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Nadiya Hussain open to Bake Off’s future on Channel 4 after BBC exit

Her CV looks pretty good...

It’s no shocker that this speculation would arise as soon as the news of Mary’s departure hit the headlines.

Previous winner Nadiya Hussain has fully embraced the show’s move to Channel 4 and could potentially land a role in the new series.

Could she be the next presenter or judge?

As well as Mary Berry deciding to stay at the BBC, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins have also done the same.

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Nadiya, 31, who won the show in an emotional final in 2015, told BBC Breakfast: “Change happens, change comes and wherever it goes, whatever it does, I just want it to do well because it’s something I’ve spent the last six years watching.”

She admitted that hosts Mel and Sue were integral to the success of Bake Off.

“They’re so important to the show. Every time I was falling apart they would come and say ‘It’s just cake, you can do this’,” she said.

But Nadiya, who said her mantra was “Eat cake, go for a run”, added: “I’m all about change. It’s gone somewhere else. I don’t think we like change sometimes as humans. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that (change). Hopefully it will work somewhere else.”

Mel Giedroyc and Nadiya Jamir Hussain
Mel Giedroyc and Nadiya Hussain (Love Productions/BBC)

Mary, who has been at the heart of the BBC1 show, is remaining at the corporation and saying farewell to “soggy bottoms”.

Paul Hollywood announced last week that he will make the move to Channel 4, saying he could not “turn my back” on the white tent, which is where he belongs.

Asked if she would join Bake Off if invited, Nadiya said: “I’m kind of enjoying what I’m doing. I’ve written these books. I love writing, love cooking, love baking.

“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing and I don’t want that to be taken away from me. I’m having such a good time at the moment.”

The mother-of-three said of Bake Off: “It’s the least competitive competition in the world. You actually like each other.

“It’s this camaraderie in the competition that you don’t see anywhere else. You want to win but you want everybody else to do really well. You go in as 12 and want to come out as 12.”

Well, we would love to see her back in the tent!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor