Countryfile presenter Matt Baker has returned to screens, leading the BBC's coverage of the European Gymnastics Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. The 48-year-old will guide BBC Two viewers through the third day of the men's event from 5pm on Friday (August 21), where the apparatus finals will take place.
Two years ago in Italy, Sol Scott and Uzair Chowdhury won golds for Great Britain in the vault and parallel bars, while home favourite Tommaso Brugnami secured victories in the floor and rings disciplines. The gymnastics continues on Saturday (August 22) at 3pm with the individual apparatus finals.
Matt Baker's Farm and Devastating Loss
Matt relocated his family back to his childhood home in the Durham Dales to help secure the farm's future after his mother, Janice, suffered a severe injury in a farming accident. The documentary series, Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Dales, highlighted the family's efforts to downsize their traditional, heavy sheep breeds to more manageable heritage breeds.
When not filming or assisting his parents in Durham, Matt lives on his own private farm in the Chiltern Hills, Hertfordshire with his wife, Nicola Mooney, and their two children. Matt previously opened up about leaving the farm and his wife to film Countryfile and various other projects. Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, he said: "We are such do-ers, really. We are so supportive of what each other wants to do. But yeah, we've just sort of found our way through because we sort of focus on what we're passionate about."
The family faced a particularly difficult loss when their beloved Border Collie, Bob, died last year. Speaking to Radio Times, Matt said: "That took a lot of getting over. He'd been with me for the major moments in my life, so it was tough when he wasn't."
Matt Baker's Major Career Announcement
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Matt is set to front a new programme called Matt Baker: Life With Dogs for BBC Two daytime. The show will explore the wide variety of roles that dogs fulfil for humans, from working farm dogs and therapy dogs to assistance dogs for those living with disabilities.
Matt 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."
A BBC insider added: "Matt is a much-loved presenter, and viewers will be thrilled to welcome him back with this new series. As a life-long dog-lover, he is the perfect frontman for this show, which examines the many varied ways in which our four-legged friends are more than just pets. The programmes will take a deep dive into the many different ways in which dogs are indispensable to humans."
Coverage of the European Gymnastics Championships is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
