Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

GBBO winner Nadiya says 'life would have been so much easier if I wasn't brown'

GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF winner Nadiya Hussain said life for her would have been so much easier if she wasn't brown, but she has now learned to embrace both her 'Britishness' and her 'Bangladeshiness'.

Nadiya, 36, admitted on BBC Three documentary Being British Bangladeshi that there have been times when "she wanted to bleach the brown out of her skin".


The TV chef and baker born in Luton to Bangladeshi parents, said on the show: "I'm a firm believer that as a Bangladeshi and a British, I will take the good bits from this bit, and the good bits from that bit.

"I believe we live happily in that grey area. I'm proud to say that I mix up my "Britishness" and my "Bangledeshiness" in cookbooks that people actually really like."

She added: "There are times when I've wanted to bleach the brown out of me - because life would have been so much easier if I wasn't brown, if I wasn't Bangladeshi, if I could just be like everybody else.

"But I come with all of those layers that I do represent and I understand the importance of that now."

Nadiya, who won Great British Bake Off in 2015, said she has become more comfortable talking about racism in the years since winning the show.

Nadiya, who now lives in London with her husband and three children, said last year that she's experienced more racism in the last five years working on TV than ever before in her life.

She took to Instagram and said: "Just because you don’t experience racism, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, it does!

"I have experienced more racism in 5 years working in the TV/Food industry than any other time of my life and it’s time to call it out!"

More For You

uk-snow-getty

People drive their cars past a landscape covered in snow and along the Snake pass road, in the Peak district, northern England. (Photo: Getty Images)

UK records coldest January night in 15 years at -17.3 degrees Celsius

THE UK recorded its coldest January night in 15 years as temperatures dropped to -17.3 degrees Celsius in Altnaharra, Sutherland, by 9 pm on Friday.

This is the lowest January temperature since 2010, when Altnaharra hit -22.3 degrees Celsius on 8 January, The Guardian reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chandra Arya

Arya, who represents Nepean in Ottawa and was born in India's Karnataka, made the announcement on X. (Photo: X/@AryaCanada)

Liberal MP Chandra Arya declares bid for prime minister of Canada

CANADA’s Asian MP Chandra Arya has announced his candidacy for the prime ministership, just hours before the Liberal Party confirmed that its next leader will be selected on 9 March.

Arya’s announcement comes days after prime minister Justin Trudeau declared his decision to step down while continuing in office until a new leader is chosen.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'
Dr Chaand Nagpaul

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'

LABOUR's latest announcement to cut NHS waiting lists, while welcome, does not go far enough, the former leader of the doctors’ union, Chaand Nagpaul has told Eastern Eye.

Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, unveiled his plans on Monday (6). He pledged Labour would set up more NHS hubs in community locations in England, and the service would make greater use of the private sector to help meet the challenge.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'
Nazir Afzal

Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'

POLITICIANS must dial down “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric and recognise the contributions of all communities in Britain, prominent south Asians have told Eastern Eye.

They are concerned that recent social media attacks on asylum seekers, immigrants, especially British Pakistanis, as well as ministers will lead to unnecessary deaths.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa-Nandy-Getty

The culture secretary retains powers to refer the case to the Competition and Markets Authority, which could trigger an investigation into press freedom concerns linked to Abu Dhabi’s involvement. (Photo: Getty Images)

Calls grow for Lisa Nandy to end Telegraph ownership stalemate

THE SALE of The Telegraph newspaper has drawn widespread political calls for culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene and end the prolonged uncertainty surrounding its ownership.

The newspaper has been in limbo for 20 months after an auction process initiated by RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund, failed to secure a suitable buyer.

Keep ReadingShow less