Sex expert The Sun revealed how Jilly Cooper's novels changed her life.

According to The Sun: Sitting in an elegant London bar, I noticed the most attractive man I had ever seen.

Tall, strong, dressed in light chinos that barely concealed anything, and with a gold insignia glinting in the light.

Sex expert Georgie Culley revealed how she was inspired by Jilly Cooper's booksOlivia West Jilly, photographed in 1973Rex

“Champagne?” he asked with a clipped accent, revealing his disarming smile.

Thanks to Jilly, I had already met him — on the pages of her erotic novels.

He looked like the embodiment of her character Rupert Campbell-Black: impeccably aristocratic, deliciously arrogant, and so smooth “he could slip down a hill.”

Like a scene from “Rivals,” a few hours later we were having a champagne rendezvous, and he was truly impressive. His experience in polo, stamina, and remarkable skills created an unforgettable pair.

The next morning, as we drank coffee in his luxurious apartment in Putney, we heard knocking at the door.

At first, he ignored it until the banging grew louder, and an irate woman started shouting through the mail slot, demanding explanations as to why he wasn't answering.

This could have scared any self-respecting girl, but not me.

I was hopelessly addicted: to sex, drama, and, of course, to him.

Having read Jilly's erotic novels as a teenager, I dreamed of meeting a real Rupert.

When I moved to London in my twenties, I naturally found myself in Putney, in the 'playing zone' of aristocratic boys in chinos.

Naughty booty calls

Thanks to Jilly, who wrote so openly about class and sex, I knew how to behave — both in and out of the bedroom.

These “Ruperts” were incredibly sophisticated, charismatic, and could easily lure you into bed — but they were also ruthless, with “many other women on the horizon.”

Yet, I enjoyed this, mm, adventure and the sex that took me to “Olympic heights.”

By that point, I had never met such men. I was a girl from an ordinary Bristol school — and the world Jilly wrote about was entirely different.

But she inspired me to them — and to the great sex I eventually had with one, two, well, actually several of them . . . but who’s counting?

At that time, I was building my career in journalism, working for a press agency for a modest salary. I enjoyed meeting new people — and it wasn’t long before I met another “Rupert” in a casino bar.

He smelled of Creed, cash, and chaos and constantly mentioned losing 50 thousand pounds in poker.

Jilly also opened my eyes to the flaw-ridden high society with orgies and threesomes — a theme that runs through Riders and its sequel Rivals.

“But you can help me forget my troubles,” he said with a sparkle in his eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”

Seconds later, I found myself at Raffles — one of the most exclusive private clubs on King’s Road, where the famous and wealthy gather.

We celebrated in the VIP area, sipping champagne, before a “hot” taxi ride to his place.

This reminded me of a scene from Rivals — Rupert and Beattie Johnson soon thirsting for each other in the elevator of a Heathrow high-rise terminal (in the TV adaptation, this became the 'high-altitude adventure' aboard the famous plane).

This time, it was me, the black taxi, and a very awkward driver. There were wild surprises with this man.

Yes, he was a red flag — a macho, a bit of a sexist, and as reliable as politicians.

But at that moment, I wasn't looking for marriage or kids. I needed men who “shoot from the hip first and then deal with emotions.”

Jilly opened Georgie to a world of decadent parties and threesomes — a theme running through Riders and its sequel Rivals.Robert Viglasky

In his office in the City, there were spicy moments (he was, of course, in finance); unexpected gifts from Agent Provocateur, which didn't stay long; and dizzying weekends out of town.

In short, he was chaos in chinos — and I enjoyed every minute.

Jilly also showed me the world of high society with orgies and threesomes — a theme running through Riders and its sequel Rivals. Quite taboo when she first started writing, today ethical non-monogamy is gaining popularity. I even witnessed these orgies firsthand — rooms filled with cheerful, real Ruperts in action.

At one glamorous party in a Berkshire mansion, I noticed Rupert, who was embracing three beauties simultaneously.

Don't ask how — I couldn't describe the position and do it justice — but his antics stunned everyone.

Growing up, Jilly always seemed like playfulness to me, and I couldn't wait to try it.

Even among naïve manifestations, filled with swift champagne kisses, bondage and threesomes, her funny euphemisms — like “dipping voters into summer streams” — always brought a smile. In the pre-internet era, most films, magazines, and pornography focused on male pleasure, leaving women's desires unattended.

Women own their sexuality

Sex education in schools in the early 2000s was not much better — condoms on bananas and stern warnings about the dangers of STIs and unintended pregnancy.

Sex was painted as something dirty, never as something beautiful or desired.

But when I discovered Jilly’s books in my teenage years, it was a real breakthrough.

She also taught me that sex — and relationships — aren’t always easy. They can be messy, funny, chaotic, and downright awkward at times. But that’s where the magic is.

Even though she always wrote about strong, macho men, her female characters were no less powerful — especially in the bedroom.

Jilly’s women were not shy or secondary. They owned their sexuality, making her novels a breath of fresh air in a world that often relegates female pleasure to the back seat.

Take the feisty Cameron Cook in Rivals. She doesn’t hesitate to tell shocked TV producer Tony Buddinge that he failed to give her an orgasm — after he watched her with “hands in the bushes” after sex.

Then there’s ruthless journalist Beattie Johnson, “the first not quite lady of Fleet Street” — unabashedly promiscuous and unforgettable rival of Rupert.

Jilly put women and their pleasure front and center, convincing every girl that she could enjoy unforgettable orgasms (and there could be many).

That’s a message I proudly carry into my career as a Sex Expert for The Sun.

Jilly was my inspiration — and one of the reasons I am where I am today. She made adult life seem fun and got me interested in sex.

As she famously said, it should be “fun, fun, fun!”

Her leading men reflected every girl’s fantasy, delivering romance every step of the way.

She also taught me that sex and relationships aren’t always easy.

They can be messy, funny, chaotic, and downright awkward. And I really like that.

In these imperfect moments, intimacy becomes most real and beautiful. It’s a lesson that has helped me approach relationships — and, ultimately, disappointments, with much greater honesty and humor.

So yes, Jilly truly prepared me for a little fall with her characters of incredibly high standards — let’s face it, not every guy will be perfect and gifted like her men.

But her message was clear — life is always better with fizz in your glass and a guy between your legs . . . and I completely agree.

Cover of Jilly Cooper's book 'Riders' Rivals, Jilly's sequel to Riders Getty Shutterstock Editorial

This story beautifully illustrates how literature can impact our perception of reality. Jilly Cooper's books not only shape ideas about relationships and sexuality but also inspire bolder steps in life. She shows that women have the right to pleasure and can be actively engaged in their romantic pursuits, dreams, and desires.

In a world where traditional notions of relationships are being reexamined, authors like Jilly are becoming important voices that foster openness to new ideas and exploring one’s own desires.