Rivals star Danny Dyer reveals what made Dame Jilly Cooper’s death ‘more emotional’ and talks politics
Danny Dyer has opened up about what it was like losing Dame Jilly Cooper and what made it ‘even more emotional’ – Plus he tackles ‘corrupt’ UK politics
15:10, 11 Mar 2026Updated 18:35, 11 Mar 2026
Danny Dyer stars on the cover of Rolling Stone UK(Image: Matt Moorhouse for Rolling Stone UK)
Best-selling author Dame Jilly Cooper passed away in October at 88-years-old at her home after suffering a fall. Her death came whilst Danny Dyer and cast were shooting the second series of the adaptation of her much-loved book Rivals. Now the former EastEnders actor has revealed what it was like to be on set following the tragedy.
Speaking to Rolling Stone UK, Danny, 48, said: “We lost Jilly Cooper during shooting, and it made things even more emotional.
“She’s part of the fabric and you definitely feel like she’s in the air. Which makes it even more of a shame that she won’t see it.
Danny Dyer covers Rolling Stone UK sporting a Sergio Tacchini Dallas Track Top available at Stuarts London(Image: Matt Moorhouse for Rolling Stone UK)
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Danny insisted that the cast which includes David Tennant, Alex Hassell and Aidan Turner were determined to ensure the second instalment, out in May, is bigger and better in her honour.
He added: “It’s been a long shoot and when we all got the tragic news, it just gave us another push to go, ‘Right, let’s get this done and make it as brilliant as it can be.’”
Elsewhere in the interview Danny spoke about UK politics and grumbled that some of those in power are ‘corrupt’.
He said: “It’s a tricky f****** time and I don’t know how Keir Starmer is hated by the extreme left and the extreme right.
Danny Dyer tackles UK politics(Image: Matt Moorhouse for Rolling Stone UK)
“How does that work? I’ve said this before, but we just need some more people from working-class backgrounds [in Parliament] and that will save it.
“But there’s some corrupt shit going on upstairs, man, and there’s the fear that they’ll eventually get corrupted too.
“You’ve just got to sit back and watch it all unfold and hope that humanity finds its way again.”
The Football Factory star believes we need a reset: “Misogyny, sexism, homophobia and racism are all on the rise again. We’ve regressed as human beings, so we need some sort of reset, don’t we?”
The April/May issue of Rolling Stone UK is out now or visit www.rollingstone.co.uk for more.
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