Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain has spoken out about the Channel 4 series
Nadiya Hussain has had her say on Bake Off(Image: Dave Benett, Dave Benett/Getty Images)
More than a decade since she was crowned winner of The Great British Bake Off and became one of TV’s most successful new stars, Nadiya Hussain has admitted that she no longer watches the Channel 4 show.
Despite going on to enjoy a huge TV career, the last 12 months have proved something of a torrid time for the 41-year-old mum-of-three as the BBC cancelled her shows.
In a new interview with the Radio Times, Nadiya admits “it’s sad” how it ended but “near the end” of her relationship with the Beeb, she had voiced concerns about how her programmes were being made.
And as far as Bake Off is concerned, she admits it’s not a show she watches any more. She said: “The magic has disappeared for me. Sometimes it feels like it’s competing with some of the shows on Netflix where it’s bigger and bolder and more outrageous, and I don’t think it needs any of that. It’s a beautiful show, it’s a classic.”
As for new judge Nigella Lawson replacing Prue Leith, Nadia said: “Nigella’s got a lot to live up to following Prue. It’s very easy to become quite stuffy and very proper, and I love that she’s got a little wild streak about her. I want to be like Prue when I’m older. If I get to that lovely age.”
Following her triumph on GBBO in 2015, Nadiya went on to front numerous BBC shows including Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya’s Fast Flavours and Nadiya’s Simple Spices. She has also appeared as a guest panellist on ITV’s Loose Women.
Other achievements include being named by Debrett’s as one of the 500 most influential people in the UK, included on BBC News’ 100 Women list and invited to bake a cake for the 90th birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II.
After gaining a publishing deal she was also shortlisted for Children’s Book of the Year prize at the British Book Awards for Bake Me A Story.
However, in a social media post last year, the presenter disclosed that the BBC had axed her series, calling it a “turning point” in her professional journey.
At the time, a BBC spokesperson said: “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.”
In conversation with the Sun’s Fabulous magazine, she reflected: “The last year has been physically and mentally one of the hardest so my next biggest achievement would be choosing myself and deciding what’s right for me.”
This follows Nadiya describing her three children, Musa, 19, Dawud, 18, and Maryam, 15, as her “biggest achievement”. Nadiya shares her children with husband Abdal Hussain, whom she wed in Bangladesh at the age of 20.
Following the axing of her programme, she took the decision to switch careers and move into education. She’s now employed in schools as a teaching assistant, with aspirations of potentially qualifying as a teacher down the line.
She revealed that other broadcasters, including ITV and Channel 4, approached her about another series, but insists it’s “not something that I want to do”.
Speaking to woman&home magazine, she explained: “I’m currently working as a teaching assistant at a lovely little primary school. The plan is to gain some training and maybe in the future become a teacher.”
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Holidaygoers returning home need to be careful about what they bring back
Travellers are banned from bringing meat and dairy from Europe to Great Britain (stock image)(Image: Getty )
With the February half-term still underway for many regions across the country, plenty of families will be eagerly packing their bags for some much-needed winter sun. For anyone keen to bring back goodies for their friends and relatives, there are certain rules they need to follow to avoid being stopped at UK airports.
In a recent warning by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the government agency urged holiday-goers to be mindful of what they try to bring back home. In a post on Facebook, a statement reads: “Travelling back from a half term trip abroad?
“To protect UK farmers and animals from diseases like Foot and Mouth, meat and dairy products can’t be brought into Great Britain. Check the rules before travelling.”
There are numerous guidelines on the Gov.uk website regarding bringing food into Great Britain, including rules on meat, dairy, fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and pet food. You can bring the following into Great Britain from any country without any restrictions:
bread, but not sandwiches filled with meat or dairy products
cakes without fresh cream
biscuits
chocolate and confectionery, but not those made with a lot of unprocessed dairy ingredients
pasta and noodles, but not if mixed or filled with meat or meat products
packaged soup, stocks and flavourings
processed and packaged plant products, such as packaged salads and frozen plant material
food supplements containing small amounts of an animal product, such as fish oil capsules
The rules on bringing meat, dairy, fish and other animal products depend on the country you’re bringing it from. From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, you can bring in the following for personal use:
fish
poultry, for example, chicken, duck, goose and any other products made from these meats
other animal products, for example, eggs and honey
Due to recent and ongoing outbreaks of animal diseases in the EU, there are rules about bringing in most meats and all dairy products. You are allowed to bring in a maximum of 2kg per person of powdered baby milk, baby food, or special food required for medical reasons. You can only bring these items if they don’t need to be kept cold before using, and they must be in branded, unopened packages (unless you are currently using them).
There are restrictions on meat, dairy and animal products for human consumption. You cannot bring in any of the following:
cheese, milk and dairy products like butter and yoghurt
pork
beef
lamb
mutton
goat
venison
other products made from these meats, for example sausages
If you’re bringing food from a country outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, the following rules apply. You cannot bring in:
meat or meat products
milk or milk-based products, except powdered infant milk, infant food or special food needed for medical reasons
You can bring in up to 2kg per person of:
honey
powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food (including pet food) needed for medical reasons – you can only bring it in if it does not need to be refrigerated before use, and is in branded, unopened packaging (unless in current use)
live mussels or oysters
snails – these must be preserved or shelled, cooked and prepared
frogs’ legs – these must be the back (hind) part of the frog with the skin and internal organs removed
insect protein
You can bring in up to 20kg per person in total of fish, including:
fresh fish – must be gutted
fish products
processed fish – must be dried, cooked, cured or smoked
The rules on bringing fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds depend on the country you’re bringing it from. From the EU, Switzerland or Liechtenstein, you can bring in the following for personal use:
fruit
vegetables
nuts and seeds
From other countries outside the EU you cannot bring in most fruit or vegetables unless you have a ‘phytosanitary’ (plant health) certificate for them. You can get a certificate from the plant health authorities in the country you’re leaving. You can only bring in the following without a phytosanitary certificate:
pineapple
kiwi
coconut
citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit
kumquat
persimmon
durian
curry leaves
banana and plantain
mango
dates
passion fruit
guava
processed and packaged plant products, such as packaged salads or frozen plant material
peeled and processed nuts or nut butters
certain grains, such as rice
Pet food
The rules on bringing pet food depend on the country you’re bringing it from. From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. You cannot bring in pet food if it contains meat or other animal products from pig, cow, sheep, goat or deer.
You can bring in pet food made with other ingredients (for example, chicken) if it is commercially packaged with the manufacturer’s name and address. You can bring up to 2kg per person. From countries outside the EU you cannot bring in pet food, unless your pet needs it for health-related reasons.
You can bring in up to 2kg per person of pet food needed for health-related reasons, from any country. The pet food must:
not need to be refrigerated before use
be in branded, unopened packaging (unless it is currently in use)
Your pet must be travelling with you. You should have evidence that the pet food is needed for health-related reasons, such as a letter from your vet. Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) if you want to bring in more than 2kg of health-related pet food per person.
You’ll need to provide:
details of why you cannot buy the specific pet food in Great Britain
a letter from your vet confirming your pet needs this specific food
Check if you need a CITES permit
You may need to apply for a permit or certificate if you’re bringing any food or animal products protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) into Great Britain. This includes foods such as caviar and eel fillets and beauty products containing caviar extract. Check if you need a CITES permit.
Forgotten village in Wiltshire was evacuated in 1943 for US troops to train ahead of World War II, and residents were never allowed to return home
06:00, 18 Feb 2026Updated 08:36, 18 Feb 2026
It sits within the British Army’s training area(Image: William Dax / SWNS)
Just a stone’s throw from the ancient monument of Stonehenge, and roughly an hour from Bath, lies a hidden village frozen in time.
The abandoned village of Imber in Wiltshire stands devoid of inhabitants, its buildings crumbling into decay. This once-bustling parish on Salisbury Plain now remains eerily silent, cut off from civilisation and accessible to visitors for only a handful of days each year.
Similar to several other communities nationwide, Imber’s residents were forcibly removed from their properties in 1943 as war loomed. They received just 47 days’ warning before their village was requisitioned to provide training facilities for American forces preparing for the Second World War.
Locals are believed to have assumed they would reclaim their homes following the conflict’s conclusion, but permission to return was never granted. Salisbury Plain subsequently evolved into Britain’s most extensive military training facility, now spanning more than 94,000 acres.
History
Whilst evidence suggests a modest community existed at Imber from as far back as 967 AD, with documentation indicating habitation in the Domesday Book of 1086, the village housed over 150 inhabitants when evacuation occurred.
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During the 14th century, its population peaked at approximately 250 residents, declining to roughly 152 by the 1940s, and following the conflict, the village mourned 28 of its men who had been in service.
A correspondence sent to a resident, providing brief notice of evacuation, read: “Arising out of the decision that increased training facilities are to be made available in the Imber area, I regret to inform you that it is necessary to evacuate the major part of the Department’s Imber Estate, including your dwelling.”
Despite protests from villagers, their efforts proved unsuccessful, and authorities determined even years after the conflict that the terrain remained invaluable for military purposes and too hazardous for civilian habitation.
Initially, however, many people were prepared to leave, viewing it as their patriotic responsibility and wanting to support those serving on the battlefield.
Numerous structures within the settlement sustained damage from explosions during and following the conflict, as well as from military exercises, and subsequently deteriorated further due to exposure to the elements. Even had former inhabitants been permitted to return, the properties would have been uninhabitable.
Battle for the village
In 1961, following years of separation and discontent, over 2,000 individuals gathered to campaign for the villagers’ return. This triggered a public inquiry, though it ultimately ruled in support of Imber’s ongoing military utilisation.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that certain evidence finally emerged, resulting in an agreement permitting villagers to return, but by that point it was considerably too late.
It was subsequently determined that the church could be preserved and would welcome worshippers on the Saturday nearest to St Giles’ Day each year for residents and locals to gather. This tradition continues to this day.
Present Day
Whilst the remainder of the parish has fallen into decline, neglected and forgotten, St Giles’ church in Imber stands preserved as it always has been, safeguarded by the Diocese of Salisbury.
The church achieved Grade I listed status in 1987 and remains a meaningful site for those wishing to commemorate the village and its formerly thriving community.
Annually around St Giles’ Day, a service takes place which draws former inhabitants alongside soldiers who trained in the village and other members of the public. A further service occurs on the Saturday preceding Christmas, a custom established in 2009.
The Ministry of Defence must permit public entry to the village on these occasions, which are now restricted to merely three times annually. Honouring the village’s heritage, ImberVillage.co.uk commemorates the lives of former inhabitants and enables their stories and recollections to be preserved.
