TV presenter Matt Baker appeared on BBC’s The One Show ahead of his brand new TV series, Matt Baker: Our Barn in the Dales
Matt Baker is undertaking an ambitious new project(Image: BBC)
He used to be a familiar face on The One Show.
On Tuesday, October 13 Matt Baker made a return to the famous sofa to talk about his latest project. The Countryfile presenter caught up with his former co-star Alex Jones alongside Roman Kemp to chat about his new series for More 4, Matt Baker: Our Barn in the Dales.
Viewers will see how Matt and his wife Nicola are turning part of his family’s farm into a stunning new home. On Instagram, Matt explained: “We’re deep in an epic adventure which will be spanned across 2 series. The first starting in a couple of weeks is all the building and conversion stuff and another series next year will be the interior bits and bobs.”
Matt made a permanent move to the farm following his mum Janice’s tragic accident back in 2021, and he has made a number of changes since in order to make his family’s life easier.
During his appearance on The One Show, Matt explained why now was the right time to embark on the ambitious barn renovation. He said: “Work and life gets in the way and things get put on hold and last year Nicola and I were like ‘right, it’s time’ Our children are at the age now where they’re off to university and theyre going to go off and fly into their lives.”
He continued: “We knew it was going to be so full on, it’s such a beautiful place and yet it’s so dramatic some of the stuff that we’re doing but it feels so right. And it’s home for me and I feel so happy with what we are doing.”
Matt shared his plans for the barn which has sweeping countryside views and Alex told him “you’ve made the right decision” when he said that he’s decided the new hexagonal extension would house the kitchen rather than his living room.
“The trials and tribulations of what we’re doing,” he laughed as he opened up on the plans and running the farm at the same time. “Well it’s just what you do on farms,” he explained when Roman asked how he managed his time. “You’re just constantly busy. That’s why I love that life. I’m always on the go Roman. I never stop. This is life, this is what I’ve grown up with. It’s where I feel at home.”
Matt and Nicola’s farm is a 100-acre organic sheep farm in the Durham Hills, part of the wider Durham Dales in County Durham. Back in 2015, Matt wrote an article for the Countryfile website about what he loves most about the area, sharing: “You never ever know how good something like this is until you leave it.
“Now this area is like a magnet for me. I come up here with my wife and kids and to stay with Mum and Dad whenever I can. I feel at my happiest here; it’s where I’m meant to be.” The article was written before his mum’s incident, which prompted his permanent move to the farm.
During his appearance on The One Show Matt also discussed his lifelong love of dogs which has inspired his new book, My Dogs & Me. Matt also revealed that he has another string to his bow away from TV presenting and farming – he’s a professional dog trainer.
He fondly spoke of all the dogs he’s had in his life including his first dog, Cromwell, and Meg, the pet who was by his side during his Blue Peter years.
The One Show is on BBC One weekdays at 7pm and on BBC iPlayer