Rivals author Jilly Cooper weighs in on intimacy coordinators after Danny Dyer says new series has so many sex scenes it 'hired every coach in the UK'

Daily Mail​

13-06-2025

Rivals author Jilly Cooper has weighed in on intimacy coordinators being used for the Disney+ show following Danny Dyer 's recent comments.
The actor said there is so much bonking in Rivals 2 – which is currently filming - that they have hired every intimacy coach in the UK.
But Jilly - who wrote the 1988 novel - is bemused by the growth of the on-set sex-scene coach.
She told The Times: 'In my day when people were acting they just used to jump on each other and roll around without having anyone telling them what to do,'
'I suppose the world's changed, hasn't it?'
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Had she been an actress rather than author, Jilly said she would not have been comfortable with having an intimacy co-ordinator choreographing her sex scenes.
She added: 'I'd be very embarrassed. I wouldn't like it myself - but then no one has any fun any more, do they?'
Her comments come after Danny says there is so much bonking in Rivals 2 – which is currently filming - that they have hired every intimacy coach in the UK.
Dyer, who plays Freddie Jones in the show, which also stars David Tennant, Emily Attack and Alex Hassell, said: 'We are doing 12 episodes of Rivals and we are filming until March next year.
'It is brilliant but it is a mad thing to do a sex scene.
'If you think about it you are legally allowed to tongue someone else. It is part of your job. Depending on your partner. It is OK if you fancy it, I am not going to lie.'
He added: 'On Rivals there are a lot of intimacy coaches. I think we used every intimacy coach in the land.'
In the smash hit Disney + show, based on the novel by Jilly, Dyer played self-made businessman Freddie Jones who goes into business with Rupert Campbell-Black, played by Alex Hassell and Declan O'Hara played by Aidan Turner.
In the show Jones falls in love with romance author Lizzie Vereker, played by actress Katherine Parkinson. The initial run was eight episodes but Disney + have asked for more this time around.
Dyer's performance as Jones has been hailed as bringing heart to the frothy, pulpy show, which has led to a reassessment of him as an actor, following his long-running stint in EastEnders.
He was awarded a Bafta last month for his performance in Mr Bigstuff. He told Esquire magazine: 'People saw me in a different light[in Rivals], and it came out just after Mr. Bigstuff, which, for once, shows a bit of versatility, because Lee is so different to Freddie.
'I've made a lot mistakes over the years. I've said yes to a lot of jobs I probably shouldn't have, probably because I was driven by the dollar – I had bills to pay and kids in private schools.
'Now, I'm at a stage where I have loads of offers that I've got the power to say no to. I think I'll be defined by what I say no to, and it's really exciting for me.'
On stage at the Baftas where he won the award to Best Male Performance in a Comedy he said: 'What a touch! Comedy performance. I thought my acting was so bad it was funny. I want to thank Sky for giving our show a shot. F***ing hell, I'm choked up.
'I got to dedicate this to (Mr Bigstuff writer) Ryan Sampson. One of the greatest things to come out of Rotherham. Which is not saying much.
'But one of the best actors this country's ever produced, I'm telling you. Never done the same thing twice. Which is not something I can say. He wrote this part for me, so you know... I'm getting choked up again, f**k me.'