Shropshire farmer David Cartwright, whose turkeys have been recommended by Delia Smith, is looking forward to enjoying his best Christmas ever.

And Mr Cartwright, from Home Farm, Condover, near Shrewsbury, says business could boom even more because his turkeys will be featured on Channel 4 tonight on Jimmy Doherty’s Grow Your Own Christmas Dinner.

He said: “Sales for our award-winning KellyBronze Christmas turkeys are already up on the previous year.

“Since the establishment of Delia Smith’s website, we’ve seen a real boost in sales. I’m calling it Delia-mania.

“I knew she was always deemed as being the goddess in the kitchen but never anticipated what effect it would have on our sales.”

Mr Cartwright rears KellyBronze turkeys, which have also been recommended in cookbooks by Henrietta Green, Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver, Gorden Ramsey and Anthony Worrell-Thompson, among others.

He said: “We’re bracing ourselves for another rush because tonight a KellyBronze is being cooked on Jimmy Doherty’s ‘Grow Your Own Christmas Dinner’ on Channel 4.”

Mr Cartwright added that the KellyBronze had won the ‘The Best Turkey in Britain’ accolade for the fifth year running at the British Turkey Federation Awards 2011.

He said: “I think it is now commonly recognised the KellyBronze turkey is the best Christmas turkey on the market and excellent value for money compared to other meats.

“The KellyBronze is unique in so many ways, it produces a meat that melts in your mouth.”

Mr Cartwright farms thousands of birds on his farm and has become one of Shropshire’s best known food producers.

He added: “The secret of our success is, we believe, the way we breed and raise our turkeys. We adopt traditional farming methods, enabling KellyBronze turkeys to roam freely in pastures.

“At night the turkeys have the shelter of open sided barns, with deep straw and plenty of fresh air.

“KellyBronze turkeys are bred without additives, drugs or growth promoters and, of course, they are GM-free.”

Mr Cartwright added that he was bracing himself for a manic rush on December 23 and 24, when people collect their turkeys ready for the big day.