GBBO’s Nadiya Hussain quits TV to train as a teacher

Hussain won Bake Off in 2015, before releasing serval cook books and starring in TV cooking shows, Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya’s Fast Flavours and Nadiya’s Simple Spices.

However, in June 2025, the celebrity chef told fans that the BBC had “decided they didn’t want to commission the show anymore”.

At the time, Hussain described the axing as a “huge turning point,” and now the axing has sparked a career change towards education.

Nadiya Hussain quits TV to become a teacher

Discussing the BBC axing with Woman & Home magazine, the Bake Off winner 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 let me go] because I haven’t had a conversation with anyone.

“There are no answers, no closure.”

Following the BBC’s decision, Hussain shared that other TV channels like ITV and Channel 4 had been in contact about a new series.

However, the chef said that working on a new series was “not something” she wanted to do at the time.

Instead, Hussain has stepped into a new career and is currently a teaching assistant, sharing: “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.

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“I feel like this job is perfect for me. It’s my calling.”

At the time of the BBC’s decision to not renew Hussain’s TV series, a spokesperson for the broadcaster 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.”