▁of ▁The ▁Sunday ▁Times ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 6 . ▁She ▁then ▁emb ark ed ▁upon ▁a ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁fre el ance ▁journalist , ▁writing ▁for ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁newsp apers ▁and ▁mag az ines . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁her ▁first ▁cook ery ▁book , ▁How ▁to ▁E at , ▁was ▁published ▁and ▁sold ▁ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁copies , ▁becoming ▁a ▁best - s eller . ▁She ▁published ▁her ▁second ▁book ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁How ▁to ▁Be ▁a ▁Dom estic ▁God dess , ▁which ▁won ▁her ▁the ▁British ▁Book ▁Award ▁for ▁Author ▁of ▁the ▁Year . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁she ▁hosted ▁her ▁own ▁cook ing ▁show ▁series , ▁N ig ella ▁B ites , ▁on ▁Channel ▁ 4 , ▁accompanied ▁by ▁another ▁best - s elling ▁cook book . ▁N ig ella ▁B ites ▁won ▁Law son ▁a ▁Gu ild ▁of ▁Food ▁Writ ers ▁Award ; ▁her ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁I TV ▁day time ▁chat ▁show ▁N ig ella ▁met ▁with ▁a ▁negative ▁critical ▁reaction ▁and ▁was ▁cancel led ▁after ▁attract ing ▁low ▁ratings . ▁She ▁hosted ▁the ▁Food ▁Network ' s ▁N ig ella ▁Fe asts ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁followed ▁by ▁a ▁three - part ▁BBC ▁Two ▁series , ▁N ig ella ' s ▁Christmas ▁K itchen , ▁in ▁the ▁UK , ▁which ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁commission ing ▁of ▁N ig ella ▁Express ▁on