Delia - an Icon for Now

Written by Kit Hesketh-Harvey and performed by him with Richard Sissons at the piano (as Kit and the Widow), this dates back to a time when Delia Smith was the darling of BBC TV.

Many years later, I wrote to Kit about it and he was kind enough to send the lyric back to me in 2010. It was sung to the refrain of Vilja's Song from Lehar's The Merry Widow.

Delia, oh Delia, you're sweet and you're dear

But we've had your recipes right up to here.

Night after night, everywhere that we do

"This one's from Delia, you know!"

I cannot face one more sad soggy prawn

With salsas which then make me fart like Cape Horn.

That dull little voice that's so sad and so flat

And you don't say an-cho-vies like that!

Delia, you've started a new wave of crimes

As shoppers in Sainsbury's fight over limes.

Delia, your recipes may be well-read -

But I'll look up Fannie's* instead.

*A reference to Fanny Cradock, a TV cook of the previous generation.

Image: I am grateful to Damian Cugley for making his photo of Delia's Complete Cookery Course at a second-hand sale available to be used. I have cropped his original. It is used in accordance with his original Creative Commons licence.