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Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain shares horrifying account of child sexual abuse at the hands of a relative when she was just five years old

BBG News

In a recent conversation, Nadiya Hussain disclosed a distressing experience involving childhood sexual abuse by a family member.

This 40-year-old television cook gained popularity in 2015 after winning “The Great British Bake Off.” Since then, she’s presented numerous documentaries and cooking shows.

On the latest episode of the We Need To Talk podcast, Nadiya opened up candidly to Paul C Brunson about her painful past experiences growing up.

Nadiya opened up about experiencing sexual assault when she was only five years old, perpetrated by her cousin. She shared the reasons behind her decision to keep this traumatic event a secret from her parents.

When I was just five years old, my cousin sexually abused me, and at the time, I didn’t truly understand that it was sexual abuse. It wasn’t until my biology lesson in eighth grade, during a sex education class, that I realized what had happened to me, Nadiya explained.

Suddenly, it became clear. I connected the dots and found myself thinking, “This has happened to me before.” Then, I just… I can recall feeling extremely nauseous and my instructor asking, “Are you feeling alright?” To which I replied, “I’m okay.

Instead, I chose not to disclose or discuss the matter with the teacher since my cousin was someone I spent a lot of time with.

‘He was there all the time, and he was in our house and he was upstairs, and he was everywhere.

Paul inquired: “How did your family respond later on, considering that this incident occurred while you were still a young girl?

Nadiya stated, “The subject isn’t discussed by anyone, except for my siblings and me.

Instead of broadcasting it to everyone, I can’t discuss that matter with my parents.

In Nadia’s own words, she explained that while she would prefer to discuss the abuse with her parents if they were different individuals, she knows them too intimately. She understands the response she would receive from them and it’s not favorable, which is why she doesn’t confide in them about this matter.

I reside in a community that prioritizes male protection, which is reflective of our broader societal norms that often favor male protection.

I hope no one will blame me for this, as I anticipate that might be the case. Frankly, I don’t wish to hear such accusations.

If I learn about something like that, I become upset and prefer not to know. Frankly, the idea of… makes me uncomfortable because it feels as though I’d be held responsible while he gets shielded, and I simply can’t accept that situation.

In another part of the conversation, it was disclosed that Nadiya faced such an overwhelming number of death threats during her time on Bake Off that the show’s producers even took up residence in her house for safety reasons.

During week nine of Bake Off, severe death threats necessitated the presence of the production team within my residence. The number of death threats I received was overwhelming.

In simpler terms, I received threatening messages from individuals who are professionally engaged, containing explicit content, expressing their desire for my harm, verbal abuse, and wishing harm upon my children, particularly a prolonged and agonizing death from tuberculosis.

Additionally, she disclosed that her children encountered more racial discrimination at a younger age compared to what she experienced during her own childhood years.

‘The first time I ever experienced racism was the day the Twin Towers came down,’ Nadiya said. 

As a young adult of 18, I was returning home from college one evening when two men in a white van unexpectedly pulled over and verbally assaulted me. They exited their vehicle, yelled obscenities, spat at me, and then drove away without a word. Overwhelmed with emotions, I wept all the way home, struggling to comprehend the sudden attack.

In a burst of tears, I entered the room where Dad was engrossed in television. “This,” I shared, choking back my emotions, “hasn’t ceased since.

However, my children have faced more racism at an early age, as they were referred to as terrorists and they chose to wear traditional garments during Friday prayers.

For those moved by this tale, feel free to reach out for support by dialing 0808 800 5000 on the NSPCC Helpline, or alternatively, you can send an email to help@NSPCC.org.uk.

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2025-07-15 10:04

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