Matt Baker has looked back on his Blue Peter days as he launches a fresh career project. The 48-year-old is widely recognised for fronting programmes such as The One Show, Countryfile and his farming series.
Feeling lost without a dog
Discussing that chapter of his life with Radio Times Magazine, he revealed: "When I moved down to London it was the first time in my life that I'd been without a dog and I felt quite lost." He added: "So when I began Blue Peter I realised it would be ideal to get one and have some amazing adventures."
Meg's story on Blue Peter
His most famous four-legged friend was Meg, the border collie who accompanied him throughout his seven-year tenure on Blue Peter. "Blue Peter supported me. Meg came from a neighbour's farm up in Durham. We covered me rearing her as a puppy to her having pups herself and the nation's children took her to their hearts," he said.
Matt described "seven glorious years" on the programme with Meg, who died in 2011. "[We] spent the rest of her days on the farm," he explained. "I still think that's a wonderful thing for children to see on TV, especially those who perhaps couldn't have a dog. They saw Meg as theirs and I loved that. It made me really proud."
Later career and production firm
Three years after his Blue Peter exit, Matt joined the Countryfile team, which he continues to be part of. Reflecting on his future with the programme in 2024, he told The Sun: "I've no plans to leave Countryfile. I mean you know I'm not on it as much as I used to be but I'm still very much part of that family."
From 2011 to 2020, Matt also fronted the BBC's The One Show alongside Alex Jones. After departing the programme, he established his own production firm, Big Circus Media, with Gareth Collett. Through the business, he developed Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker, which chronicles the National Trust as it hunts for a new tenant to manage a 600-acre farm in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in North Wales. The programme was last broadcast in 2025 and it's currently unclear if a new series will return this year.
New projects: podcast and TV show
Now, the television host is inviting guests into his Petcast caravan to talk all things animals for his brand new podcast. Alongside the podcast, he will front Matt Baker: Life With Dogs for BBC 2 daytime, produced by his firm. He told The Mirror: "Dogs have been a lifelong passion of mine and I'm so excited to be making this series about the bond between humans and dogs. As well as acquiring my professional dog training qualifications I'm going to be meeting a whole range of incredible canines that enrich our lives from cancer detection to conversation. It's the ultimate show to celebrate our lives with dogs."
