The Great British Bake Off has become an institution & one of the most popular television shows in the past twenty years.
While on the BBC, GBBO would regularly reach millions, was the most-watched programme on British television 2015/2016, with the last series in 2016 reaching 14 million viewers!
However, in August 2015 a shy, demure woman, Hijab covering her hair & shoulders, elbows & ankles respectfully not on show, joined the GBBO contestants.
Nadiya Hussain, a brave Muslim woman joined the ranks of revered bakers to be tested & scrutinised by Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry & the British viewing public. Little did she know the journey she was about to go on would change her life forever.
Nadiya Hussain is a second-generation British Bangladeshi, born on Christmas Day 1984 & raised in Luton, Bedfordshire by her Father & Mother. Nadiya is one of six children & has always had an inquisitive mind & has spent most of her life questioning everything, much to the annoyance of her Father. Nadiya also, in her own words, “has a habit of saying no, but mostly to my long suffering dad” (1)
Having studied through to A’Level, Nadiya had hopes of going to University & studying to become a Social Worker. However, Nadiya’s life took another direction when she married her husband Abdal at just nineteen years old.
Having been brought up in a Muslim family, the expectation was that Nadiya’s marriage would be arranged. At just nineteen, Nadiya married Abdal in a traditional Islam ceremony having only met him once before their nuptial’s. Despite having spoken to Abdal numerous times on the telephone, having only met once in real life, meant the couple had a lot to learn about each other once they were married.
However, once the couple were married, Nadiya’s passion for cooking & in particular baking was allowed to flourish, as she found out that her new husband liked cake …. a lot of cake! Therefore, Nadiya began baking. Every single day another cake for Abdal.
As their relationship grew, so too did their family.
With their first son Musa being born a year after they got married, then the following year their second son, Dawud. Nadiya still had hopes of becoming a Social Worker & when pregnant with their third child, Maryam; Nadiya commenced an Open University Course to finally achieve her goal of gaining a degree.
It was during this time that Nadiya became hooked on The Great British Bake Off, with husband Abdal watching at her side & repeatedly telling her she could do that too.
Despite Nadiya’s effervescent & smiling exterior, she has suffered with anxiety for most of her life & the very idea of putting herself on television filled her with dread.
However, Abdal had other ideas. With all of the belief in his Wife’s expertise, one day Abdal presented Nadiya with an application form for the sixth series of GBBO.
“Packed and ready to film my first episode it became a day of many firsts for me. First time in a taxi alone, first time on a train alone, first time on the underground alone, first time without my husband to help, first time without my kids. My anxiety mounted, I perspired through the missed trains, the sweaty pits and the quiet tears. But I got there.” (1)
Nadiya started filming GBBO & was convinced every week that she would be the one voted out. Despite some near misses, she was astounded that each week she got through. By the time the show aired on the BBC in early August 2015, Nadiya’s life had changed forever.
When we all tuned in to watch series six of GBBO, we met that year’s bakers. Nadiya was an instant hit with viewers & she captured all our hearts with her honesty, her humble approach & her wonderful facial expressions when she succeeded. Her face told a million stories & we all fell in love with Nadiya Hussain.
I for one remember the final when Nadiya created her own wedding cake. Having never had one at her own wedding, she wanted to show the world what she would have chosen if she had had the choice. Mary, Sue, Mel, Paul & millions of viewers were brought to tears by the sentiment in Nadiya’s final bake & I am sure I am not alone when saying I cheered when she was announced the 2015 GBBO Winner. As if Nadiya’s humbleness was not already such an endearing & enduring quality, as she received her trophy from judge Paul Hollywood she handed it back saying ‘are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?’
Overnight, a star was born.
Sadly, not everyone celebrated Nadiya’s success, with a string of racial & anti Islam posts having been posted through social media channels following her GBBO win; Nadiya not only had a police presence in her home, but she was concerned for the safety of her children.
However, Nadiya has gone on to greater things & is now cemented in British cooking & baking history & as a pioneer & inspiration for young women & in particular young Muslim women, to follow their dreams.
Over the past six years Nadiya has written five baking & cookery books, two children’s books, her first fiction The Amir Sisters & her incredibly well received memoir ‘Finding My Voice’. Nadiya’s BBC documentary The Chronicles of Nadiya which took her back the family village in Bangladesh, let the world see the humble beginnings of this worldly traveller & allowed us to see Nadiya re-connecting with her heritage & her roots.
Nadiya has also appeared in & fronted six television shows. Some of her own cookery & baking, some where she has travelled to far flung places to explore other cultures & their food. Nadiya has also been a judge for the Junior Bake Off.
Nadiya Hussain is an absolute inspiration & although having not beaten her anxiety demons; her passion, her drive & determination have allowed her to welcome us all along on her incredible journey.
She continues to inspire us all to bake, to cook, to share food with family & friends. She encourages young women to find their own voices & not be afraid to be heard. She has challenged the traditions of her faith, while also living as a true Muslim & embracing her faith into her work. Most recently (Oct 2020) during a Guardian interview, Nadiya has also challenged those in her industry who would seek to undermine her & with gusto & vigour, has stood firm against them:
“I get bits of my books ripped apart because, am I English enough to be writing these things? It upsets me because there are cooks out there who… Jamie can do Italian. He’s allowed to own that as something he loves to do and something that is his, but I can’t do a Cornish pasty. That’s what’s wrong with this industry and that’s what’s wrong with this society and that’s what’s wrong with the world. Because I’m a daughter of an immigrant, because I am bilingual, because I’m a Muslim, because I’m a brown woman, because I don’t fit into that industry or fit into these worlds, I’m constantly up for scrutiny. I’m constantly up for questioning. I’m kind of fed up of it.”
She smiles, her big, famous, winning, national treasure smile. “But I also really enjoy saying, does it look like I care?” (2)
Nadiya Hussain is a truly inspirational woman, pioneer, mother, Muslim, wife, traveller & explorer, entrepreneur & businesswoman, free spirit, dreamer & a voice for so many. She brings joy to everything she does & stands firm against her critics, a far cry from the demure & shy woman we met in GBBO all those years ago.
Written & cited by Katy-Jane Mason for & on behalf of Virtually Smart.
- https://www.nadiyahussain.com/about-me/
- https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/oct/18/nadiya-hussain-i-want-to-blend-in-interview-nadiya-bakes
