Great British Bake Off legend Nadiya Hussain has spoken out about the BBC's response to the axing of her cooking shows. Since famously winning the baking competition in 2015, the 40-year-old has built a successful career as a TV chef, an author, and a columnist.

In the years since, she has fronted a plethora of cooking shows for the BBC, including Nadiya's Food Adventures, Cook Once Eat Twice and Nadiya's Time to Eat. However, her 10-year working relationship with the broadcaster came to an unexpected end as the BBC decided not to commission her latest project. At the time, the chef thanked her supporters for "being on this journey with me" and admitted that the axe made her reassess "where [she] wants to be," however, her sentiments have since shifted.

Initially, Nadiya also vowed to continue working "with people who believe in the voices of people like [her]" and teased more "exciting" projects in the pipeline.

On Thursday (June 26) the TV star took to Instagram and in a lengthy video said: "I have received tons of messages since talking about my situation with the BBC, messages from people telling me to be grateful for the opportunity and be thankful for how far I've come.

"Now, my whole life, as a child in an immigrant household, I used to think I had to be grateful all the time because I watched my family, always grateful. Grateful for being let in, grateful for having work, even if underpaid, grateful for safety, even if it meant silence."

"Always grateful, even when I feel tired, lonely, or disrespected. At first, gratitude felt right because it was instilled in me from a young age; it was all I saw,' she reflected.

"But after a while, it starts to get really heavy. Gratitude became something that I was expected to wear like a uniform. Anytime I voiced frustration or sadness or wanted more, I could feel the invisible pressure."

Nadiya continued: "Like, how dare you complain? Aren't you lucky just to be here? But here's what I've come to understand.

"I am allowed to feel more than just thankful. I am a human being, and I am allowed to feel angry when I'm treated unfairly. I'm allowed to want better for myself and for my family. I'm allowed to speak up. I'm allowed to exist fully. Complex, emotional, hopeful, sometimes critical, just like anyone else.

"So, gratitude has its place, but it shouldn't be a muzzle, like a dog. We didn't come here just to survive; we came here to live, to grow, to contribute, to belong, not as a guest, but as a person who has rights and dreams and dignity, just like everyone else."

The baker ended on a poignant note and stated: "So no, I won't always be grateful, and that doesn't make me ungrateful; it makes me human. That's what it does.

"So, I've got here through hard work, through determination, through talent, so no, I won't be grateful. I got here because I'm good at what I do. Just something to think about."

Nadiya's comments were quickly flooded with support from fans and celebrity pals including Radio icon Fearne Cotton who shared a string of red heart emojis.

Reality star Vicky Pattison praised: "Eloquent, beautiful and illuminating," as fellow GBBO winner and Strictly contestant John Whaite added: "Can't stop watching this. Powerful, powerful words. Good on you, beautiful soul."

Singer Annie Lennox penned: "One HUNDRED per cent!!!!! Thank you for sharing your lived experience and perspective!!! Gratitude should never become a silencing muzzle - as you SO rightly say!"

TV cook Dina Sawalha added: "Yes yes yes !!!! Good on you Nadiya! Massive respect to you."