Delia Smith facts for kids
Delia Smith (right) with her husband
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| Born | Delia Ann Smith 18 June 1941 Woking, Surrey, England |
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| Spouse |
Michael Wynn-Jones
(m. 1971) |
Delia Ann Smith (born 18 June 1941) is a famous English cook and TV presenter. She is well-known for teaching basic cooking skills in a clear and easy way. Delia is one of the most famous chefs in British popular culture. She has inspired many people to try new recipes and become better cooks. She is also the Honorary Life President of Norwich City football club, along with her husband Michael Wynn-Jones. They were also the main owners of the club for many years.
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Delia Smith's Early Life
Delia Smith was born in Woking, Surrey, England. Her father was an RAF radio operator, and her mother was Welsh. Delia went to Bexleyheath School but left when she was 16. She didn't pass any of her main school exams. Her first jobs included being a hairdresser, a shop assistant, and working in a travel agency.
Delia's Cooking Journey
In 1962, when Delia was 21, she started working in a small restaurant in Paddington, London. She began by washing dishes, then became a waitress, and later helped with the cooking. She loved reading old English cookbooks at the British Museum. She would try out the recipes for a family she lived with in London. After this, she prepared food for studio photography.
Becoming a Cookery Writer
In 1969, Delia became a cookery writer for a new magazine from the Daily Mirror newspaper. The deputy editor, Michael Wynn-Jones, later became her husband. Her first article showed recipes for kipper pâté, beef in beer, and cheesecake.
She even baked the cake used on the cover of The Rolling Stones' famous album Let It Bleed. She said they asked for a "gaudy cake" that had to look "really horrible." Delia also wrote columns for other newspapers like the Evening Standard and the Radio Times.
Delia on Television
Delia first appeared on TV in the early 1970s. She was the resident cook on Look East, a regional show. Because she was so popular, she got her own cooking show called Family Fare, which ran from 1973 to 1975.
Many young people knew Delia in the 1970s and early 1980s. She was a guest on the BBC's Saturday morning children's show Multicoloured Swap Shop. On the show, she gave simple cooking demonstrations.
In 1995, her book Delia Smith's The Winter Collection sold 2 million copies. It became one of the best-selling books of the 1990s.
Delia announced she would stop doing TV shows in 2003. However, she returned in 2008 for a six-part series on the BBC. Her book for the show, How to Cheat at Cooking, also became a best-seller. In 2010, she starred in Delia through the Decades, exploring her cooking over the years. She also appeared in commercials for the supermarket Waitrose.
In 2013, Delia said she had retired from TV cooking shows. She decided to focus on sharing her recipes online instead.
Delia has been a guest on the BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs twice. This show asks famous people what music, book, and luxury item they would take if they were stranded on a desert island.
The "Delia Effect"
Delia Smith's TV shows and books had a huge impact on what people bought. This influence became known as the "Delia effect." For example, her show Delia's How to Cook reportedly caused a 10% increase in egg sales in Britain.
When she used certain ingredients like frozen mashed potatoes or tinned minced beef, or tools like an omelette pan, stores would often sell out overnight. This "Delia effect" shows how powerful her recommendations were. Her first name alone became enough for people to know who she was.
Delia's Business Interests
From 1993 to 1998, Delia worked as a consultant for Sainsbury's, a large supermarket chain. She and her husband, Michael Wynn-Jones, also started a company called New Crane Publishing. This company published Sainsbury's Magazine and some of Delia's own books.
Involvement with Football
Delia Smith also has a big interest in football. She and her husband became major owners of the football team Norwich City. They were already big fans and season ticket holders. They decided to invest in the club when it was having financial difficulties.
In 2005, Delia became very famous for something she did at a Norwich City match. During half-time, she grabbed the microphone on the pitch. She shouted to the fans: "A message for the best football supporters in the world: we need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let's be 'avin' you! Come on!" She wanted to encourage the crowd to cheer louder and help the team.
In 2008, there were reports that a billionaire wanted to invest a lot of money in the club. However, he wanted Delia and the other owners to give up their shares. Both Delia and the billionaire said this offer was not true. Delia told the club's meeting that she and her husband would be "very happy to stand aside" if someone wanted to buy them out.
In 2011, Delia announced she was stepping down from her role in catering at Norwich City's Carrow Road stadium. She felt it was time for a new, younger team to take over that part of the business.
Awards and Honours
Delia Smith has received many important awards for her work. She was first made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Later, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2009. This was to recognize her great contributions to TV cookery and writing recipes.
She has also received honorary degrees from several universities. These include the University of Nottingham, the University of East Anglia, and Liverpool John Moores University.
In 2012, Delia was chosen as one of the British cultural icons to appear in a new version of the famous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover by artist Sir Peter Blake. This celebrated important British figures from the last six decades.
In 2017, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for her services to cookery. This is a very special award.
Delia's Personal Life
Delia Smith was baptised in the Church of England. She attended different church groups when she was younger. At age twenty-two, she became a Catholic. She has written some short religious books, including A Feast for Lent and A Feast for Advent. In 1988, she wrote a longer book about prayer called A Journey into God.
Delia became friends with the Catholic art historian Sister Wendy Beckett.
