Rivals stars pay tribute to late co-star after tragic death with special move

The cast of Rivals threw private "celebtation" for author Dame Jilly Cooper after her unexpected death. Last October, the beloved author passed away at the age of 88 following a tragic fall. Agent Felicity Blunt said of the best-selling author: "The privilege of my career has been working with a woman who has defuned culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago."

Later this month, the Disney+ series Rivals is set to return to the streaming platform where she also worked as an executive producer. Now, Dani Dyer has revealed that her father and the star-studded cast threw a private celebration for the creative following her death while filming.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, following her campaign with Chessington World of Adventure, the reality star gave fans an insight into the star's death behind the scenes. She told us: "She was an absolute legend, wasn't she. The cast and crew really felt it [when she died].

"It was midway through shooting the second series at the time. I know they all went and celebrated her and then again at the funeral. She was such an amazing character and they felt a massive loss when she went."

The former Love Island star teased that the streamer may also be making a further tribute to the best-selling author at the end of the first episode of the new series, which returns on Friday (May 15). She added: "I definitely think they'll do a tribute to her [on the show]."

Reflecting on her father's time on the show, the mum-of-three added that the Mick Carter star has flourished as an actor on the show. She beamed: "You know what? he's absolutely loving it, he loves Rivals and he loves working on that show."

However, the doting star has enforced one rule with her famous dad ahead of the second series. Dani insisted: "I've said to him, I don't want any spoilers for the second series because I just want to watch it as a viewer like all my friends.

"I remember putting on the first series and the music straight away had me hooked and we binged it together. He has such love for the character Fred, with his little moustache. So I'm really excited this month, I'm looking forward to having a go at watching it."

However, it hasn't been an easy watch for the brunette beauty, who admitted that she had to "skip" several intimate scenes the EastEnders star appears in alongside his co-star Katherine Parkinson.

She chuckled: "Obviously some of the scenes I has to skip forward, but the rest of it is incredible. Those intimate scenes I just skip through, it sells the story, I get why it's there. It's a Jilly Cooper book at the end of the day."

It comes after the influencer teamed up with Chessington World of Adventure to open their new PAW Patrol themed park. On May 3, Dani and her three children, Santiago, Summer and Star welcomed six families and their assistance dogs fot a first look at the immersive £15million land, where the real-life hero dogs joined the PAW Patrol pup squad.

Speaking about her family day out with the loving families, she gushed: "As a mum, I'm always on the lookout for days out that feel really special for the kids, and meeting these real-life hero does who help families every single day is exactly that.

"The PAW Patrol pups are all about teamwork and helping others, so seeing the assistance dogs come along with their owners, meet their PAW Patrol counterparts, and be 'part of the patrol' has made it such a lovely and inspiring day." Visit www.chessington.com/paw-patrol to find out more and book.