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Most fans of The Great British Baking Show recognize the U.K. based baking competition show as one of the most soothing series on television. Each year, we watch some of the U.K’s most-talent bakers compete as judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith assess their ability to craft delicious treats.

While we get to kick back and watch the competitors come up with gorgeous designs and tasty flavors, being inside that infamous white tent is not at all a zen experience. We’ve watched tears and meltdowns over one flour bowl or another for the past decade.

Now, Nadiya Hussain, the 2015 winner of the GBBO, is getting candid about her experience and how terrifying it was for her to be on the show.

Nadiya Hussain has become a household name since being on ‘The Great British Baking Show’

Hussain has become one of the most successful winners of The Great British Baking Show. She made a cake for Queen Elizabeth II, published several cookbooks including, Nadiya’s Time to Eat, Nadiya’s Family Favourites, Nadiya’s Bake Me a Festive Story, Nadiya’s Kitchen, and Nadiya’s British Food Adventure. 

Her memoir, Finding My Voice also gave fans a ton of insight into her upbringing and why she is the woman that she is today. In addition to her forthcoming show, Nadiya Bakes, her BBC series, BBC’s Nadiya’s Time to Eat is currently streaming on Netflix.

While many GBBO contestants return to their day jobs, Hussain has garnered a full culinary career.

Inside Nadiya Hussain’s new show ‘Nadiya Bakes’

On her new show, Nadiya Bakes, Hussain is getting up close and personal with her fans. Not only are we getting the lowdown on Hussain’s signature recipes, especially the ones her children adore most, she’s also giving us a glimpse into her personal life, what she experienced on GBBO, and some of the challenges she faced in the television industry as a woman of color.

Though it’s been five years since her big win on GBBO, Hussain is like a pro when it comes to being in from of the camera.

“We made it over 14 days on location with a small crew who bubbled together. They became my extended functional family,” she told The Mirror of the new show. “I always say, when you bake bread together you become family, whether you’re related by blood or not. It was crazy how we did it, but it was wonderful to be back at work after months of lockdown.”

Nadiya Hussain says she was petrified on ‘The Great British Baking Show’

As someone who earned a handshake from Paul Hollywood before going on to win the entire show, GBBO seemed like a breeze for Hussain. However, it turns out that she was pretty terrified the entire time.

The chef told The Mirror, that it was “the most anxiety-inducing thing I’ve ever done in my life.” She continued,

I was petrified. But now when I meet people just like me, who haven’t had the confidence to do something, and they say, ‘Well, if you can do it, so can I.’ I know what I do means something. That’s what keeps me going. It makes me so happy.”

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