Matt Baker is going solo for the first time with a new BBC Two daytime series, Matt Baker: Life with Dogs, produced by his own company Big Circus Media. The show will examine the many roles dogs play in human life, from working farm dogs and therapy dogs to assistance dogs for people with disabilities and service dogs that work alongside police and the military.
The 48-year-old presenter, who left The One Show six years ago, spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about the project, which grew out of his decision to become a professionally qualified dog trainer. "This was all about me basically getting my professional dog training qualifications," he joked.
A first solo series
Baker, best known for Blue Peter and Countryfile as well as his time on The One Show, said dogs have been central to his life. He recalled that his first dog was a Saint Bernard and that he has had around 20 dogs in total. "I just felt like I'm at the point in my life where I'm ready to try and help others who have a similar relationship with their dogs that I've had with mine," he said.
"I've had a wealth of experience anyway, and it just felt right that I get professionally qualified. I mentioned it to the BBC, and they were very excited about covering it. So we've coupled my dog training with hero dogs and all the other wonderful dogs out there."
Taking on the competition
The new series will go up against Alison Hammond's ITV show For The Love of Dogs and Pete Wicks For Dog's Sake. Baker said the show celebrates incredible dogs and also offers advice for owners. "There are incredible dogs that do amazing things to enrich our lives in so many ways, from cancer detection dogs to conservation dogs, military and police dogs and therapy dogs," he said.
"We cover an enormous amount, and any dog lover out there is gonna love this show. Not only are we celebrating what dogs can offer us as humans, but they'll also get some great dog training tips along the way."
A new puppy on the farm
The series, which is currently being filmed, is expected to launch later this summer. It will feature a new arrival on Baker's family farm: a sheepdog puppy named Ted, who joined the family two years after the loss of his sheepdog Bob.
"Ted is very good, he's doing well, and he's settling in. We're doing some light obedience training at the moment. He's not doing a huge amount at this stage because you've got to let them be puppies," Baker said. "But he's a beautiful boy with a lovely nature, I've no doubt he'll be a great sheepdog. He will crop up [in the series], we've filmed the majority of it already, but he will crop up."
Born to Bake with Warburtons
The announcement follows Baker's involvement in Warburtons' Born to Bake campaign, which put his baking skills to the test to see if baking is in his DNA. "As a Baker by name, I'd always secretly wondered if I had some natural talent in the kitchen," he said. "I had a fun day with Warburtons and Living DNA, it's fascinating what our DNA can tell us!"
