Novelist Dame Jilly Cooper has criticised the writers behind the BBC drama “Rivals,” telling them to stop making her “macho men” cry on screen. According to reporting from multiple outlets, an executive producer involved with the show says Cooper raised the concern with the production team. The comments are presented as part of Cooper’s reaction to how characters from her work are portrayed in the series. While the outlets differ mainly in wording, they agree that Cooper explicitly asked the writing team to change the depiction of male characters’ emotional reactions—specifically tears—during filming. The BBC also characterises the remarks as Cooper scolding the team behind the adaptation, reinforcing that the issue is about on-screen characterisation rather than broader production matters. The statements are attributed to the show’s executive production team, with the overall reporting focusing on this requested change to portrayals of masculinity and emotion within the programme.