Former Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain has claimed that the BBC have ‘dropped’ her after 10 years.
The star, 40, rose to fame after winning the baking competition’s sixth series, back when it still aired on BBC One, and featured Mary Berry as a judge next to last man standing Paul Hollywood.
Since her 2015 win, Nadiya has become the most recognisable of the competition’s winners, launching a series of cooking shows, TV appearances and cookbooks.
These shows included Nadiya’s Simple Spices, Nadiya’s Everyday Baking, Nadiya’s Cook Once, Eat Twice and more.
However, her journey appears to have hit a ‘turning point,’ with the celebrity chef describing her reaction as the broadcaster decided not to commission her latest project.
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Addressing her fans in an emotional Instagram video post, Nadiya spoke of the ‘trajectory of change’ she’s been on recently, and her feeling that as a Muslim woman, she isn’t always supported by the industry.
In the caption to the five-minute-long video, Nadiya wrote: ‘Just a hello from me! Thank you to everyone for being on this journey with me, and I hope you can continue to stay on this journey with me. It wouldn’t be what ibe (sic) is if it were not for you guys.’
She went on to describe what had happened between herself and the BBC, revealing that ‘there will be no more cookery show.’
‘The BBC have decided that they didn’t want to commission a show. And for me, that was a huge turning point because it’s something I’ve done for the past 10 years.
‘It was huge because 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.”‘
She continued: ‘As a Muslim woman, I work in an industry that doesn’t always support people like me or recognise my talent or full potential.
‘There’s a lot of gaslighting, making me feel like what’s actually happening isn’t happening.’
She went on to say how she wanted to go on and ‘work with people who believe in voices of people like me. Stories of people like me. I’m working some new things which I’m excited to tell you guys about.’
In the comments below Nadiya’s post, her followers shared messages of love, support and dismay at the BBC’s decision.
‘Thank you for using your platform and speaking up. You’re not alone in this 🍉❤️’ wrote maxlamanna.
‘Start your own channel Nadiya. You don’t need the beeb,’ commented dublindeed.
‘Adored you from the first moment you appeared on TV. Keep pushing for what you believe in, live your most authentic life. That is all that matters 💕’ said sarahalicefloral.
‘Your voice has a platform. No need for the beeb. Be you! 💕’ said leannepowell1.
A BBC spokesperson told The Mirror: ‘After several wonderful series we have made the difficult decision not to commission another cookery show with Nadiya Hussain at the moment.’
However, the BBC’s comment does not rule out a future collaboration with the star.
‘Nadiya remains a much-valued part of the BBC family, and we look forward to working together on future projects.’
Elsewhere in the video, Nadiya spoke of how she had been struggling to post about food recently, due to her feelings on the situation in Gaza, and being ‘unwell.’
Last year, the mum-of-three revealed that she had been diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases after feeling ‘sick and unwell.’
She did not specify which conditions she had been diagnosed with, but said that she would speak more when she has a ‘better handle’ on them.
In a video on Instagram, Nadiya explained: ‘Over the course of two years, I’ve been quite unwell. I’ve just been getting quite sick.
‘And over the course of the two years, I’ve been diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases, which I’m not going to go into now.
‘I will go into in the future when I know more about it, and when I have a better handle on it and when I understand it a little bit better.
‘But till then I cannot express the importance of listening to your body, of taking care of yourself.’
Last year, she also sparked concern from fans after posting a picture of an empty cup of tea on Instagram.
‘Sometimes. Some things have to end. In order to find love. That might be all the love you ever needed.
‘#Love #hearts #surprises #end #beginning,’ she captioned the post – which contained a broken heart at the bottom of its mug.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to the BBC and Nadiya’s representatives for comment.
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