Delia Smith Biography

In a nutshell

She's the fanatical Norwich City supporter whose earned National Treasure status with a her lifetime service to teaching Britain how to cook.
Delia was more culinary than academically blessed (she left school without a single O-Level) but soon discovered said blessing while working as a waitress at a Paddington restaurant called The Singing Chef.
Here she became so inspired by all things culinary that she took herself to the British Library every week to swat up on cookbooks, including that of her heroine Eliza Acton. Her culinary chutzpah meant that she was soon snapped up to write for newspaper columns such as The Evening Standard and Radio Times before making her TV in 70s show Family Fare.
She published her first book 'How to Cheat at Cooking' in 1971 and, with her accompanying 'Cookery Course' TV series' it wasn't long till the so-called 'Delia Effect' took, er, effect. Her use of particular ingredients and utensils could lead to an overnight surge in commercial sales (product placement was obviously led rigid back then). Her status as Britain's best-loved cook was sealed.
Outside of cooking, Delia's hobbies include religion (she converted to Catholicism in her twenties and has published four spiritual books) and Norwich City F.C., of which she is a joint majority shareholder. Her enthusiasm for the latter was famously demonstrated in 2005 when she reeled onto the pitch during a home game against Manchester City, grabbed a microphone from the club announcer and attempted to rally fans by shouting "let's be 'avin' you!" Sadly Norwich City F.C. went on to lose the match.
The media had a field day with Delia's (allegedly) drunken frolics, but she had since denied she touched a drop, claiming she was only stumbling around because her heels got stuck in the mud of the pitch. Hm.
Despite announcing her retirement in 2003, Delia has made several comebacks, most latterly with her 2010 TV series Delia through the Decades and her revival of her original 'How to Cheat at Cooking' book.
Delia is currently the fronting the Waitrose advertising campaign alongside fellow cook Heston Blumenthal. For her services to cookery Delia received an OBE in 1995 and an MBE in 2009. Delia Smith - Biography from (http://www.talktalk.co.uk/celebrity/biography/person/delia-smith/274)

People Biography

Sunday, September 25, 2011