'The New Fearless Me'

Foodie star Nadiya Hussain talks about the reality of an arranged marriage, anxiety, and her new gastronomic TV adventure.

- Nathalie Whittle

When Nadiya Hussain, 33, won season six of the BBC’s popular baking show, The Great British Bake Off, in 2015, she shot to fame, going from stay-at-home mom to columnist, author and television presenter. Over the past few years, Nadiya has written three books, presented a documentary on Bangladesh, baked a cake for the Queen, and has been named one of Britain’s most influential people. Now, she’s starring in her own cooking show, Nadiya’s Food Adventure, going across Britain to learn more about family faves and standout local recipes. She lives with her husband, IT worker Abdal, and their three children, Musa, 11, Dawud, 10, and Maryam, seven.

THE NEW NADIYA

When I think back to pre-Bake Off Nadiya, I hardly recognise her.

I’d suffered from panic disorder [recurring panic attacks] from the age of seven, and there I was at 30, having spent the past 10 years at home with the kids, using them as a security blanket wherever I went – I needed a brown bag just to go out on my own.

The turning point happened behind the scenes during week six.