Nadiya Hussain has delivered a powerful response to critics who told her to be “grateful” following the BBC’s decision not to commission further cookery shows with her.
The former Great British Bake Off winner took to Instagram last night with an emotional video addressing the “tonnes of messages” she received after speaking out about her situation with the broadcaster.
“Messages from people telling me to be grateful for the opportunity and be thankful for how far I’ve come,” the 40-year-old chef said in the video posted to her 950,000 followers.
The response comes after Hussain announced earlier this month that the BBC would not be commissioning another cookery show with her, ending a decade-long working relationship that included programmes such as Nadiya’s Asian Odyssey and Nadiya’s Time To Eat.
Drawing on her experiences growing up in an immigrant household, Hussain explained how gratitude had been instilled in her from childhood. “I watched my family always grateful, grateful for being let in, grateful for having work, even if underpaid, grateful for safety, even if it meant silence,” she said.
But she firmly rejected the notion that gratitude should silence her. “Gratitude has its place, but it shouldn’t be a muzzle. It shouldn’t be a muzzle like a dog,” Hussain declared.
“I am allowed to feel more than just thankful. I am a human being and I am allowed to feel angry when I’m treated unfairly, I’m allowed to want better for myself and for my family,” she continued.
“We didn’t come here just to survive. We came here to live, to grow, to contribute, to belong.”
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When Hussain initially announced the BBC’s decision on social media, she reflected on the challenges she faces in the industry. “It’s really difficult as a Muslim woman.
“I work in an industry that doesn’t always support people like me or recognise my talent or my full potential,” she said.
The chef, who has presented several BBC programmes over the past decade, described experiencing “a lot of gaslighting and making you feel like what’s actually happening isn’t happening.”
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating: “After several wonderful series we have made the difficult decision not to commission another cookery show with Nadiya Hussain at the moment.”
Despite the setback, Hussain expressed determination to work with “people who believe in voices of people like me.”
Hussain ended her video with a defiant declaration about her achievements. “So I’ve got here through hard work, through determination, through talent. So no, I won’t be grateful. I got here because I’m good at what I do. Just something to think about,” she stated.
The chef firmly rejected the idea that her success was due to charity rather than merit. “So no, I won’t always be grateful and that doesn’t make me ungrateful, it makes me human,” she said.
Her comments challenged those who expected her to remain silent about discrimination. “Anytime I voiced frustration or sadness or wanted more, I could feel the invisible pressure, like how dare you complain? Aren’t you just lucky to be here?” she recalled of past experiences.
Her Instagram video received widespread support from fellow celebrities. Singer Annie Lennox commented: “Gratitude should never become a silencing muzzle – as you SO rightly say!”
Meanwhile, presenter Fearne Cotton left red hearts and 2018 Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal wrote: “So true. Thanks so much speaking up.”
Since winning The Great British Bake Off in 2015, Hussain has built an impressive career spanning television, publishing and royal commissions. She was selected to bake Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday cake and has written numerous cookery books including Nadiya’s Kitchen and Nadiya’s Everyday Baking.
The BBC has stated that Hussain remains “a much-valued part of the BBC family” despite the current decision, leaving the door open for future collaborations.