Author Jilly Cooper dies at 88

Novelist Dame Jilly Cooper, known for her best-selling books including Rivals and Riders, has died at the age of 88.

Dame Jilly's most successful works were The Rutshire Chronicles, beginning with Riders in 1985, which portrayed the scandals, sex lives and social circles of the wealthy country set.

Follow-up Rivals was published in 1988 and was turned into a hit Disney+ TV series last year. She sold more than 11 million books in total in the UK alone.

In a statement, her children Felix and Emily said: "Mum was the shining light in all of our lives. Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds. Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock."

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