Matt Baker was reunited with Alex Jones on The One Show on Tuesday night when he shared details of the "trials and tribulations" of his new home project that is the subject of a new TV series.
Matt Baker: Our Barn in the Dales on More4 will follow Matt and his wife Nicola as they transform a section of his family's farm into a beautiful new residence. They relocated permanently to the farm after his mother Janice's devastating accident in 2021, and he has implemented several alterations since then to simplify his family's daily life.
Why now for the barn conversion
Speaking on The One Show, Matt outlined why the moment had arrived to undertake the substantial barn conversion. He said: "Work and life gets in the way and things get put on hold and last year Nicola and I were like 'right, it's time' Our children are at the age now where they're off to university and they're going to go off and fly into their lives," reports the Mirror.
He added: "We knew it was going to be so full on, it's such a beautiful place and yet it's so dramatic some of the stuff that we're doing but it feels so right. And it's home for me and I feel so happy with what we are doing."
Matt revealed his vision for the barn, which boasts stunning countryside views, and Alex told him "you've made the right decision" when he confirmed that the new hexagonal extension would accommodate the kitchen rather than his living room.
Life on the farm
"The trials and tribulations of what we're doing," he laughed as he discussed the plans while simultaneously running the farm. "Well it's just what you do on farms," he explained when co-host Roman Kemp asked how he balanced his time.
"You're just constantly busy. That's why I love that life. I'm always on the go Roman. I never stop. This is life, this is what I've grown up with. It's where I feel at home."
Matt and Nicola's farm is a 100-acre organic sheep farm situated in the Durham Hills, part of the broader Durham Dales in County Durham.
A lifelong connection
In 2015, Matt penned an article for the Countryfile website about what he cherishes most about the region, writing: "You never ever know how good something like this is until you leave it."
"Now this area is like a magnet for me. I come up here with my wife and kids and to stay with Mum and Dad whenever I can. I feel at my happiest here; it's where I'm meant to be." The piece was written prior to his mum's incident, which led to his permanent relocation to the farm.
During his appearance on The One Show, Matt also spoke about his lifelong passion for dogs, which has inspired his new book, My Dogs and Me. Matt also disclosed that he has another skill beyond television presenting and farming - he's a professional dog trainer.
He spoke warmly of all the dogs he has owned throughout his life, including his very first, Cromwell, and Meg, the beloved companion who stayed by his side during his time on Blue Peter. The One Show is on BBC One weekdays at 7pm and BBC iPlayer.
