Celebrity chef Delia Smith is backing Labour candidate Will Scobie in the fight for South Thanet.

Labour unveiled the name of its latest celebrity backer today and revealed Smith, who has sold 21m books worldwide, would be visiting Thanet tomorrow.

She will campaign in what is seen as a three-horse race between Labour, Ukip and the Conservatives.

The news will come as a fillip to the party, which believes it is closing the gap on Nigel Farage.

Mrs Smith, who has not previously revealed her support for the party, has written a letter to more than 3,000 voters in South Thanet appealing to them to get behind Mr Scobie.

“I was brought up in Kent and have fond memories of days out and family holidays on the Kent coast. I am an enthusiastic Labour supporter, with a passionate belief in young people," she writes.

“Politics can sometimes seem a bit old and tired, and so I very much hope your candidate in South Thanet, Will Scobie, will be enabled by you, the voters, to become your MP.

He is someone who can unite people and bring them together, and this is something which I personally believe is absolutely vital in the modern world.”

She also said only Labour would safeguard the NHS from privatisation.

During her visit, Delia will be speaking to students at St George’s School in Broadstairs and then visiting Sandwich. Will Scobie welcomed the endorsement.

“Delia’s enthusiasm and optimism is infectious and her commitment to getting young people involved in politics is fantastic,” he said.

"With the help of people like Delia, as well as our army of volunteers, we’re quietly confident we can give South Thanet the result it deserves.”

As well as her cookery shows and books, Mrs Smith received cult following from football fans following an appeal to Norwich City supporters in 2005.

The 73-year-old, who is a shareholder at the club, took to the pitch to encourage the fans to be more vocal, shouting: "Where are you? Let's be 'avin you!"

Meanwhile, Mr Farage fended off claims that he wanted to axe popular shows like Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing as part of the party's planned reforms of the BBC.

The Ukip party leader will spend the days running up to polling day in the constituency he hopes will be the place he can make a long-awaited Parliamentary breakthrough.