Jilly Cooper, 86, was born in Essex, grew up in Yorkshire and began her career as a journalist. She started publishing romance novels in 1975 and found fame during the 80s with bestsellers Riders and Rivals, part of the Rutshire Chronicles series. She’s also written many nonfiction titles and the Little Mabel children’s books. Her new novel, Tackle!, is set in the world of football. An eight-part TV adaptation of Rivals is scheduled for Disney+ next year.
Is it true your new novel, Tackle!, was inspired by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson?
I sat next to him at lunch and was a bit nervous because I thought he might be quite fierce. But he was so charming and funny. We giggled like mad and had a lovely time together. So I thought why not write a book about football? I came up with the title fairly early because of the awful double entendre.
Who are your favourite players?
I love Manchester City, especially Phil Foden and Jack Grealish. [Tottenham’s] Son Heung-min is very charming. As a journalist, I interviewed Rodney Marsh and George Best. They stood me up for lunch, then when I finally met them, they were rude and beastly, so I annihilated them in print. Years later, I was on This Is Your Life and Rodney flew in from America to surprise me and say sorry.
Did you talk to any footballers for research?
I spoke to my lovely former neighbour Tony Adams a lot and also players at my local club, Forest Green Rovers. Then a new manager arrived and got rid of all my friends. It’s such a ruthless sport but that makes for good fiction.
The novel features a gay relationship between a player and manager. How do you feel about homosexuality still being taboo in football?
Completely sad. I had lovely gay characters in earlier books, so was keen to do that in the world of football too. I was more worried about my character Dolphy being from a children’s home. That became one of the book’s themes. So many children go out into the world without a family, longing for one, which is terribly sad. Dolphy finds his family in football.
Is Tackle! your final novel?
Everybody tells me it ought to be but I’m going to write one about Sparta. It was the only place in ancient Greece where adultery was allowed. It was punished everywhere else but not in Sparta with all these macho men. It gave me an idea for people going on holiday to Sparta to recreate it. I want to write about the sexes sorting themselves out because they’re in an awful muddle now.
It’s notoriously difficult to write sex scenes. What’s the secret to writing good sex?
Keeping it fun. Make the people glamorous and create an atmosphere of excitement. You have to imagine you’re having it with somebody. I had a heavenly husband [publisher Leo Cooper] who died 10 years ago and he was wonderful at sex. So I used to just imagine what we’d been up to.
What did you make of Rishi Sunak saying he was a fan of your novels?
Isn’t that kind? I sent him a copy of Tackle! and he sent a nice letter back – or his secretary did – saying how excited he was to receive it. I’ve invited him to my launch party. I remember once saying that I adored John Prescott but wasn’t berserk about Tony Blair. He was very funny and told me he was sad to be upstaged by Prescott. I interviewed Mrs Thatcher, so I’ve got around with prime ministers!
Sunak described your books as a guilty pleasure. Do you agree with the concept of guilty pleasures?
It sounds puritanical. Why feel guilty about pleasure? But I get lovely letters from teenagers saying they read Riders underneath the bed covers. It’s wonderful to give people guilty pleasures in that way.
What can you tell us about the forthcoming TV adaptation of Rivals?
Not much. Disney want me to keep my trap shut. But I’ve seen the first episodes and it’s wonderful.
Do you think it will introduce your books to a new generation?
I hope so. I’m geriatric, so young people might realise who I am. Mind you, I read an article recently saying that the young weren’t interested in reading about romance any more. They don’t have sex and don’t want to get married. Tell me that’s not true.
Do you get annoyed by literary snobbery?
I used to say that the literary world is divided into two sets: people like me who long for a kind word in the Guardian and people in the Guardian who long for my sales. Isn’t that awful?
What have you been reading recently?
I just read a marvellous novel called Why Mummy Drinks at Christmas by Gill Sims. Caragh Bell is a beautiful writer. I love Jojo Moyes and Helen Fielding. I often revisit classics too. I’m rereading Anthony Powell and Proust.
Does writing get easier with age?
Gosh no! For a start, I live in rural Gloucestershire, so I don’t meet my noisy mates any more. People who every time they open their mouth, you want to write down what they say.
Do you still write your books on Monica, your trusty manual typewriter?
Yes. She’s old and grey now, like me. Her type comes up rather grey but I’ve written every book since Riders on her. She’s a star, is my Monica.
You once called yourself “a rackety wench”. Are you still?
Did I? Everyone had fun in the 60s. I had a lovely time but married at 24. I’m not a rackety wench any more. Mind you, a friend of mine is 89, just joined a dating app and got a new boyfriend. She had a very dreary husband. Now she’s having the best sex of her life. I’m not going to – I’ve forgotten how – but it’s incredible that she is.
Are you still a romantic?
Of course. Although mainly about dogs nowadays. I’m very romantic about animals. I feed the birds twice a day. Doves come down at midday to be fed.
What’s the key to happiness?
Being loved and a job where people say “well done!”. It’s terribly trivial but it matters. I’ve always said the secret to a happy marriage is creaking bed springs – from laughter, rather than sex.
• Tackle! is published by Bantam on 9 November (£22). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply
