Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain breaks down in tears as she reveals she has quit teaching job at a primary school after it 'played havoc with her health'

Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain has had to give up her teaching job at a primary school' because it 'played havoc with her health', she has revealed.

Nadiya, 41, who won the coveted title in 2015, looked for other avenues of work after her cookery show was axed by BBC bosses last year.

In a recent interview she revealed she had found a job as a teaching assistant at a local primary school.

But just weeks after starting the position she had to quit and made the heartbreaking revelation on her Instagram in an emotional post.

Wiping away tears, she said: 'Hi guys, giving you a life update that you didn't ask for but you are going to get anyway.

'So, as you guys know when the BBC cancelled my show, I was kind of at a crossroads, I wasn't sure where I was going, what I wanted to do.

'I had loads of options, I toyed with lots of options, open a business I could do a pop-up restaurant or kitchen, none of which appealed to me at the time.

'I'm still obviously publishing books, cookbooks which I will always love but I kind of reluctantly, you know I was scared, really scared to apply for jobs.'

Revealing how she was drawn to working in a school she continued: 'I've always wanted to work with children in younger years as a teaching assistant and I applied for a few jobs, which in itself was difficult for lots or reasons.

'I applied and got a job as a TA (teaching assistant) at a primary school and I've got to say, apart from raising my own children, it was one of the best jobs I've ever done.

'I loved every second of waking up in the morning with a spring in my step for these beautiful children. I just loved every second of doing that job.

'But unfortunately doing a job like that as somebody with a weakened immune system it just played havoc with my health.'

Nadiya, who suffers with fibromyalgia, explained: 'As you know anyone who works in a school setting there are lots of coughs and colds bugs and I just couldn't get better

'So, I was sick all the time and it got to the point where it was affecting my mental health and I just wasn't performing, giving my best because I was always sick.

'I had to make a really tough decision, one of the toughest I've ever had to make was stepping away from that job.

'I was there for a little over three months and loved every single second of it and more than anything I just loved seeing the children grow.

'It made me realise that there are certain sectors I would like to work in and so it's just focused me in some ways because I know what areas I would like to work in.

'But unfortunately with a weakened immune system working as a TA in a primary school was just proving impossible and it was one of the hardest decisions I had to make to step away for it.

'I had to do it for the sake of my health but I worked with some amazing people over the last three months and they know who they are.

'I was so lucky the primary school, gave me an opportunity to do this job and I loved every second of it but unfortunately it wasn't to be.

'But it has made me think about what's important to me and what I wanted to do and sometimes you have to make touch decisions In life.

'These are just little season in life, and you have to get through them you have to make difficult decisions, and they are not always easy but you have to make them and sometimes its ok to put yourself first.

'In this situation I had to put my health first, I'm better for it but I'm sad, really sad, I made some great connections and could see things happening and staying there for years.

'Yes, it was a tough decision but it was one I had to make but it's give me focus and made me realise what I am capable of doing s someone with a weekend immune system.'

Nadiya finished with an upbeat tone saying: 'So back to drawing board and figuring stuff out.'

It is not known if Nadiya was paid for her TA post but an advert for her position in the January addition of the school news letter revealed pay for the job was £20,000. 

Latest company accounts for her business reveal she was worth almost £2million thanks to sales of her books.

The Daily Mail has established the school Nadiya was working at was Giles Brook Primary near her home in Milton Keynes and she was working in Year One Crickets Class, according to a publicly available newsletter which announces her appointment in October.

However just weeks later the post was readvertised and a subsequent announcement last month revealed she was leaving with the school 'wishing her the very best'.

The newsletter announcing her decision and that of another staff member, to leave read: 'Although Nadiya has been with us for a relatively short time, she has quickly become a valued member of our class and school team.

'The children have enjoyed working with her ad we are grateful for the help and encouragement she has given them during her time with us.

'I am sure you will join us in wishing them every best on their future paths.'

In a statement last June, the BBC 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 her interview with Woman & Home she said she was loving her teaching job and had since been offered work from other broadcasters, but that she isn't interested hosting cooking shows at the moment.

Nadiya said: 'I got offers from [channels like] Channel 4 and ITV. For now, it's not something that I want to do. I want a real relationship with broadcasters where we're making television that means something.

'If I was doing another cookery show, I'd like a little bit more creative input. That being said, cooking aside, I would love to do documentaries and travelogues about issues that matter to people, and I would love to continue to write cookbooks, because the best part of doing this job is being able to share recipes and help people in the kitchen.'

During the interview, she also spoke about living with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition defined by widespread pain and fatigue.

'Stress can make the symptoms worse and the show not being recommissioned definitely took a toll on me physically because I didn't know where I was going,'

Nadiya, who revealed she was diagnosed with the condition in 2024, added: 'I was like 'Oh my goodness. This was my whole personality and now I don't have that any more.

'One day, I'll feel OK, so I try to get everything done on that day, then I'm back to square one.

'I also have a gastro autoimmune disease, which really affects my gut and vitamin absorption, so I take vitamins and medication for both. They are lifelong conditions.'

She continued: 'As many as four out of five people with autoimmune disease are women. The way we manage and hold stress is different to men, and that stress can eventually present itself as autoimmune diseases. Now I do everything at a much calmer, slower, more measured pace.'

Within seconds of posting the announcement on her Instagram page - which has more than a million followers, thousands of fans sent her messages of support.

Some suggested her own children's cooking show online, while others urged her to get a job as a judge on Great British Bake Off.

Celebrities also rushed to give their support with actress and Celebrity MasterChef winner Lisa Faulkner - who is married to TV cook John Torode, saying:' You are brilliant and I love you.'

While TV medic Dr Amir Khan posted:'As a doctor I totally get this. You have to look after your health and I've no doubt you will find a way to work with children where you and they both thrive.'

No-one from Giles Brook Primary School was available for comment.