Fall led to fatal head injury for Dame Jilly, inquest told

AME Jilly Cooper suffered a fatal head injury during a fall at her Gloucestershire home, an inquest has heard.

- CLAIRE HAYHURST AND ELEANOR STOREY

‘The writer - known for her “bonk-busters” including Riders, Rivals and Polo - was found by family at her home in Bisley at about 5pm on October 4.

Gloucestershire Coroners’ Court heard Dame Jilly was initially alert and transferred by paramedics to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, but her condition deteriorated.

She died in hospital, with her family present, at 8.30am on October 5.

Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, reached a conclusion of accidental death and said Dame Jilly died as a result of a traumatic subdural haematoma.

‘The coroner said: “The deceased was Dame Jill ‘Jilly’ Cooper, an 88-year-old lady.

“When she passed away was October 5, 2025 at 8.30am. Where she passed away was at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where she had been transferred.

“The circumstances surrounding her tragic death were she had suffered an unwitnessed fall at her home address on October 4. She fell, perhaps down some stairs, sustaining a significant head injury.

“There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her fall. She passed away later, on October 5, with family present.

“This is a case of accidental death, the accident being the unwitnessed fall by Dame Cooper at Dame Cooper’s address, triggering the tragic events that thereafter followed.

“May this office extend their sincere condolences to Dame Cooper's family.”

Dame Jilly was known for her steamy fiction focusing on scandal and adultery in upper class society.

Her hit titles also include Mount! and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, along with her most recent work Tackle!

Her work Rivals was recently adapted as a hit television series by Disney+ starring David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson.

‘The inquest, consisting of written statements read by the coroner, heard Dame Jilly’s daughter Emily Tarrant confirmed her identity to the court in a phone call.