Eamonn Holmes says he believes he was the model for a character in one of Jilly Cooper’s books. He shared this as a tribute to the author after she passed away on Sunday.
The author, known for her steamy novels and nicknamed ‘Queen of the bonkbuster,’ passed away unexpectedly after a fall at her home in The Cotswolds, leaving her family devastated.
On his GB News Breakfast Show, Eamonn shared that he met Jilly at the theatre, and she playfully suggested a character in one of her books was inspired by him.
He playfully suggested the character he’s creating should be incredibly attractive, and jokingly admitted he might even start reading romance novels by Jilly to get inspiration for the character’s personality.
She invited me to the theatre where she was a student, and surprisingly revealed she’d created a new character based on me. The character’s name is either Eamonn, or he’s modeled after a TV presenter, so I somehow appear in the play.
‘Maybe I say ”get up to dirty things.”
Ellie continued, saying she definitely sensed something was going on. She suggested looking into the author’s books to see if they held any clues, because you never know what secrets might be hidden within the pages!
Eamonn jokingly wondered if one of the author’s books featured a character named Eamonn, or a strikingly handsome television presenter – someone unbelievably good-looking.
Dame Jilly Cooper passed away after a fall at her home in The Cotswolds, as reported by the Daily Mail on Monday. She was taken to the hospital following the incident.
The novelist was rushed to Gloucester Royal Hospital on Saturday afternoon after someone called 999 for an ambulance.
Felix and Emily, the children of Dame Jilly, said they were completely shocked by her death on Sunday morning, which was announced on Monday. They described her as the ‘shining light’ of their lives.
The author, known as the ‘Queen of the bonkbuster’ for her steamy romance novels, sold over 12 million books throughout her career.
For more than forty years, she lived and wrote her provocative novels in The Chantry, a charming historic house in the picturesque village of Bisley, Gloucestershire.
At approximately 5:34 PM, paramedics with the South Western Ambulance Service were dispatched to Dame Jilly’s home in response to an emergency call.
Queen Camilla paid tribute to author Jilly Cooper, calling her a ‘legend’ and a ‘wonderfully witty and compassionate friend’. It’s been suggested that Cooper based a charming rogue character, Rupert Campbell-Black, on Camilla’s first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles.
Honestly, even people who *worked* with her just get it! Her agent, Felicity Blunt, said she was brilliantly observant and just… a blast to be around. It’s like everyone knew she was special, so witty and full of life! It just confirms everything I already knew about her, you know?
Dame Jilly Cooper, famous for her popular Rutshire Chronicles novels, recently revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail that she once shared a brief, romantic moment with James Bond actor Sean Connery.
Stories about the intimate lives of wealthy polo players became incredibly popular, offering many people a bit of escapism for bedtime reading.
The novelist’s husband, Leo, passed away in 2013 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. She had previously forgiven him for a six-year affair that occurred in the 1990s, which she described as devastating.
The author refused to send him into a care home even when his condition worsened.
Dame Jilly revealed she started writing novels again later in life simply to cover her husband’s healthcare costs.
I remember when everything came out in 1990. Sarah Johnson, the publisher’s secretary, confessed she’d been having an affair with Leo. She said she only did it because Dame Jilly had been constantly bragging about how wonderful her marriage was, and it just felt like she needed to share the truth.
In her first book, published in 1969, the author offered relationship advice that was surprisingly direct. She told readers that if they suspected their husband was being unfaithful but he didn’t know they knew, they should remain calm. However, if he was aware they knew about the affair, they should confront him aggressively.
In a 2019 interview with the Daily Mail, Dame Jilly described her marriage as a journey, comparing it to two people rowing a small boat across a large ocean. She explained that they’ve experienced both calm, beautiful moments and incredibly difficult times – moments that almost destroyed them – but they always managed to persevere.
Dame Jilly’s family said in their statement: ‘Mum was the shining light in all of our lives.
She loved her family and friends deeply and unconditionally. Everyone was shocked and saddened by her sudden passing.
We’re deeply saddened by her passing, but we cherish all of her accomplishments. Her joyful smile and laughter will be greatly missed.
Dame Jilly Cooper’s debut novel, *Riders*, the first in her Rutshire series, came out in 1985 when she was 48 years old.
The second book in the series, Rivals, was recently adapted for television by Disney+.
I was so touched to hear that Dame Jilly, even in her later years, was still so vibrant and engaged! She actually hosted a lovely party for the whole cast at her beautiful home in Gloucestershire just last August. It really showed how much she loved being involved and how generous she was.
Andrew Parker Bowles, known for his playful reputation, was also present and maintains a close relationship with his former wife, the Queen.
Dame Jilly Cooper and Queen Camilla met for a chat in March at an event celebrating the launch of the Queen’s Reading Room medal, held at Clarence House.
Camilla told her: ‘I’m so proud of you. For all you’ve done.’
The Queen said in her tribute today: ‘I was so saddened to learn of Dame Jilly’s death last night.
It’s rare for a writer to become a legend during their own life, but Jilly Cooper achieved this, essentially inventing a new style of storytelling and mastering it over a career lasting more than fifty years.
I was so lucky to know her personally. She was a truly witty and kind friend, not just to me, but to so many people. I especially enjoyed seeing her just a few weeks ago at my Queen’s Reading Room Festival – she absolutely shone, as she always did!
‘I join my husband The King in sending our thoughts and sympathies to all her family.
‘And may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.’
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2025-10-07 10:50