Delia Smith

Delia Smith

One of our best-known cookery writers...

Delia Smith left school at 16 without any qualifications. She tried out hairdressing, being a shop assistant and working for a travel agency, before getting a job in a tiny restaurant called The Singing Chef in Paddington at the age of 21. She says it was her boyfriend's claims that his previous girlfriend had been a better cook which convinced her to learn how to cook!

Determined to study every aspect of English cookery, she worked through English cookery books in the Reading Room at the British Museum and tried out recipes on the Harley Street family she was staying with.

In 1969, Delia became the cookery writer for the Daily Mirror's new magazine, where she met her future husband, Michael Wynn Jones, who was deputy editor at the time. Three years later she started writing for the Evening Standard and was subsequently given a column in the Radio Times.

Delia's TV career began in 1973 with BBC series Family Fare, which ran until 1975. This was followed by Delia's Cookery Course, televised in three parts, backed up by various book versions. Her aim was to bring viewers back to the basics of cookery, teaching fundamental techniques, accompanied by easy-to-follow books filled with tested recipes. The book of this series continues to sell in good quantities thirty-odd years later.

Delia Smith's Summer Collection and her Winter Collection followed and, in 1998, the How to Cook series was broadcasted, teaching basic skills to a new generation of food enthusiasts. The accompanying book is her most successful yet.

One of Delia's other great passions is football - in November 1996 she became Director of Norwich City FC. With the recent sale of her publishing company, New Crane Ltd, it might seem Delia is hanging up the apron to spend a bit more time at the football club. Although despite selling her company to Seven Publishing, she will continue to consult the company and continue writing for Sainsbury's Magazine. She is also running food and wine workshops from her cookery school at Norwich City football ground.

Fact file

Name: Delia Smith

Date of birth: 1941

Place of birth: Woking

Current Home: nr Stowmarket, Suffolk

Education: The Singing Chef, Paddington

Similar Authors: Mary Berry, Anthony Worrall Thompson, James Martin

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Delia's Happy Christmas

Delia's Happy Christmas

Hardback

Delia has long been the person we turn to for stress-free Christmas celebrations. This year, she celebrates 40 years of writing recipes and brings you "Delia's Happy Christmas" - the definitive guide to all aspects of cooking for...
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Delia's Happy Christmas

Delia's Happy Christmas

by Delia Smith

Format: Hardback 312 pages
Published: 15/10/2009
Publisher: Ebury Press

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Delia has long been the person we turn to for stress-free Christmas celebrations. This year, she celebrates 40 years of writing recipes and brings... Read more

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Delia's How to Cheat at Cooking

by Delia Smith

Format: Hardback 256 pages
Published: 15/02/2008
Publisher: Ebury Press

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In How to Cheat at Cooking, Delia has sourced a range of pre-prepared foods (from tins, chill cabinets, freezers and store cupboards) to help you... Read more

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Complete Cookery Course: v.1-3 in 1v

Complete Cookery Course: v.1-3 in 1v

by Delia Smith

Format: Paperback 664 pages
Published: 05/03/1992
Publisher: BBC Books

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Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course, the book that has taken the pride of place on everyone's kitchen shelf, has now been completely... Read more

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Delia's Winter Collection

Delia's Winter Collection

by Delia Smith

Format: Paperback 256 pages
Published: 07/10/2004
Publisher: BBC Books

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Delias Winter Collection, now in paperback as well as hardback, takes up where her best-selling Summer Collection left off, completing the full... Read more

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The Delia Collection, Puddings - Delia Collection S.

by Delia Smith

Format: Hardback 144 pages
Published: 09/02/2006
Publisher: BBC Books

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Delia's eighth book in this enormously popular Collection brings us mouth-watering puddings and desserts. To satisfy a sweet tooth or round off... Read more

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Delia's How to Cook: Bk.1

Delia's How to Cook: Bk.1

by Delia Smith, et al.

Format: Hardback 240 pages
Published: 12/10/1998
Publisher: BBC Books

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The major publishing event for the millennium is the publication of Delias How to Cook a simple-to-follow cookery course for people of all ages and... Read more

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Delia's How to Cook: Bk.2

Delia's How to Cook: Bk.2

by Delia Smith

Format: Hardback 264 pages
Published: 09/12/1999
Publisher: BBC Books

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Delias How to Cook: Book Two continues Delias simple-to-follow teaching course for people of all ages and abilities. With her unique powers of... Read more

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Delia's How to Cook: Bk.3

Delia's How to Cook: Bk.3

by Delia Smith, et al.

Format: Hardback 240 pages
Published: 03/12/2001
Publisher: BBC Books

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In part three of How to Cook, Delia continues and completes her journey through the fundamentals of cooking, revising traditional areas that are all... Read more

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