Nadiya Hussain Steps Down from Teaching Role Following Health Challenges
Great British Bake Off champion Nadiya Hussain has made the difficult decision to leave her position as a teaching assistant at a primary school after just over three months. The 41-year-old television chef revealed that the role severely impacted her health due to her pre-existing medical condition.
Emotional Instagram Announcement
In a heartfelt social media post, Hussain shared her struggle with maintaining the teaching position while managing fibromyalgia. "I loved every second of waking up in the morning with a spring in my step for these beautiful children," she expressed. "But unfortunately doing a job like that as somebody with a weakened immune system it just played havoc with my health."
The celebrity baker explained that constant exposure to common childhood illnesses in the school environment made recovery impossible. "I was sick all the time and it got to the point where it was affecting my mental health," she confessed. "I just wasn't performing, giving my best because I was always sick."
Career Transition After BBC Departure
Hussain's move into education came after the BBC unexpectedly canceled her cooking programs last year, including the award-nominated Nadiya Chronicles, Nadiya Bakes, and Nadiya's Fast Flavours. Despite receiving offers from other broadcasters like ITV and Channel 4, she chose to pursue teaching instead.
"When the BBC cancelled my show, I was kind of at a crossroads," Hussain recalled. "I had loads of options, I toyed with lots of options, open a business I could do a pop-up restaurant or kitchen, none of which appealed to me at the time."
The MBE recipient, honored in the 2020 New Year Honours, described how friends and family questioned her career shift. "People 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," she stated. "Just because I'm famous doesn't mean I'm at the top. I have been at my lowest at the top."
Health Considerations and Future Plans
Hussain has been transparent about her battle with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. Her experience in the school setting highlighted the challenges of working with a compromised immune system in environments with frequent illness exposure.
"It made me realise that there are certain sectors I would like to work in," she reflected. "So it's just focused me in some ways because I know what areas I would like to work in."
Despite the setback, Hussain remains optimistic about future opportunities. While she expressed disinterest in returning to television work currently, she mentioned potential interest in projects with more creative input, travelogues, or documentaries addressing important social issues.
Unresolved Questions About BBC Departure
The television personality still seeks closure regarding her departure from the BBC after a decade of collaboration. "I appreciate that it's an industry, it's a business and it's about making money," she acknowledged. "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."
A BBC spokesperson previously stated: "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."
Hussain concluded her announcement by emphasizing the importance of self-care in difficult decisions. "Sometimes you have to make tough decisions in life," she said. "In this situation I had to put my health first. I'm better for it but I'm sad, really sad."
