Jilly Cooper in radio silence over husband Leo's affair

Best-selling author Jilly Cooper was stunned into silence live on radio when asked about her husband Leo's affair.

The writer, 74, was answering questions about her recently reissued 1969 book of marriage tips How To Stay Married on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour yesterday.

After a few queries, presenter Dame Jenni Murray said: "Just one other thing, Jilly. You suggested in the book an affair might blow over if you turn a blind eye. How useful did you find your own advice when Leo strayed in the Nineties?"
An embarrassing nine seconds of silence followed, which ended only when Dame Jenni tentatively asked: "Hello?" Mrs Cooper replied, "Hello", before saying: "I don't want to talk about it."
Pressed further, she said: "When you are confronted by something you have to say, 'Please stop this'."

Mr Cooper, who has Parkinson's disease, kept mistress Sarah Johnson for six years but he and the author are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.