The first three episodes of Rivals season 2 have premiered on Disney+, with the debut episode concluding with a heartfelt dedication to the late Dame Jilly Cooper. At the end of episode one, viewers see a black-and-white title card featuring a youthful photograph of Dame Jilly relaxing on a sofa, elegantly dressed in a black dress and fishnet tights. The tribute reads: “Dame Jilly Cooper, 1937-2025.”
Executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins shared in a recent Q&A how Dame Jilly’s passing during the production of season 2 deeply affected the team. “She’s up there today, and we keep saying she got to see Rivals 1, Rivals 2, and gain many new fans of her books," he said. “You don’t often get that, so this series is really a tribute to her.”
Dame Jilly Cooper was the celebrated author behind the bestselling novels that inspired the television adaptation of Rivals. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 88 on 5 October 2025 after suffering a fatal head injury from a fall at her home.
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Her career began in journalism, contributing to The Sunday Times and The Mail on Sunday, before publishing her first book, How to Stay Married, in 1969. However, she became best known for The Rutshire Chronicles—a hit series that includes Riders, Rivals, and Polo, which garnered a devoted readership.
In recognition of her influence on British literature, Dame Jilly was awarded the title Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours. To honour her legacy, the Jilly Cooper Prize was established in 2025, celebrating outstanding comic fiction as part of the Comedy Women in Print Awards.
During the Q&A, Dominic fondly recalled Dame Jilly’s involvement in the making of Rivals: “Her death was a shock, surprisingly, even at her age. We were speaking to her on the Thursday before she passed away that weekend. She gave notes on episode 12 just days before, and even called me out on a sex scene I wrote.”
He shared a light-hearted moment: “She said, ‘Dominic! You’re so naughty, Dom!’ I told her, ‘Jilly, you wrote it all—I just took it verbatim.’ She laughed and replied, ‘I’m naughty then, aren’t I?!’”
Dominic described her as “incredible, a true friend who was present on set, always smart and wonderful.”
Rivals season 2’s first three episodes are available now on Disney+, with new episodes releasing weekly.