The former majority shareholder of Norwich City, who lives in Stowmarket, addressed the incident during an appearance on the Amol Rajan Connections podcast.

It was Ms Smith's first interview since the death of her husband of 55 years, Michael Wynn Jones.

The couple made Suffolk their home and were a huge part of securing the future of Battisford and District Cricket Club by buying its current ground from Greene King.

The couple were majority shareholder in Norwich City before the couple sold their stake to a consortium led by Mike Attanasio in 2024.

During the appearance, she looked back on the impromptu speech delivered during a match against Manchester City, with Norwich battling relegation and leading 2-0 before the visitors levelled the score by half-time.

Delia Smith giving her infamous on-pitch Carrow Road half-time speech in 2005 (Image: Sky)

Ms Smith said: "You've got to set the context here.

"One of my biggest faults is I'm not aware of things and I wasn't aware that Sky were there that night."

She explained that the atmosphere in the stands had grown subdued and she felt the team needed more vocal support.

Ms Smith said: "They were like little church mice, you know, they weren't singing anything, they weren't cheering."

Hoping to display a message on the big screen urging fans to get behind the team, she was told it was too late.

Instead, she took to the microphone and delivered her now-famous plea: "A message for the best football supporters in the world.

"We need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you?! Let's be having you! Come on!"

She denied being drunk contrary to popular belief, saying: "I wasn't drunk, you know, you're not allowed to be passionate in England unless you're drunk.

"If you're passionate, my god, you must be drunk, you know, it's not really how English people are."

Norwich went on to lose the match 3-2 following a late winner from Robbie Fowler.