Delia Smith rounds on TV chefs

Delia Smith (pictured), the acclaimed cookery writer, has attacked so–called celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver and Marco Pierre White for putting their names to supermarket advertising campaigns.

Smith, one of the original TV chefs, claimed that it is wrong because their championing of the individual stores and products cheats consumers because it offers no objective guidance.

"I've never done any advertising because I feel I am in a position of trust, and that has been very liberating. I'm mindful that if you start getting paid, that is sometimes harder."

Smith made her remarks at a question and answer session with students at the Oxford Union on Wednesday (the famous debating chamber seems to be aiming lower than usual: other guests booked to appear include Gok Wan, the TV fashion presenter, and Keith Chegwin). Asked whether she believed it was ethical for chefs to back one supermarket or product against another, she replied: "No, I don't think it's a good thing."

Though she mentioned no one by name, it was clear who her remarks were aimed at. Jamie Oliver is paid £1.2m by Sainsbury's to front their advertising campaigns, while the foul-mouthed chef Gordon 'Fucking' Ramsay promotes Gordon's Gin. And Marco Pierre Whiteworks for thegrocery chain, Morrisons, promoting soups.