Nadiya Hussain has addressed the reaction to the BBC鈥檚 decision not to renew her cookery show, marking the end of a decade-long partnership with the broadcaster.
Earlier this month, the Great British Bake Off winner revealed she would not be returning to screens with a new BBC series.
The 40-year-old first rose to fame after winning Bake Off in 2015 and has since fronted several popular food and travel shows for the channel.
Sharing the news with fans, Nadiya thanked viewers 鈥渇or being on this journey with [her]鈥 and admitted the decision prompted some soul-searching.
鈥淚t made me reassess where I want to be,鈥 she wrote.
Despite the setback, she hinted at new opportunities on the horizon, saying she plans to continue working 鈥渨ith people who believe in the voices of people like [her]鈥 and teased that 鈥渆xciting鈥 projects are still to come.
The BBC, which broadcast Bake Off when Nadiya took part, later issued a statement, confirming: 鈥淎fter several wonderful series, we have made the difficult decision not to commission another cookery show with Nadiya Hussain at the moment.鈥
While the BBC has left the door open for future collaborations, Nadiya has now addressed the 鈥渢onnes of messages鈥 she received after opening up about her departure from the broadcaster on Instagram.
The chef shared on Thursday in a lengthy video: 鈥淚 have received tons of messages since talking about my situation with the BBC, messages from people telling me to be grateful for the opportunity and be thankful for how far I鈥檝e come.鈥
Reflecting on her upbringing in an immigrant household, Hussain spoke about how the importance of gratitude was ingrained in her from an early age.
鈥淣ow, my whole life, as a child in an immigrant household, I used to think I had to be grateful all the time because I watched my family, always grateful,鈥 she said. 鈥淕rateful for being let in, grateful for having work, even if underpaid, grateful for safety, even if it meant silence.
鈥淎lways grateful, even when I feel tired, lonely, or disrespected. At first, gratitude felt right because it was instilled in me from a young age; it was all I saw.
鈥淏ut after a while, it starts to get really heavy. Gratitude became something that I was expected to wear like a uniform. Anytime I voiced frustration or sadness or wanted more, I could feel the invisible pressure.
鈥淟ike, how dare you complain? Aren鈥檛 you lucky just to be here? But here鈥檚 what I鈥檝e come to understand.鈥
She went on: 鈥淚 am allowed to feel more than just thankful. I am a human being, and I am allowed to feel angry when I鈥檓 treated unfairly. I鈥檓 allowed to want better for myself and for my family. I鈥檓 allowed to speak up. I鈥檓 allowed to exist fully. Complex, emotional, hopeful, sometimes critical, just like anyone else.
鈥淪o, gratitude has its place, but it shouldn鈥檛 be a muzzle, like a dog. We didn鈥檛 come here just to survive; we came here to live, to grow, to contribute, to belong, not as a guest, but as a person who has rights and dreams and dignity, just like everyone else.鈥
The chef firmly rejected the idea that her success was due to charity rather than merit., adding: 鈥淪o no, I won鈥檛 always be grateful, and that doesn鈥檛 make me ungrateful; it makes me human. That鈥檚 what it does.鈥
She then ended her video with a defiant note: 鈥淪o, I鈥檝e got here through hard work, through determination, through talent, so no, I won鈥檛 be grateful. I got here because I鈥檓 good at what I do. Just something to think about.鈥
After sharing her video, the TV chef was inundated with messages of support.
Singer Annie Lennox wrote: 鈥淥ne HUNDRED per cent!!!!!Thank you for sharing your lived experience and perspective!!!Gratitude should never become a silencing muzzle 鈥 as you SO rightly say!鈥
鈥淪o true. Thanks so much speaking up [sic]鈥, commented 2018 Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal while Fearne Cotton shared several red heart emojis.
鈥淓xactly this! Well said,鈥 penned TV doctor Amir Khan.
Since winning GBBO a decade ago, Nadiya has become a familiar face on the BBC, fronting a string of successful shows including Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya鈥檚 Fast Flavours, and Nadiya鈥檚 Simple Spices.
Although a new series hasn鈥檛 been commissioned, the broadcaster has said she remains 鈥渁 much-valued part of the BBC family鈥.
In a recent video addressing the decision, Nadiya said she鈥檚 now focused on 鈥渂eing [her] most authentic self鈥 and working with people who 鈥渂elieve in [her] talent鈥.