Former Great British Bake Off champion Nadiya Hussain has spoken candidly about experiencing one of the most challenging years of her life, describing it as both "physically and mentally hard." The beloved baker and television presenter faced a significant professional setback when the BBC decided not to renew her long-running culinary programme after a decade on air.
BBC Show Axed After a Decade
Nadiya Hussain rose to fame after winning the Great British Bake Off in 2015, which launched her into a successful television career. She went on to host several popular BBC series, including Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya's Fast Flavours, and Nadiya's Simple Spices. However, in a social media announcement last year, she revealed that the BBC had cancelled her show, marking what she called a "turning point" in her professional journey.
She admitted to having a "gut feeling" about the programme's fate, noting that the BBC typically follows a "regimented timeline" for book launches and filming schedules. Despite having dates "pencilled in the diary," her agent informed her that the corporation "doesn't want to do the show anymore." This cancellation has had a profound emotional impact on Hussain, who has now opened up about the difficulties she faced.
Transition to a New Career in Education
Following the axing of her BBC series, Nadiya Hussain made the courageous decision to pivot her career entirely, moving into the field of education. She is now employed as a teaching assistant at a primary school, with aspirations to potentially qualify as a teacher in the future. The 41-year-old explained that she had to go through a standard application process, including filling out forms, attending interviews, and observing classroom dynamics.
She recounted humorous moments during her job search, with people ringing her to ask, "Sorry, is this actually the Nadiya Hussain?" to which she replied, "Yes, it is and I am looking for a job, and I would like an opportunity." Despite offers from other broadcasters like ITV and Channel 4 for new series, Hussain insists that returning to television is "not something that I want to do" at this time.
Finding Fulfillment in a School Environment
Nadiya Hussain expressed that she is "really enjoying" her new role in education because she is "not the centre of it." She described the experience as "weird" because she is "straddling both worlds" of fame and a regular job, but she loves being "a very small cog in a machine that helps raise other people's children." She believes this position is her "calling" and feels it is perfect for her.
She reflected on the transition, stating, "There have been lots of tears, sadness and judgement. People [close to me] have asked, 'Why would you go from being here, right at the top to being at the bottom?' but I don't see it that way. Just because I'm famous doesn't mean I'm at the top. I have been at my lowest at the top. So what does being at the top really mean?"
Personal Achievements and Future Plans
In her interview with the Sun's Fabulous magazine, Nadiya Hussain highlighted that her three children—Musa, 19, Dawud, 18, and Maryam, 15—are her "biggest achievement." She shares them with her husband, Abdal Hussain, whom she married in Bangladesh at the age of 20. Despite her career shift, she continues to publish recipe books for her followers, maintaining a connection to her culinary roots.
She shared uplifting moments from her new job, such as when a child feels upset and she becomes their "safe person," or when a student who struggled with a particular sound suddenly recognises it. "Nothing beats that," she said, emphasising the joy she finds in these small victories. Hussain concluded that the past year has been one of the hardest, but choosing herself and deciding what's right for her has been a significant achievement.
