Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver are both extremely influential television chefs, however their methods and approaches used to convey themselves and their programmes are extremely comparative. Compare and discuss.

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Nicola Simms   Media Assignment    11W   Mr Dale

Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver are both extremely influential television chefs, however their methods and approaches used to convey themselves and their programmes are extremely comparative.  Compare and discuss.

In this essay I will be examining the similarities and differences between two influential television chefs Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver.  In order to successfully complete this, I will need to observe and discuss four main points: -

  • The target audience they appeal to
  • How they appeal to their audiences
  • Their style of cooking
  • Presentation of their programme

However, before I begin, I feel it beneficial to look a little into the history previous of their fruitful careers in cookery.  This will enable me to retrieve a fuller picture on how their backgrounds influenced whom and what each portray present day.

Jamie Oliver was born in South end on 27th May 1975 to Sally and Trevor Oliver. His only sibling is his little sister, Anne Marie.  When he was two years old he moved to the small village of Clavering.  Here his family bought a pub, which they name “The Cricketers”. Both his parents and many uncles are cooks.  The catering tradition runs in the family.  Jamie began helping out in the kitchens of ‘the Cricketer’ from as young as the age of 7.  Here Jamie realised his desire to cater.  As Jamie grew older he was keen to learn all elements of the catering trade.  Jamie attended “Newport Free Grammar Boy’s School”. From Primary school to secondary school, teachers can remember Jamie always mixing himself up with mischief.  Due to this, he was incredibly popular. Teachers say, “He could never sit still, but he was friendly and very popular”. Jamie was more interested in cooking and his rock band “Scarlet Division”. At 16 years of age he met Jules.  Now 27, Jamie is married to Jules and has one child.  He has recognisably become one of the most influential television cooks ever.  

Delia Smith was born in Surrey in 1941 and brought up in Kent. Leaving school without a single qualification, she eventually found herself washing up in a small London restaurant. Harnessed with the desire to learn how to cook and after much persistence, she was allowed to help the chefs. Thus began her love of cooking and traditional British recipes. She then fostered her personal mission to pass on her knowledge and growing skills to others. In 1969 she then became cookery writer for the Daily Mirror’s new magazine.  From then onwards she continued to excel in her profession and receive many national awards such as an OBE and honorary degree from various universities.


Already we can see that Delia and Jamie differ immensely.  

However, both are extremely successful in their attempt to catch and hold the attention of their viewers.  I do not think they each purposely aimed for their present audiences, I believe it was and is out of their control. Delia and Jamie inescapably appeal to contrasting audiences due to their distinctive characteristics and methods.  

Over the years, Delia Smith has gradually established a consistent audience.  By observing the way in which Delia conducts herself (in terms of language, speech, dress code and gesture) I suggest her audience greatly consists of older middle classed women like herself, who do not intend to follow the recipes but aspire to cook.  They simply watch the programme as they perceive Delia as a eminent role model and admire both who and what she represents - “the perfect high status housewife”, “motherly and caring” and “the essential English tradition”.  To a fraction of her audience, Delia solely represents English tradition.  This is mainly to the older viewers who appear less likely to accept new ideas and recipes that fashionable TV chefs propose. They dearly appreciate the rarity Delia provides. However, I believe that by far Delia’s audience mainly consist of dedicated cookers who thoroughly appreciate the job Delia does and have immense love and respect for her and her methods.

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Jamie on the other hand, in what can be said, a considerably short amount of time in the cooking industry, has bestowed an ever-growing chain of encouragement from his devoted viewers.  Jamie’s mannerisms, use of language, dress code, attitude, personal looks, surroundings and even his opinions compile together what his audiences crave – Jamie’s complete individuality!  Jamie youth and possession of his working class roots, enable him to relate to young working class people in urban communities.  Jamie’s use of colloquial language and common phrases such as “pukka”, makes it even easier for working class people to relate to ...

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