Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit, stars of the acclaimed series *Rivals*, have recently shared heartfelt tributes to the beloved author Jilly Cooper, who passed away at the age of 88 on 5 October 2025. Cooper’s death was reportedly due to a head injury sustained in an accidental fall, and both Turner and Smurfit reflected on her influence and spirit as they promote the upcoming second season of the show, which is based on Cooper’s novel of the same name released in 1988.
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Turner, well-known for his role as the passionate Irish journalist Declan O’Hara, described the moment he and the cast were informed of Cooper’s unfortunate passing. “I remember the morning quite well, and it’s one of those strange, eerie times when you’re all brought together,” he revealed. “It just felt odd and strange, and then our lovely producer, Eliza Mellor, was quite tearful about it and told us.”
The actor expressed his astonishment at the news, recounting that only a few weeks prior, they had gathered at Cooper’s house for a summer party where she was her vibrant self. “She was in amazing form, making speeches, filthy and funny in equal measures. She was a real force when she was around, so it was deeply saddening and shocking,” he added.
While grappling with their grief, Smurfit, who plays the character of Maud O’Hara, reflected on the necessity of continuing their work in Cooper’s absence. “She would have been so cross with us if we hadn’t kept working,” she remarked with a hint of humour. In a poignant gesture of remembrance, the show’s producers, Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alexander Lamb, travelled down from London to offer a toast to Cooper, as she had a fondness for champagne. “We all toasted to her on the day she passed, a mark of respect,” Smurfit shared.
The news of Cooper’s unexpected death was confirmed by her children, Felix Cooper and Emily Tarrant, who described their loss as a complete shock. Their sentiments mirrored the widespread sense of mourning felt across the literary community, as well as among those who experienced Cooper’s vibrant spirit firsthand.
Cooper’s legacy is profoundly felt by the cast of *Rivals*, who regarded her as their staunchest supporter. Smurfit reminisced about Cooper’s radiant presence on set, saying, “Having Jilly on set was like somebody took the roof off the set and just poured sunshine in. She just came and wrapped us all in love.”
The warmth and camaraderie Cooper fostered extended not just to the cast but to everyone involved in the production. “She loved every second of being with the cast, the crew, the writers,” Smurfit recalled, adding a playful note directed at Turner, “She loved touching your biceps, didn’t she? And she was so warm and loving to all the women. We’ve really lost a good one. We really have.”
As Turner and Smurfit look forward to the new season of *Rivals*, they carry with them the cherished memories of Cooper and her unwavering support. The cast’s tribute underscores how deeply Cooper touched their lives, both personally and professionally. Her influence continues to resonate through the adaptation of her work, ensuring that her spirit remains a vibrant part of the narrative as they move forward.
With the second season on the horizon, the cast is committed to honouring Cooper’s memory in their performances, ensuring that the essence of her storytelling lives on. While her absence is profoundly felt, the bond she created with her colleagues serves as a lasting testament to her extraordinary character and the joy she brought to those around her.
As fans of her work prepare to watch the new season of *Rivals*, they will also be celebrating the remarkable life of Jilly Cooper — a literary icon whose legacy will undoubtedly endure through her stories and the memories cherished by those who loved her.