Norwich's cookery queen Delia Smith is no stranger to TV, but her latest small screen venture is set to lift the lid on more than just how to make a sponge rise.

Norwich's cookery queen Delia Smith is no stranger to TV, but her latest small screen venture is set to lift the lid on more than just how to make a sponge rise.

Canaries' fans could be about to be given a fascinating insight into what really happens behind closed doors at Carrow Road when the new BBC TV programme hits screens next year.

Delia, who along with husband Michael Wynn Jones is a joint majority shareholder at Norwich City Football Club, has been followed round the ground by a film crew as part of an in-depth look at her life.

Kate Adams, publicity officer for the new series, said: “It's safe to say that there has been some filming in Norwich including at Carrow Road.

“But I cannot go into detail about where filming took place, when, and what Delia is doing in the clips, as some of this footage may not make the final series.”

The series will show for the first time Delia's personal life, including her passion for football and her Catholicism.

The football segment is sure to make interesting viewing for City fans, following a traumatic year on and off the field, with the club currently stranded at the bottom of the Championship with new manager, Glenn Roeder, battling to steer the club to safety.

The club today declined to comment on the new series, which also shows Delia doing what she does best, showing viewers how to cook, in an update of her first cookery book, How To Cheat At Cooking, published in 1971.

At the end of the third series of How To Cook in 2002, she said she was retiring from the small screen, complaining that a new breed of cookery shows served only to entertain rather than teaching the basics of cookery.

She also explained she wanted to devote more time to the Canaries.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “It's going to be something we've not done before with Delia, showing how to cut corners, but not cut corners on quality or taste.

“We're also going to show her life beyond the kitchen. It's great that she's coming back and it's showing more of her life than ever before,” the spokeswoman added.

“The new series follows in the footsteps of Nigella Lawson, whose latest BBC2 series Nigella Express also focuses on fast and easy recipes and gives glimpses of the presenter's family life.

“Supermarkets will be bracing themselves for the 'Delia effect'.” Delia's first BBC cookery show, Family Fare, ran from 1973 to 1975. The new series will be screened in the first half of next year.

Earlier this year the Evening News reported how Delia's expertise helped the Canaries' land recognition as the third best club in Europe for its food in a survey of 1,000 fans.

Only Arsenal and Barcelona were thought to serve up better grub.

t Has your skill or expertise landed you a slice of limelight on national TV ? Call Evening News reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772439 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk