I would actually argue..
..that carrier based fast jet operations actually ended with the decommissioning of the Audacious class R09 HMS Ark Royal in 1979.
Compared to that venerable old lady, the Illustrious class were relatively small.
The Illustrious class were designed with a full-load displacement of around 18,000 tons. R09 Ark Royal was designed at 35,000 tons, and evolved to over 40,000 tons full load, over twice the displacement. In addition, she embarked F-4K Phantoms, the last supersonic aircraft to fly from a British carrier, and Bristol Buccaneers.
The Mighty Ark was a hold-over from WWII armored carrier design, and by the time she was decommissioned was completely worn out through a long life and incremental modifications. In the '60s, there was a grand project to build CVA-01, a suitable replacement, but this was canned by a Labour government, who deemed that the Navy no longer needed ship based fixed-wing aircraft. As a result, the Illustrious class then on the drawing board, were re-christened Through-Deck Cruisers, and were only intended to fly helicopters for anti-submarine purposes.
It was only after trials of P1107 Kestrels and early Harriers on R09 Ark Royal and HMS Bulwark (a light fleet carrier converted to operate helicopters) proved that they could be operated from smaller ships without CATOBAR facilities that it became feasible to actually use the Illustrious class as light fleet carriers. They were completed with ski-jumps to assist takeoff, and I actually saw Ark Royal and Illustrious being fitted out on the Tyne in the '80s.
But as the Sea Harrier was subsonic, I maintain that it did not really count as a fast jet.