More than a decade after her triumphant win on The Great British Bake Off, Nadiya Hussain has candidly revealed that she no longer tunes in to the Channel 4 baking competition. In a new interview with the Radio Times, the 41-year-old mother-of-three opened up about her evolving relationship with the show that launched her into stardom, her recent career challenges, and her surprising new path in education.
The Disappearing Magic of Bake Off
Hussain, who was crowned Bake Off champion in 2015, expressed that the program has lost its original charm for her. "The magic has disappeared for me," she confessed. "Sometimes it feels like it's competing with some of the shows on Netflix where it's bigger and bolder and more outrageous, and I don't think it needs any of that. It's a beautiful show, it's a classic."
Her comments highlight a perceived shift in the show's tone since its move from the BBC to Channel 4, suggesting it may be trying too hard to match the dramatic flair of streaming service productions.
Thoughts on the New Judge
Regarding the recent addition of Nigella Lawson as a judge, replacing Prue Leith, Hussain offered measured praise. "Nigella's got a lot to live up to following Prue," she noted. "It's very easy to become quite stuffy and very proper, and I love that she's got a little wild streak about her."
She also expressed admiration for Leith, stating, "I want to be like Prue when I'm older. If I get to that lovely age."
A Turbulent Year and BBC Departure
The last twelve months have proven particularly challenging for Hussain professionally. The BBC cancelled her popular cooking shows, including Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya's Fast Flavours, and Nadiya's Simple Spices. Reflecting on this in her Radio Times interview, she admitted "it's sad" how things ended, but revealed she had voiced concerns about how her programmes were being made "near the end" of her relationship with the broadcaster.
At the time of the cancellations, a BBC spokesperson stated: "After several wonderful series we have made the difficult decision not to commission another cookery show with Nadiya Hussain at the moment. Nadiya remains a much-valued part of the BBC family, and we look forward to working together on future projects."
Hussain described this period as a "turning point" in her career, telling the Sun's Fabulous magazine: "The last year has been physically and mentally one of the hardest so my next biggest achievement would be choosing myself and deciding what's right for me."
Remarkable Achievements Beyond Baking
Since her Bake Off victory, Hussain has built an impressive career that extends far beyond the kitchen. She has been named by Debrett's as one of the 500 most influential people in the UK, included on BBC News' 100 Women list, and was even invited to bake a cake for Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday celebrations.
Her publishing deal led to her children's book Bake Me A Story being shortlisted for Children's Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. She has also appeared as a guest panellist on ITV's Loose Women, demonstrating her versatility across different media formats.
A New Chapter in Education
Following the cancellation of her BBC shows, Hussain made the surprising decision to pivot to education. She is now working as a teaching assistant at a primary school, with aspirations to potentially qualify as a teacher in the future.
Speaking to woman&home magazine, she explained: "I'm currently working as a teaching assistant at a lovely little primary school. The plan is to gain some training and maybe in the future become a teacher."
Despite approaches from other broadcasters including ITV and Channel 4 about creating new series, Hussain insists television work is "not something that I want to do" at this stage of her life.
Family Focus and Personal Priorities
Throughout her career transitions, Hussain has maintained a strong focus on family. She describes her three children - Musa, 19, Dawud, 18, and Maryam, 15 - as her "biggest achievement." She shares them with husband Abdal Hussain, whom she married in Bangladesh at age 20.
Her career shift appears to be part of a broader reassessment of priorities, choosing stability and personal fulfillment over continued television fame. As she navigates this new chapter, her candid reflections on Bake Off's evolution and her own professional journey offer insight into the realities of life after reality television success.
