Jilly Cooper's TV adaptations ranked – Rivals is not number one
Jilly Cooper was best known for writing the hugely popular Rutshire Chronicles novel series, several of which were later adapted for the screen.
Dame Jilly Cooper wrote 18 novels over the course of her career, captivating millions of readers with the scandal-filled storytelling that made her 'bonkbuster' books so beloved. The acclaimed author, who died aged 88 following a fall in October 2025, was best known for her 11-book Rutshire Chronicles series, centred on the charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black.
Several of Cooper's novels were later brought to the screen, including the hit Disney+ drama Rivals. Here are the four adaptations of her work, ranked according to IMDb.
Riders – 5.6/10
The first novel in the Rutshire Chronicles, Riders, was adapted into a 1993 TV movie starring Doctor Who actor Marcus Gilbert as the charming yet arrogant aristocrat Rupert.
Former Emmerdale star Michael Praed portrays Jake Lovell, a talented Romani horseman determined to settle years of rivalry and resentment after enduring Rupert's bullying.
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Set against the glamorous and fiercely competitive world of international showjumping, the story follows Rupert as he faces his greatest challenge in Jake, whose rise through the equestrian world sets the stage for an explosive showdown between the two men at the Los Angeles Olympics.
The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous – 6.8/10
Based on Cooper's 1993 novel – the fourth in the Rutshire Chronicles – The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous follows tennis player Lysander Hawksley, who is hired by wealthy women to make their unfaithful husbands jealous.
After Lysander’s disapproving father cuts him off financially, his friend Ferdinand Fitzgerald comes up with an unusual money-making scheme: helping neglected wives rekindle their husbands' interest by provoking jealousy.
However, the plan soon spirals into a web of scandals and romantic complications as Lysander becomes increasingly entangled in the lives of the women he is meant to help.
The three-part miniseries, released in 1997, stars Hollyoaks star Stephen Billington as Lysander and Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville as Ferdinand.
Rivals – 7.9/10
The comedy-drama Rivals premiered in 2024 with an all-star British ensemble cast, including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Alex Hassell, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer.
The series once again centres on Rupert Campbell-Black, whose long-running feud with ruthless television executive Tony Baddingham begins to spill into both their professional and personal lives.
As Tony attempts to expand his media empire and secure a regional TV franchise, he unintentionally sparks a fierce power struggle with the notorious former Olympian Rupert, setting the stage for more scandal, rivalry and romance.
Octavia – 8.0/10
Taking the top spot is the 2009 TV movie Octavia, based on Cooper's 1977 novel. Tasmin Egerton stars as Octavia, a spoiled woman who enjoys making men fall in love with her.
Set in 1970s Britain, the story follows Octavia as she attempts to steal her friend's fiancé. However, what begins as playful flirtation soon spirals into a complicated and emotionally charged love triangle. The adaptation also stars Richard Coyle and Patrick Baladi.
