EXCLUSIVE: Jilly Cooper (Rivals) short story A Pressing Engagement is being adapted by Audible with a voice cast featuring Rhea Norwood (Heartstopper), Corey Mylchreest (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story), Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Vivian Oparah (Rye Lane) and Bessie Carter (Bridgerton).
Set in London in 1978, the show “will chart the story of Hester – a secretary stuck in the monotony of administrative work, whilst her older boyfriend, Julian, refuses to commit. When Hester is offered a role assisting with an exciting film producer, she sees a chance for everything to change. But leaving means breaking her boss’s heart – until she hatches a plan: fake an engagement. The catch? Her supposed fiancé, childhood friend Nico, has no idea.”
Release is being lined up on Audible for 16th July, 2026.
The short story was first published in Jilly Cooper’s collected short stories titled Lisa & Co in 1981. Work on the production started before the author’s passing in October 2025, with the writer herself involved in early development.
The drama is adapted for audio by Dare Aiyegbayo, a scriptwriter on both series one and two of the Disney+ hit show Rivals — adapted from the Cooper novel — and directed by Sarah Esdaile. A Pressing Engagement is produced in collaboration with the Estate of Jilly Cooper, her agent Felicity Blunt and Happy Prince, the team behind Rivals.
Aurelie de Troyer, Head of Audible Content, International, said: “Jilly Cooper’s stories are beloved for their wit, warmth and delicious romantic entanglements and A Pressing Engagement delivers all of that in abundance. We’re thrilled to bring her world to life in audio drama with this sparkling adaptation featuring a phenomenal cast. It’s funny, flirty and full of heart in classic Jilly Cooper style –the perfect escapist listen for summer. We feel so fortunate that the Audible team had the opportunity to collaborate with Dame Jilly directly early in production and can contribute in a small way to her ongoing legacy”.
”Felicity Blunt, Dame Jilly Cooper’s agent, said: “It is bittersweet to see this glorious adaptation of A Pressing Engagement launch after Jilly’s passing. But she would have been orgasmic to know that more of her characters have been brought so perfectly to life. Jilly was a romance writer for the ages and this Audible production delivers all her hallmark naughtiness, joy, humour and yearning.”
English (US) ·