Jilly Cooper visited the set of Rivals just two days before her ‘sudden’ death, star Alex Hassell has revealed.
The actor, 45, plays the lead role of Rupert Campbell in the hit Disney+ series, which is based on Jilly’s series of ‘bonkbuster’ novels.
Dame Jilly died on October 5 aged 88, following a fall at her home in Bisley, Gloucestershire after the second season of Rivals had begun production.
Filming on series two resumed last week following the news of Jilly’s death, and in a new interview, Alex has shared that he and cast hope this new run of episodes will be a fitting tribute to her.
Alex previously paid tribute to Jilly on Instagram following her death, thanking her for ‘changing his life’ by offering him the lead role in the series.
The star reflected on Jilly’s passing while promoting his new thriller Wasteman, which recently premiered at the BFI London Film Festival.
Jilly Cooper visited the set of Rivals just two days before her ‘sudden’ death, star Alex Hassell has revealed
Dame Jilly died on October 5 aged 88, following a fall at her home in Bisley, Gloucestershire after the second season of Rivals had begun production
Alex told Metro: ‘We’re all devastated. She was on set just the week before and, obviously, her voice and her character and her sense of creativity were such a huge driving force of the show in terms of the source material.
‘She would okay everything, or we would hear that things have changed because she didn’t think that certain things characters do are quite right or representative of her view of the characters.’
Reflecting on his hopes, he said: ‘But we also really want to honour her, as you say, and try and do our best to keep making the show as good as possible.
‘And really, season two is so much [more] interesting because it’s bigger, it’s funnier, it’s darker, it’s more serious, it’s more challenging. It’s brighter as well, it’s wilder. It’s everything pulled into it, every dimension.’
Alex added that Jilly was still able to see ‘every single’ script for Rivals before it was filmed, and had already shared her thoughts on season two’s first three episodes.
Alexander Hassell posted a sweet image of himself kissing Jilly on the cheek when he paid tribute to her.
He wrote: ‘So sad to have lost our wonderful Jilly. So incredibly grateful to have gotten to know her. This magical woman changed my life.
‘Quite aside from the great wealth of joy, comfort and excitement her writing has given so many, she was such a generous spirited person to be around. She was so kind and supportive to me in portraying her hero Rupert.
Filming resumed last week following the news of Jilly’s death, and Alex (pictured as Rupert Campbell-Black) has shared he and cast hope this new run of episodes will be a fitting tribute
‘I’m so pleased I got to see her on set the other day, and pretty much the last things she said to me was that she was proud of me. Gorgeous and caring to the last. She shall be greatly missed.
‘We will continue to do our utmost to honour her. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this difficult time.’
Dame Jilly, who admitted in her final interview with the Daily Mail earlier this year to having enjoyed a clinch with James Bond star Sean Connery, was best known for her books in The Rutshire Chronicles series.
The depiction of the bedroom antics of the polo-playing classes proved a huge hit with millions seeking naughty bed-time reading.
Dame Jilly’s first novel in the Rutshire series, Riders, was published in 1985, when the author was 48.
The book’s release, which came after Dame Jilly had been sacked from 22 jobs in public relations, marked her big break in her literary career.
Riders made the BBC list of 100 important English language novels in the love, sex and romance selection alongside Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice.
Rivals is the second book in the series.
The period drama premiered in the UK on streaming service Disney+, as well as in the US on Hulu back in October 2024.
Earlier this month Disney+ confirmed that they have treated fans to an extra four episodes, with 12 installments in the second run.
The first series, which was eight episodes, became a huge hit and ended on a huge cliffhanger after David Tennant’s character Lord Tony Baddingham was left for dead.
Though the fate of Lord Baddingham appeared dire, it has now been confirmed that David will reprise his role in the upcoming second season in a major casting update.
