Delia 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.

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 football ground.

Delia Smith photo gallery

Website
www.deliaonline.com

Books
GREAT OFFERS ON DELIA'S BOOKS

One is Fun!, Coronet Books, 1987 
Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course, BBC Books, 1992
Delia Smith's Christmas, BBC Books, 1994
How to Cook: Book One, BBC Books, 1998
Delia's How to Cook: Book Two, BBC Books, 1999
Delia's How to Cook: Book Three, BBC Books, 2001
Delia Smith's Summer Collection, BBC Books, 2003
Delia Smith's Winter Collection, BBC Books, 2004
Delia's Vegetarian Collection, BBC Books, 2006