The TV chef was criticised for telling people that they can store turkey in their shed or car boot, advice that Food Standards Agency claim could prove fatal.

Delia told Terry Wogan's Radio 2 show: "They are very big, these turkey drumsticks, and if you've got a big casserole you might not get it in the fridge. So if you've got a garage or if you've got a garden shed - and if you haven't got either and you live in a flat, run down to the car park and stick it in the boot of a car and it will stay cool all night."

The Food Standards Agency warned that failing to chill cooked poultry quickly and keep it refrigerated might "permit growth of bacteria which survive cooking". It said: "This could be fatal for the young, elderly and those with long-term illnesses."