the Hay Festival. Wade described Cooper as "a ray of human sunshine," highlighting her generally encouraging and open-minded approach to the adaptation process. This sentiment challenges the common expectation that authors might be overly protective or "strict" about their key characters, especially when adapting a work as iconic as Rivals. Cooper, however, seemed to embrace the collaborative nature of television production, demonstrating a trust in the creative team while still offering her invaluable perspective.
It was within this context of collaborative trust that Cooper delivered her memorable piece of criticism. Wade recounted, "She would tell us, if I was making Rupert (Campbell-Black) cry too often, that was one of her favourites – ‘stop making my macho men cry all the time’." This seemingly light-hearted comment reveals a profound understanding of her own characters and the archetypes she crafted. Rupert Campbell-Black, in particular, is an emblem of the Cooper hero – a man of immense charm, arrogance, passion, and undeniable masculinity, often bordering on the outrageous. His emotional vulnerability, while present, was typically portrayed subtly or reserved for moments of profound personal crisis, rather than as a frequent occurrence. Cooper’s feedback underscored her desire to maintain the essence of these characters, ensuring their on-screen portrayal remained consistent with the persona that had captivated millions of readers for decades. It speaks to her meticulous attention to detail and her deep affection for the world she created.
The Hay Festival Revelation: Insights from the Production Team
The Hay Festival, an internationally renowned literary festival held annually in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, served as the platform for these poignant revelations. Known for bringing together writers, thinkers, and performers, the festival is a hub for intellectual discourse and cultural exchange. The panel discussion featuring Laura Wade and Victoria Smurfit, who plays Maud O’Hara in Rivals, provided a unique opportunity for fans and the media to gain insight into the making of the highly anticipated series and the enduring influence of its creator.
Wade’s remarks painted a picture of an author who was both a guide and an inspiration. Her description of Cooper as not being "quite strict" despite the deep connection to her characters suggests an admirable willingness to allow for creative interpretation, albeit with gentle nudges when the adaptation veered too far from her original vision. The specific feedback about Rupert Campbell-Black’s tears is particularly telling. It highlights a common tension in adaptations: how to update or deepen characters for a contemporary audience without sacrificing their defining traits. In an era where toxic masculinity is increasingly scrutinised and male vulnerability is often explored on screen, Cooper’s insistence on preserving the stoicism or less overt emotionality of her "macho men" reflects her unique artistic perspective and perhaps a nostalgic affection for the archetypes she so masterfully defined. It was not a rejection of emotion, but a calibration of its expression for her specific characters.
Emotional Recollections: Victoria Smurfit on Cooper’s Passing
The Hay Festival panel also became a moment for reflection and tribute, particularly concerning Dame Jilly Cooper’s unexpected death. Victoria Smurfit, who portrays Maud O’Hara, a key character in Rivals, shared a deeply moving account of how the cast and crew received the news. Her recollection underscored the profound impact Cooper had on everyone involved in the production.
Smurfit recounted returning from a break to find Eliza Mellor, the on-set producer, visibly devastated. "Everything about her was devastated, and I remember walking in and going, ‘Oh God, someone’s died’," Smurfit recalled. The actress’s immediate assumption that it couldn’t possibly be Cooper speaks volumes about the author’s vitality and the impression she made on those around her. "And it is a testament to Jilly’s sparkle and her champagne soaked soul of heavenly delight that at 88 there was not one iota of me that thought it might be her," Smurfit added, her words painting a vivid picture of Cooper as an eternal force of nature.
Dame Jilly Cooper passed away in October 2023 at the age of 88, following injuries sustained from a fall at her home. Her death sent shockwaves through the literary world and among her vast readership. The news was particularly poignant for the Rivals production team, who had been working closely with her. Smurfit’s testimony revealed that Cooper had been intimately involved across all episodes, even extending her creative input to potential future seasons. "She’d been across all the episodes, she’d been across season three, she’d been across everything, and she dropped and rolled… And now she gets to have fun up there," Smurfit concluded, her voice laced with both sorrow and admiration for Cooper’s indomitable spirit. This emotional tribute solidified the image of Cooper as not just an author, but a vibrant, active presence who deeply invested herself in the screen adaptation of her work until her very last days.
The World of Rivals: A Deep Dive into the Novel and Series Setting
The Disney+ series Rivals is set to transport viewers back to the decadent and tumultuous 1980s, amidst the idyllic yet often scandalous Cotswolds countryside. This setting is quintessential Jilly Cooper, providing a picturesque backdrop for the high-octane drama unfolding within the cutthroat world of British television. The series promises to explore how careers, marriages, and reputations hang precariously in the balance as the personal and professional lives of its characters inevitably collide.
At the heart of Rivals is the magnetic figure of Rupert Campbell-Black, a character who has become one of Cooper’s most enduring creations. Introduced in Riders, Rupert is a former Olympic showjumper, a charismatic politician, and a notorious philanderer. He is the embodiment of the "macho man" Cooper referred to – fiercely competitive, unapologetically dominant, and possessing an irresistible charm that often excuses his more outrageous behaviour. His emotional landscape is complex; while capable of deep affection and loyalty, particularly towards animals and certain women, he rarely displays overt vulnerability. His tears, when they come, are significant and often signal a profound internal struggle or loss, making Cooper’s instruction to limit their frequency on screen a crucial detail in maintaining his established characterisation.
The narrative of Rivals is rich with a tapestry of interconnected lives, including Tony Baddingham, the ambitious and ruthless head of Corinium Television; Lizzie Vereker, Rupert’s long-suffering wife; and a host of other colourful characters from the rural gentry and media elite. The novel deftly navigates themes of infidelity, class, ambition, and the changing landscape of British media, all infused with Cooper’s signature blend of humour and social commentary. The series, with its promise of lavish period detail and a star-studded cast including David Tennant as Tony Baddingham, Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, and Aidan McArdle as MP Valentine O’Hara, aims to capture this vibrant and often outrageous world for a new generation.
Adapting a Cultural Phenomenon: Challenges and Triumphs
Adapting a beloved novel, especially one with the cultural impact of Rivals, presents a unique set of challenges. Fans often have deeply ingrained expectations regarding character portrayals, plotlines, and the overall tone of the original work. The production team, therefore, walks a fine line between fidelity to the source material and the necessary artistic liberties required for a successful screen adaptation.
Jilly Cooper’s direct involvement as an executive producer was undoubtedly a significant advantage, providing an unparalleled safeguard against straying too far from the essence of her vision. Her specific feedback about Rupert Campbell-Black’s tears is a testament to this collaborative tension. It highlights the nuanced process of translating internal character traits and narrative styles from prose to visual storytelling. In literature, a character’s emotional state can be conveyed through internal monologue or descriptive language; on screen, it often requires explicit visual cues like tears. Cooper’s intervention ensured that Rupert’s on-screen emotionality would be measured, preserving the perception of his formidable and often stoic nature, which is central to his appeal as a "macho man" in her universe.
The series’ setting in the 1980s is also crucial. This period allows for an exploration of social mores, fashion, and media culture that are distinct from contemporary times, offering a nostalgic appeal while also providing fertile ground for dramatic tension. The challenge for the adaptation lies in ensuring that the themes and character dynamics, while rooted in the 80s, still resonate with a modern audience without feeling anachronistic or alienating. Cooper’s stories, despite their specific settings, often deal with universal human emotions and desires, which is likely why they continue to find new audiences.
Jilly Cooper’s Posthumous Influence and Broader Implications
Dame Jilly Cooper’s passing shortly after her active involvement in the Rivals production imbues the series with a profound posthumous significance. It stands not only as an adaptation of her work but also as a final, vibrant testament to her creative spirit and her enduring legacy. The series now carries the weight of being a tribute, a final opportunity for fans to see her world brought to life with her blessing and direct input.
The anticipation surrounding Rivals is considerable. For long-time fans, it offers a chance to revisit a beloved narrative and characters, while for a new generation, it could serve as an introduction to the witty, passionate, and often outrageous world of Jilly Cooper. The decision by Disney+ to greenlight such a quintessentially British story for its global platform also speaks to the universal appeal of Cooper’s themes and characters, suggesting that stories of ambition, love, and rivalry, set against a glamorous backdrop, transcend cultural boundaries.
The revelation of Cooper’s playful but firm feedback reinforces her status as an author who truly understood her creations. Her desire to see her "macho men" maintain their characteristic emotional resilience on screen reflects not just a fidelity to her own writing, but also an awareness of what made her characters so compelling to her readership. It highlights the deep connection authors often have with their fictional worlds and the importance of their input in adaptations. As Rivals prepares for its premiere, it will undoubtedly be viewed through the lens of this final, intimate collaboration, serving as a powerful reminder of Dame Jilly Cooper’s indelible mark on British literature and her enduring ability to charm, provoke, and entertain. Her "champagne soaked soul" will undoubtedly sparkle through every frame of the series.
