Nadiya Hussain

Winner of the Great British Bake Off 2015, Nadiya Hussain is now an award winning baker, author, broadcaster and presenter. A little girl with a big dream, Nadiya epitomises the idea that self belief, resilience and hard work will see your goals actualised. Named an MBE by the Queen for her services to broadcasting and culinary arts, Nadiya’s contributions to the industry are undeniable. Down to earth and humble, Nadiya instantly connects with audiences as an after dinner speaker, sharing her success journey and inspiring others with her entertaining cooking demonstrations. Arguably the most popular winner of the show, Nadiya stepped into the spotlight in 2015 as the series six winner of BBC’s The Great British Bake Off (GBBO).

A timid baker lacking self confidence in the early rounds of the competition, Nadiya developed into a star with her bakes not only tasting delicious but also being true masterpieces of design. By the final episode, viewers and fellow competitors were all rooting for Nadiya whose winning speech moved Mary Berry to tears as she encouraged everyone to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. The journey to success was not a smooth one for Nadiya who never saw baking as more than a hobby.

Through marriage, a degree and three children, Nadiya’s passion for baking continued to flourish and after spending every episode of GBBO glued to the screen, Nadiya’s husband encouraged her to sign up. Plagued with an anxiety disorder for all of her adult life, the prospect of going on the show was not an option in Nadiya’s mind. However, inspirationally, she embarked on her first ever solo trip into London for filming and ultimately battled her fears head on to achieve her dreams. With such popularity built on the show it’s no surprise that since Nadiya’s life has been a whirlwind. Nadiya has now fronted over ten self titled series including ‘Nadiya’s British Food Adventure’ and a vulnerable documentary ‘Nadiya: Anxiety and Me’.

Her family style cookery programmes have seen her gain the Women in Film & Television Awards Presenter Award, and the Food & Drink Awards Personality of the Year. Thirteen published books to date, a selection of cookery, novels and children’s stories and a regular column in The Times, Nadiya has solidified herself as a multi talented star of the media. The pinnacle of her success came when she was asked to personally bake the official cake for the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations in 2016. An inspirational celebrity chef who came from humble beginnings to international acclaim, Nadiya is the ideal after dinner speaker or baking demonstrator to resonate with audiences.

In March 2024 we sat down with Nadiya Hussain to discuss her mental health struggles during her time on bake off and after and her methods for coping along with top tips for others looking to support struggling people. Watch our Interview with Nadiya Hussain.