The Bake Off winner has now deciced to leave TV and is beginning a shock new career as a teacher
06:00, 21 Feb 2026Updated 07:10, 21 Feb 2026
Nadiya has gone for a career change as she goes into her Forties
Former Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain has spoken about the shock she faced when her decade-long BBC food show ended – and how it sparked a total career change. Since winning The Great British Bake Off in 2015, she was on the our screens for a decade including Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya’s Fast Flavours and Nadiya’s Simple Spices.
But in a post on Instagram in June 2025, Nadiya said the BBC had “decided they didn’t want to commission the show anymore”, which she described as a “huge turning point”. And she has now turned her attention to working as a teaching assistant with a view to working in schools long term and training to be a teacher.
In an interview for woman&home magazine, Nadiya said: “The moment the BBC cancelled my show changed everything. I had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right because over the last 10 years, we’ve had a regimented timeline of when my cookbooks came out and my cookery show would be filmed. We had the shoot dates pencilled in the diary, then I got a call from my agent saying, ‘The BBC doesn’t want to do the show any more’. 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.”
Nadiya is stepping forward with her new chosen career(Image: Photographer Elizabeth Hoff/www.futurecontenthub.com)
Nadiya is a cover star again
Nadiya, 41, said when the decision was made she was contacted by other channels like ITV and Channel but at the moment working on a new series was “not something that I want to do”. Instead she has changed careers completely and 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.
“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.’
“I’m really enjoying being in an environment where I’m not the centre of it. It’s weird because I’m having to straddle both worlds now, but I love that I’m a very small cog in a machine that helps raise other people’s children. I feel like this job is perfect for me. It’s my calling.”
Nadiya, who is still releasing new recipe books for fans, also admitted it had not been an easy decision to move from TV to a classroom, but she feels it had been the right one. She added: “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, like when a kid feels upset or dysregulated and you’re their safe person, or a child you’ve been working with, who struggled with a particular sound, suddenly recognises that sound and you do a ‘Faaaantastic!’ with them. Nothing beats that.”
Winning Bake Off a decade ago with Paul and Mary Berry(Image: BBC)
Since stepping away from TV, Nadiya also said she had lost some weight as her life was not as “food focused”. She has been suffering from some health issues including fibromyalgia, a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body, and at times needs a stick to get around. She also has a gastro autoimmune disease, and is taking vitamins and medication for both as they are lifelong conditions.
Last year when Nadiya was dropped by the BBC, a spokesperson said: “After several wonderful series we have made the difficult decision not to commission another cookery show with Nadiya Hussain at the moment.” The statement added: “Nadiya remains a much-valued part of the BBC family, and we look forward to working together on future projects.”
*The April issue of woman&home is on sale February 26.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .