Nadiya Hussain reveals she’s working in a school after BBC axe left her ‘questioning who she was’ and explains why she’s turned her back on showbiz despite receiving offers from rival broadcasters

Nadiya Hussain has revealed she is working as a teaching assistant after her cookery shows were canceled by the BBC last year.

The 41-year-old TV chef, who won the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2015, said he still had ‘no idea’ why he was let go, but as a result he mostly turned his back on showbiz, despite offers from ITV and CH4.

To talk Women and Home She said: ‘I’m currently working as a teacher’s assistant in a lovely little primary school. ‘Our plan is to get some education and maybe become a teacher in the future’.

‘I had to prepare an application form, do an interview, go in and sit with the kids and see how they react to me. I’ve had people call me and ask: “I’m sorry, is this really Nadiya Hussain?” and I think: “Yes, it is, and I’m looking for a job and I want an opportunity”.

Nadiya has hosted a number of television shows on the BBC over the past decade and admitted the ax to grind has become her ‘whole personality’, questioning who to cook.

Although some people questioned why she chose to ‘get back to the bottom’, the star explained that being famous does not equal happiness.

The 41-year-old TV chef revealed he still has ‘no idea’ why he left, but as a result he mostly turned his back on showbiz, despite offers from ITV and CH4.

‘There was a lot of tears, sadness and judgment. People [close to me] they asked the question: “Why did you go from being here 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 was at my lowest at the top’.

‘So what does it really mean to be at the top? ‘I’ve had some of my best moments since I started working at the school’.

Nadiya, who continues to write cookbooks, said of the hatchet: ‘I appreciate that it’s an industry, it’s a business and it’s about making money, but I still don’t know. [why they’ve let me go] Because I didn’t talk to anyone. ‘No answer, no closure’.

The BBC said in a statement at the time: ‘After several wonderful series we have made the difficult decision not to do another cooking show with Nadiya Hussain at this time. ‘Nadiya remains an invaluable part of the BBC family and we look forward to working together on future projects.’

Although he has received offers for more TV work, he stated that being in front of the camera is not something he is currently interested in, but will make some changes when he is ready.

‘I received offers from companies’ [channels like] C4 and ITV. It’s not something I want to do right now. I want to build a real relationship with broadcasters who make television mean something. If I were doing another cooking show, I’d want some more creative input.’

‘That said, I’d love to make documentaries and travelogues about human interest issues, and I’d love to continue writing cookbooks because the best part of doing this is being able to share recipes and help people in the kitchen.’

Elsewhere in the interview, the TV star opened up about her health struggles after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. It is often triggered by infections, as well as trauma such as a car accident or childbirth. It is unclear why this occurs.

Nadiya has hosted a number of television shows on the BBC over the last decade and said her ax to grind questioning about who would cook had become her ‘whole personality’.

While some people questioned why she chose to ‘return to the bottom’, she clarified that being famous does not equal happiness

Nadiya said: ‘I appreciate that this is an industry, a business and it’s about making money, but I still don’t know [why they’ve let me go] because I didn’t talk to anyone’

Elsewhere in the interview, the TV star opened up about her health struggles after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year.

He told the publication: ‘Stress can make symptoms worse and not re-airing the show definitely took a toll on me physically because I didn’t know where I was going. ‘I thought: ‘Oh my God. This was my whole personality and I don’t have that anymore”.

‘One day I’ll feel better, so I try to get everything done that day, then I go back to square one. I also have a gastro autoimmune disease that really affects my gut and vitamin absorption, so I take vitamins and medication for both. ‘These are life-long conditions’.

She continued: ‘Four out of five people with an autoimmune disease are women. The way we manage and maintain stress is different than men, and this stress can eventually manifest itself as autoimmune diseases. Now I do everything at a much calmer, slower, more measured pace.’

In June 2025, Nadiya revealed the BBC had canceled her cooking show after a decade on our screens, in a ‘really tough’ blow.

She told her 950,000 Instagram followers: ‘The fantastic change is that there will be no cooking show. There will be no more cooking demonstrations. The BBC decided not to commission the series.

‘And for me that was a huge turning point because it’s something I’ve been doing for the last 10 years.

Nadiya has had a very successful career since winning the GBBO 11 years ago (image 2025). Shortly after the show, she aired The Chronicles of Nadiya on BBC One.

Speaking about the BBC earlier, he said ‘they will keep you until you are no longer of any use to them’

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‘It was huge, I was already on a steady course of change and thinking about where I wanted my career to go.

‘And when the BBC decided they didn’t want to air the series anymore it solidified everything for me and made me think, ‘Okay, I know where I want to be’.’

Speaking about her experience in the industry, she added: ‘And actually, it’s really difficult as a Muslim woman. I work in an industry that doesn’t always support people like me, where my talent or full potential is not recognized.

‘And it’s just as exciting and makes you feel like what’s actually happening isn’t happening.

‘So for me this was a huge, huge change. But it’s something I’m really excited about.

‘It’s something I want to move in a positive direction and ultimately work with people who believe in the voices of people like me.’

Nadiya has had a very successful career since winning GBBO 11 years ago. Shortly after the show, she aired The Chronicles of Nadiya on BBC One.

That same year, she was a judge on Junior Bake Off and subsequently presented an eight-part series called Nadiya’s British Food Adventure.

As well as appearing on the BBC cooking series, she has appeared variously as a correspondent on The One Show and ITV’s Loose Women.

Nadiya has also written numerous cookbooks over the years. Some of them include Nadiya’s Kitchen, Nadiya’s Every Day Bake, and Cook Once, Eat Twice.

As well as novels such as The Secret Lives of the Emir Sisters, I Spread My Wings and Today I Am Strong.

Woman & Home’s April issue is on sale on 26 FEBRUARY 2026

Nadiya’s Quick Comforts is out.