Michael Wynn-Jones, husband of Delia Smith, dies aged 85

Michael Wynn-Jones, the husband of celebrity chef Delia Smith, has died at the age of 85.

A statement posted to Smith’s social media accounts on 29 September said Wynn-Jones, described as “Delia’s beloved husband and partner of more than 55 years”, died peacefully at home on Monday 28 September (Messenger Newspapers, Greatest Hits Radio).

The pair married in 1971, two years after meeting in 1969 when Smith worked on the Daily Mirror’s midweek supplement Mirror Magazine, where Wynn-Jones was deputy editor and gave her first cookery-writing role (The Sun).

Together they were joint majority shareholders of Norwich City Football Club from 1998 until 2024, when they sold the club to Norfolk Holdings, led by American businessman Mark Attanasio. The couple remained at Norwich as honorary life presidents (Messenger Newspapers).

Norwich City paid tribute, saying: “Everyone at Norwich City is deeply saddened by the passing of our honorary life president, Michael Wynn Jones,” adding that the family was grateful for “the wonderful care provided by the community nursing team at St Elizabeth Hospice” (The Sun).

Away from football, Wynn-Jones was remembered as a successful journalist, editor, publisher and writer, and a keen chef who enjoyed word puzzles, watching the couple’s cat Omar, and quiet moments with Smith at their Suffolk home (Greatest Hits Radio).