The stars of Rivals are back on set in Corsham, Wiltshire a week after the unexpected death of writer Dame Jilly Cooper.
Aidan Turner, who plays Declan O’Hara, was spotted shooting scenes with Alex Hassell who stars as Rupert Campbell-Black, with the pair laughing and hugging.
Also seen filming on the high street was Bella Maclean who stars as Taggie, Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook and Lara Peake, who plays Daysee Butler.
One Day star Jonny Weldon, who is joining the cast for season two in an unspecified role was also seen on set for the first time.
Also joining the Disney Plus series is Rupert Everett, who spoke out this week about his fond memories of Jilly when she came to set shortly before her death.
Dame Jilly died on October 5 aged 88, following a fall at her home in Bisley, Gloucestershire after the second season of the drama had begun production.
The stars of Rivals are back on set in Corsham, Wiltshire a week after the unexpected death of writer Dame Jilly Cooper; pictured Aidan Turner
Aidan Turner, who plays Declan O’Hara, was spotted shooting scenes with Alex Hassell who stars as Rupert Campbell-Black, with the pair laughing and hugging
Speaking to Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, Rupert, who is playing Malise Gordon, Campbell-Black’s former show-jumping coach, called Jilly ‘humorous sparkling and humble.’
‘I love Rivals and I loved Jilly Cooper… because you don’t make friends so much when you’re older but meeting Jilly Cooper I thought, “God this woman I’d really like to try and be friends with her”.
‘She was an amazing woman and very, very kind of turned on absolutely with it. Humorous sparkling humble – everything. I mean she was great.’
Reflecting on seeing her on set, Rupert explained: ‘She was around for the days I was working there and we had such a lovely time,’ before revealing he had a fab night at the author’s boozy at home soiree in August for the show’s cast and crew.
‘I think she was a great character. And also what was so interesting about her view of life compared to our view of life now is that sex just wasn’t a problem,’ Rupert continued.
‘In all its manifestations it was something that intrigued her and she enjoyed, and when you start reading the stories about her snogging with Sean Connery when her husband had gone upstairs and stuff, you realise that this Rutshire world was a kind of freer.’
‘She was a wonderful looking woman too! Unusual, not a beauty, but a great looking woman. And I think it’s a good thing for us to study now in this day of ultra puritanism.’
The ‘Queen of the bonkbuster’ author, famed for her raunchy romance novels, sold more than 12million books in her career.
Dame Jilly died on October 5 aged 88, following a fall at her home in Bisley, Gloucestershire after the second season of the drama had begun production
Also spotted filming on the high street was Bella Maclean who stars as Declan’s daughter Taggie
Lara Peake, who plays Corinium production assistant Daysee Butler was back filming
The cast shot scenes along the high street with eighties cars parked up along the road
Nafessa Williams, who plays Cameron Cook, was back in her power suit to shoot scenes alongside Aidan
Aidan’s character was seen with an armful of fireworks for one scene
Series two of the hit Disney + drama is coming to screens next year after a hugely successful first season
One Day star Jonny Weldon, who is joining the cast for season two in an unspecified role was also seen on set for the first 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.
Jonny was seen helping with the fireworks which the trio loaded into Declan’s mustard yellow Mini Clubman Estate
Jonny’s character was seen chatting to Lara’s Daysee for one take
Daysee who was part of a harrowing storyline during the first season was seen smiling as she walked out of shot
Extras flooded the high street, looking the part in vintage looks
The high street was closed to traffic as the huge starry cast took over
Also joining the Disney Plus series is Rupert Everett , who spoke out this week about his fond memories of Jilly Cooper when she came to set shortly before her death
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 installements 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.
