Jilly Cooper mourns death of ‘huge fun’ Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, 87, who was the muse for her romping rogue character in bestseller Riders

• The author said Michael Howard, the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, inspired her
• He was one of three people she drew on when creating Rupert Campbell-Black
• The character was a fan favourite from her bestselling ‘bonkbuster’ novel, Riders

Jilly Cooper is mourning the death of Michael Howard, the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, one of the inspirations for her iconic literary character Rupert Campbell-Black. 

The author partly based the caddish character from her bestselling 1985 ‘bonkbuster’ Riders on the Earl, who died last week at the age of 87.

Fans of Ms Cooper had often speculated about the identity of the real-life figure who had inspired her to create the character, before she revealed the truth in 2016. 

She admitted that there were actually three men who led her to create the lothario who charmed stable girls and upper-class wives at will before winning an Olympic medal in her book.

Jilly Cooper is mourning the loss of Michael Howard, the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire. Here the pair are pictured together in 2016

The Earl was one of three people who inspired her caddish character Rupert Campbell-Black in her bestseller Riders

Speaking to Richard Eden, the 85-year-old said she would cherish the memories she had with the Earl, who was married three times. 

‘He was a lovely man — huge fun,’ she said.

‘I first met him when I moved to Gloucester in 1982. Whenever he used to phone, he’d say, “It’s Rupert here”. 

‘So I said, “You know there are two more?” 

‘And he would say, “Yes, but I’m the real one”.’

The Earl owned Charlton Park estate in Wiltshire, where the Womad music festival is held.

Cooper added: ‘Despite his title and status, he never made you feel inferior. All the best of Rupert, but without the awful parts.’

Howard had first married Simone Litman in 1960, with whom he has a daughter, before he then wed Anita Fugelsang in 1973 and had two children with her. 

A decade later, he married for the third time, to Linda Paravicini, with whom he also has two children.

Jilly Cooper, pictured here with the Earl in 2016, said he relished the role he played in forming the character

The Countess of Suffolk told Richard Eden: ‘We would have been married 40 years next year. I’m very lucky to have been able to spend so much time with him. He had enormous charm.’

She adds: ‘He suffered a stroke in April, so it was probably a relief for him in the end.’

Cooper’s other two inspirations for Campbell-Black were Andrew Parker Bowles, 82, the Duchess of Cornwall’s first husband, and fashion designer Rupert Lycett-Green, 83.

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