Matt Baker returned to The One Show sofa on Tuesday, October 13 to discuss his latest project, a new More 4 series titled Matt Baker: Our Barn in the Dales. The Countryfile presenter joined his former co-star Alex Jones and Roman Kemp to talk about the show, which follows Matt and his wife Nicola as they transform part of his family's farm into a new home.
An Epic Adventure Across Two Series
On Instagram, Matt explained the scale of the project: "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 accident in 2021, and has since made changes to make family life easier. During his appearance, he explained why now was the right time for the ambitious barn renovation.
Why Now Was the Right Time
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."
Plans for the Barn and Farm Life
Matt shared plans for the barn, which boasts sweeping countryside views. Alex told him "you've made the right decision" when he said the new hexagonal extension would house the kitchen rather than his living room. "The trials and tribulations of what we're doing," he laughed, opening up on the plans and running the farm simultaneously.
When Roman asked how he managed his time, Matt explained: "Well it's just what you do on farms. 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."
The farm is a 100-acre organic sheep farm in the Durham Hills, part of the wider Durham Dales in County Durham. In 2015, Matt wrote an article for the Countryfile website about the area, sharing: "You never ever know how good something like this is until you leave it." He added: "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."
Dogs and a New Book
During the appearance, Matt also discussed his lifelong love of dogs, which inspired his new book, My Dogs & Me. He revealed he is also a professional dog trainer, and spoke fondly of dogs he has had, including his first dog, Cromwell, and Meg, who was by his side during his Blue Peter years.
The One Show airs on BBC One weekdays at 7pm and on BBC iPlayer.
