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’s working as a teaching assistant following her cookery shows being axed by the BBC last year. 

The TV chef, 41, who won the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2015, said that she still has ‘no idea’ why she was dropped, but as a result had mostly turned her back on showbiz, despite offers from ITV and CH4.

Speaking to Woman & Home she said: ‘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.

‘I had to do an application form, an interview, go in and sit in with the kids, and see how they reacted to me. I did get people ringing me, asking: “Sorry, is this actually the Nadiya Hussain?” and I’m like: “Yes, it is and I am looking for a job, and I would like an opportunity”.’

Nadiya has hosted a number of television shows over the past decade with the BBC, admitting the axe left her questioning who she was due to cooking being her ‘whole personality’.

Admitting that while some people have questioned why she would choose to ‘go back to the bottom’ the star explained being famous does not equate happiness. 

Nadiya Hussain has revealed she’s working as a teaching assistant following her cookery shows being axed by the BBC last year

The TV chef, 41,  revealed that she still has ‘no idea’ why she was dropped but has now as a result mostly turned her back on showbiz, despite offers from ITV and CH4

‘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? Since working at the school, I’ve had some of my highest moments’.

And speaking about the axe Nadiya, who is continuing to write cookery books, said: ‘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 haven’t had a conversation with anyone. There are no answers, no closure’.

In a statement at the time the BBC said: ‘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’.

She went on to explain that despite receiving offers for more TV work, being in front of the camera was not something she was interested in at the moment, but when she is ready, she will be making some changes. 

‘I got offers from [channels like] C4 and ITV. For now, it’s not something that I want to do. I want a real relationship with broadcasters where we’re making television that means something. If I was doing another cookery show, I’d like a little bit more creative input’. 

‘That being said, cooking aside, I would love to do documentaries and travelogues about issues that matter to people, and I would love to continue to write cookbooks, because the best part of doing this job is being able to share recipes and help people in the kitchen’.

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

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

Nadiya has hosted a number of television shows over the past decade with the BBC and and said the axe left her questioning who she was due cooking being her ‘whole personality’

Admitting that while some people have questioned why she would choose to ‘go back to the bottom’ she explained being famous does not equate happiness 

Nadiya said: ‘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 haven’t had a conversation with anyone’

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

She told the publication: ‘Stress can make the symptoms worse and the show not being recommissioned definitely took a toll on me physically because I didn’t know where I was going. ‘I was like: “Oh my goodness. This was my whole personality and now I don’t have that any more”‘.

‘One day, I’ll feel OK, so I try to get everything done on that day, then I’m back to square one. I also have a gastro autoimmune disease, which really affects my gut and vitamin absorption, so I take vitamins and medication for both. They are lifelong conditions’.

She went on: ‘As many as four out of five people with autoimmune disease are women. The way we manage and hold stress is different to men, and that stress can eventually present itself as autoimmune diseases. Now I do everything at a much calmer, slower, more measured pace’.

Back in June 2025 Nadiya revealed that the BBC has cancelled her cooking show after ten years on our screens in a ‘really difficult’ blow.

She  told her 950k Instagram followers: ‘One huge change is that there will be no cookery show.  There will be no more cookery show. The BBC have decided that they didn’t want to commission the show. 

‘And for me, that was a huge turning point for me because it’s something I’ve done for the past 10 years.

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

Speaking about the BBC previously she said ‘they will keep you until you’re of no use to them 

The April issue of Woman & Home is on sale 26th FEBRUARY 2026

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

‘And when the BBC decided they didn’t want to commission the show anymore, it really did kind of solidify everything for me, and it made me dig my heels in and think ‘OK, 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 or recognise my talent or my full potential. 

‘And there’s a lot gaslighting and making you feel like what’s actually happening isn’t happening. 

‘So for me it’s been a huge, huge, huge change for me. But it’s one that I am really excited about. 

‘One that I want to move in a positive direction and ultimately I want to work with people who believe in voices of people like me.’

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

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

As well as her cooking series on the BBC, she’s appeared on The One Show as a reporter various times, as well as ITV’s Loose Women. 

Nadiya also has written a number of cooking books over the years. Some include Nadiya’s Kitchen, Nadiya’s Every Day Baking and Cook Once, Eat Twice.

As well as novels such as The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters, Spreading my Wings and Today I’m Strong.

The April issue of Woman & Home is on sale 26th FEBRUARY 2026 

Nadiya’s Quick Comforts is out now.