Matt Baker has revealed he lived in London for just weeks after landing his role on Blue Peter, before moving back to the countryside.
The 48-year-old broadcaster, who has teamed up with Warburtons on a new campaign, joined Blue Peter in 1999 alongside hosts Konnie Huq, Katy Hill, Liz Barker and Zoe Salmon and spent seven years on the show. During that time he took home two BAFTAs for best children's television presenter and a Royal Television Society Award.
Why Matt Baker left London
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Baker opened up about how different the capital was. He said: "It was very, very different. It was incredible, actually, and in fact, when I went down, I stayed in a little flat on Chiswick High Road for a matter of weeks and then it was back out into the greenery."
"I was straight out to the Chilterns, really, to try and get some space to be out there. And then Meg came along, my Border Collie, and she came from a neighbour's farm up in Durham, where I'm from, so it was meant to be."
"It was Meg and me, and viewers got to know our partnership through the incredible years on that show."
He previously told the Radio Times that his move to London was the first time he had been without a dog. "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. So when I began Blue Peter, I realised it would be ideal to get one and have some amazing adventures," he said.
Seven years on Blue Peter
Despite leaving the city, Baker went from strength to strength on screen. He looked back fondly on his time on the show, saying: "Blue Peter was unbelievable, it really was. We were there in its heyday, so we got to do all these experiences, and we went travelling, and we got to show all of that to our young viewers."
"We really got to go everywhere, from staying with nomadic tribes in the Atlas Mountains or in the jungle, doing all this military stuff. It was mind-blowing, to be honest with you. When I think back to what I did, I can't actually believe I did it."
"It was a total life change, and one that inspired so much of a career in television afterwards because you learn a great deal when you work on a program as loopy as that. We were doing five programmes a week, and we weren't just a studio-based show, we were off doing all these little films and travelling all the time and then landing back and doing a live broadcast."
"It was a total baptism of fire of what you can do in television, and it's hard for any other programme to live up to that. That Blue Peter badge can get you anywhere."
Born to Bake with Warburtons
Baker has now teamed up with Warburtons on its Born to Bake campaign, taking the ultimate test to see if baking is in his DNA with Living DNA. He said: "As a Baker by name, I'd always secretly wondered if I had some natural talent in the kitchen. I had a fun day with Warburtons and Living DNA - it's fascinating what our DNA can tell us!"
