Matt Baker has taken a look back at his Blue Peter days, as he prepares to return to screens with a fresh career project. The 48-year-old presenter, best known for fronting The One Show, Countryfile and his farming series, is launching a brand new podcast. He will invite guests into his Petcast caravan to discuss everything animal-related.
A special bond with Meg
Baker's most famous four-legged friend was Meg, the border collie who accompanied him throughout his seven years on Blue Peter. Reflecting on that period in an interview with Radio Times Magazine, he admitted he felt 'lost' before becoming Meg's owner.
'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 shared. 'So when I began Blue Peter I realised it would be ideal to get one and have some amazing adventures.'
'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 added.
Baker said he enjoyed 'seven glorious years' on the programme with Meg, who died in 2011. '[We] spent the rest of her days on the farm,' he revealed. '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.'
Countryfile and beyond
Three years after leaving Blue Peter, Baker joined Countryfile, where he remains part of the presenting team. Discussing 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.'
Between 2011 and 2020, he co-presented the BBC's The One Show alongside Alex Jones. After leaving, he established his own production company, Big Circus Media, with Gareth Collett.
Through the company, he developed Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker, which chronicles the National Trust as it seeks a new tenant to manage a 600-acre farm in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in North Wales. The programme last aired in 2025; it is unclear whether a new series will air this year.
New dog-focused projects
In addition to his podcast, Baker will front Matt Baker: Life With Dogs for BBC Two daytime, produced by his company. 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.'
