Pippa Middleton splits from her literary agent

Pippa Middleton's ambitions to become the next Delia or Nigella have been dealt another blow after the revelation that she has parted ways with her literary agent.

After months of speculation, respected agent David Godwin today confirmed that the Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister was no longer on his books, saying: “I am very sorry it has happened but it is true. I no longer represent Pippa and I wish her every good luck.”

Godwin, who represents authors including Claire Tomalin, Vikram Seth and William Dalrymple, helped secure Pippa a reputed £400,000 deal for her party-planning book Celebrate — an unprecedented figure for a first-time writer.

But it was greeted with derision for its banal tips and recipes when it was published in November and sales slumped after the first week. By Christmas, Pippa was reduced to signing discounted copies in local pubs.

Publishers Michael Joseph, which won a fierce bidding war for Celebrate, were believed to be planning two more books but have not confirmed this.

Despite the setback, Pippa has just signed a deal to write a column for Waitrose’s monthly magazine, replacing long-standing writer Delia Smith.