Stephen Fry has stepped down from his position as a director of the Norwich City board as Tom Smith - nephew to majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones - joins as a new director.

Mr Fry, who joined the board in 2010, will continue to serve the club in the new role of Norwich City Ambassador

The actor and presenter told the official website: 'My five years in the role have been an honour and a privilege beyond almost anything I can remember. I wish I could take credit for ushering the club up from League One to the Premiership during that time on the Board. Actually, I'm going to. It was all me. It can't have been a coincidence.

'But now I'm so happy to relinquish my seat on the board to Thomas Smith and to engage as fully as I can in the role of ambassador for Norwich City. We have so much to be proud of, both on and off the pitch, and I hope to welcome many new fans to the greatest club of all. On the Ball, City!'

Thomas Smith, who joins the board with immediate effect, watched his first Norwich match at the old Den in 1989, having been taken to the game by his aunt and uncle, joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones.

The 35-year-old former civil servant said: 'As a lifelong fan it is simply an enormous privilege to be invited to join the board of Norwich City football club.

'First I would like to thank Stephen for his devoted contribution to the life of this club over the last five years. I am delighted that he has agreed to continue his passionate advocacy for Norwich in his new role as club ambassador.

'I wholeheartedly share Delia and Michael's passion for this football club, for its brilliant fans and for the values which underpin everything that it does. Football has the capacity to be an incredible force for good in this country and I'm proud to be part of a club which works so hard to serve its supporters and to generate a positive impact in the wider community.

'I'm joining a very experienced board and I'm looking forward to learning from my fellow directors, as well as all our football and non-football colleagues at Norwich, whose hard work and dedication culminated in that fantastic afternoon at Wembley.'

City's chairman Ed Balls said: 'Stephen has made a really important contribution since he joined the board in 2010. His support for our commercial, retail and catering departments has helped to raise significant revenue for the football club - and the huge affection in which he is held by the public at home and abroad has definitely enabled him to help raise the profile of Norwich City.

'We're delighted he has agreed to continue to offer his support by carrying out the same duties for us in the role of NCFC ambassador and he will continue to be a great asset for the club.

'The board is also pleased to welcome Thomas Smith as a new director. As well as the experience and know-how he gained in the civil service, he brings bags of energy and passion for Norwich City to a board which holds these qualities to be of the highest importance.

'Tom joins a team of directors absolutely committed to working with all of our colleagues at Carrow Road and Colney to continue driving this great club forward.'