Ulrika Jonsson has criticised Nadiya Hussain following the baker's departure from the BBC, describing a brief backstage meeting as disappointing. The 58-year-old television presenter wrote in her Sun column that Hussain appeared 'dismissive' and displayed a 'sense of entitlement' when they met years ago in a green room before a daytime TV show.
Jonsson, best known for hosting Gladiators and the National Lottery draws, said she was initially thrilled to meet Hussain, as her daughters had supported her during the 2015 Great British Bake Off win. However, she was left unimpressed by the encounter, which she felt revealed the baker's true character.
Hussain, 41, recently spoke publicly about being dropped by the BBC after a decade, suggesting her Muslim faith may have been a factor. BBC insiders have strongly denied this, claiming her recipes had become 'tired' and she had a reputation for being 'hard to work with'.
Jonsson offered a cautionary note, reminding Hussain that 'nothing lasts forever' in television. She wrote: 'Nadiya is a talented cook and I think she has appeal. But she cannot possibly expect her fame to last forever. Tastes change.'
Hussain won the Great British Bake Off in 2015, two years before the show moved to Channel 4. She went on to host several BBC programmes, including Nadiya's British Food Adventure and Nadiya Bakes, and has authored multiple books.
