Delia returns to BBC for winter

Delia Smith will reveal some helpful cooking shortcuts in her new series

Cookery queen Delia Smith will return to BBC Two as part of its winter and spring line-up, the channel says.

She will join architectural historian Dan Cruikshank, gardening ace Monty Don and interviewer Louis Theroux in a busy schedule for the BBC's second channel.

The white working class comes under the spotlight in a season of shows probing why some sections of this community are feeling increasingly marginalised.

The season includes White Girl, a new drama by Sex Traffic writer Abi Morgan.

"The White season is a complex look at how life has changed for the white working class in Britain," said BBC Two controller Roly Keating.

"This is a timely moment for us to examine the roots of this debate," he continued.

Satirical

Delia Smith's series promises "a glimpse into the life of one of Britain's most celebrated cooks", as she reveals the kitchen shortcuts that allow her to pursue her interests in football, religion and business.

Other highlights include House of Saddam, a drama about Saddam Hussein's reign in Iraq, and a second series of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.

Comedy series Taking the Flak, meanwhile, will follow the progress of a small African war from the viewpoint of a team of journalists covering the conflict.

Doon Mackichan and Martin Jarvis co-star in the satire, which will feature cameo appearances from BBC newsreaders Sophie Raworth and George Alagiah.

Other comedy series include Empty, which sees Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd as a young man employed by a property maintenance company.