Romance novelist Jilly Cooper, 86, admits she finds it difficult to write steamy scenes in her new book because she has “forgotten how to do it” and is no longer interested in sex

Romantic writer Jilly Cooper has admitted that she now finds it difficult to write raunchy sex scenes because she has “forgotten how to do it” as she has gotten older.

The 86-year-old, known for her light-hearted approach to erotic literature, confessed that writing her new book, Tackle!, was much more difficult than the others because she is no longer as interested in sex.

The British author, who lost her husband Leo ten years ago, said writing steamy scenes to please readers is harder than you might think.

She told Good Housekeeping magazine: “I’m 86 now and I’ve forgotten how to do this!”

“It’s quite difficult to write sex scenes – you can’t keep finding ways to do it differently.”

Novelist Jilly Cooper, 86, admitted it was difficult to write her new book Tackle! to write because she wasn’t that interested in sex anymore

Mrs Cooper pictured on the Russell Harty Plus show in 1973

Her first novel, Emily, was published in 1975 and her most famous novel, The Rutshire Chronicles, has sold millions of copies.

She also revealed that the secret to a long, happy marriage was keeping “the bedsprings creaking” – not so much from sex, but from laughter.

“Leo was lovely and made me scream with laughter.” “I think couples should try a little harder, but obviously there are bad parts,” she said.

“I think it’s much better for people not to get married if they’re really unhappy.”

The British author with her husband Leo, who died ten years ago. She said writing steamy scenes to satisfy readers is harder than people think

Football fan Ms Cooper supported Leeds United when she lived in Yorkshire, but after publishing her new book in the world of football, she admitted she had switched allegiances and was now more of a fan of Manchester City and her local club Forest Green Rovers was – and was – taken to Liverpool by former Tory leader Michael Howard.

The author, who now lives in Gloucestershire, said: “We have a local team called Forest Green who I have become friends with and go to their games.”

“Lord Howard took me to Liverpool. I met all these people and it was exciting.

“I love Manchester City – they are so successful and I follow them like crazy.”

The Riders’ story revolved around the handsome but devious Rupert Campbell-Black and his rival Jake Lovell. But one of the more daring scenes of “Riders” features jockey Billy Lloyd-Foxe’s passionate embrace with a journalist named Janey

Before the enormous success of Riders, the first of the Rutshire Chronicles, published in 1985, she was a journalist, writing columns for a Sunday newspaper.

The mother-of-two admits times have changed since she was a newlywed, admitting she has been keeping diaries since the early 1970s that she hopes will set her children on fire because they are “pretty much “racy”.

“I say to my children, ‘You know, my dears, I don’t want to embarrass you, and I think they should be burned,'” she added.