21 JANUARY 2003
Reports of "Queen of the kitchen" Delia Smith's retirement delivered a devastating blow to culinary enthusiasts all over Britain. But now the popular celebrity chef has clarified she's only abdicating her TV throne temporarily.

Delia's love of Norwich Football Club, where she is a director, is apparently taking precedence over her other career for now. However, having just signed a new contract with BBC books, she says she's not out of the cooking game altogether.

"I am now at the grand old age of 61, and I want to do what I want to do," she told the BBC. "Now it doesn’t mean hanging up my apron, it means that I'll do what I want to do – there will be books. I'm not saying there won't be ever any more TV." She later added: "I have not deserted all my faithful friends out there."

Fans were shocked on Tuesday when it was reported that Delia was quitting cooking entirely to concentrate on footie. "I just cannot think of any more recipes right now," she was reported to have said. "I have been doing it for 30 years and I have had enough. No more television or books. This football club and these people are my life and I am having fun... I am now devoting myself to Norwich Football Club and that's it!"

In light of premature news of her retirement, she joked: "I'm getting to be a bit like Frank Sinatra with all these farewell concerts."

Her agent also assures that the cooking world hasn't seen the last of the culinary expert, who has sold more than ten million books. "Delia is really just changing her priorities," said Deborah Owen. "Football is going to be more dominant in her life."