Delia Smith on her catchphrase - "Let's be havin' you!"
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Who is Delia Smith and why was she chosen as a Desert Island Discs castaway?
Thank you.
Hi, it's Lauren Laverne, and this is Desert Island Discs Postcards, a selection of some of our most memorable moments from the thousands of people we've cast away to our imaginary desert island. Our castaway today is one of our most popular and successful cookery writers, Delia Smith. Back in 2023, she told me how she first met her husband, Michael Wynne-Jones, who was deputy editor at the magazine where she just landed her first cookery column.
I used to deliver my handwritten copy... And Michael used to put it into English. So was it love at first sight for the pair of you? No, I don't think so. But I mean, it was obviously he liked food a lot and I liked food a lot.
How did Delia meet her husband Michael Wynn‑Jones and what role did food play in their relationship?
And that was something that drew us together. Michael also
introduced you to football, I think, which has been another great passion in your life. And the two of you have been shareholders since 1996 in Norwich City FC, investing heavily over the years. I know the club's about so much more than scores and a balance sheet for you. What do you get back from your involvement? What does it mean to you? Well, I think
first and foremost, it's a beautiful game. So it is a beautiful game. It's irritating.
Why is football such an important passion for Delia and how did she become involved with Norwich City FC?
It's disappointing. You have pain. You have ecstasy. It's all those things. But I think one of the things that's so good about it now in this day and age is its community. And it's one of the few places where community really does thrive.
You're a passionate fan, Delia, and the passion went viral in 2005 when you urged fans to get behind the team who were losing to Man City. I believe the phrase you used was, let's be Avenue. Yeah, tell me about that moment.
What happened when Delia shouted “Let’s be havin’ you!” and how did the phrase go viral?
Well, I was trying to get somebody to put it on the message board. Come on, you know, where are you? Because they were like church mice and we were losing. And somebody just gave me the microphone and said, say it. And I forgot, Lauren, I just forgot that... The sky were there. Because you don't know they're there. You know what I mean? There's always cameras anyway.
How did fans and the media react to Delia’s catchphrase and what controversy arose?
And that's what happened. And the moment went viral because people connected with your passion as a fan. Yeah. I had letters from football supporters from one end of the country to the other. It was wonderful. The first week wasn't. The first week, there were people in the press saying I should be brought before a disciplinary committee at the FA.
Do people still come up and say it's you? Still.
What legacy does the “Let’s be havin’ you!” catchphrase have today and how is it remembered by supporters?
LAUGHTER
I go to weigh matches and they all call out, let's be having you, Delia. It's lovely.
I love it. Delia Smith on that catchphrase. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds. Just search for Delia Smith Desert Island Discs.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Who is Delia Smith and why was she chosen as a Desert Island Discs castaway?
0:08–0:55
2
How did Delia meet her husband Michael Wynn‑Jones and what role did food play in their relationship?
0:55–1:26
3
Why is football such an important passion for Delia and how did she become involved with Norwich City FC?
1:26–1:58
4
What happened when Delia shouted “Let’s be havin’ you!” and how did the phrase go viral?
1:58–2:20
5
How did fans and the media react to Delia’s catchphrase and what controversy arose?
2:20–2:42
6
What legacy does the “Let’s be havin’ you!” catchphrase have today and how is it remembered by supporters?
2:42–3:01