On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. More info. The Durham Dales are basically two long, green valleys Teesdale and Weardale that rise from the rolling farmland west of Durham, climbing high up to the rugged open moorland of the North Pennines. Matt met his physiotherapist wife when he was performing in a disco show at Pier 39 in Cleethorpes. Now this area is like a magnet for me. Matt attended Easington Village School, then, when he was aged 10, his parents bought a farm west of Durham, which they moved into and renovated. He co-presented the children's television show Blue Peter from 1999 until 2006, BBC One's Countryfile since 2009 and The One Show from 2011 to 2020, with Alex Jones.[1]. The scenery is spectacular. The farming is some of the toughest in Britain. During the four episodes, well follow three generations of Bakers round the farmhouse table as they make big decisions for the future of the farm and Matt repairs, reuses and recycles his way through aheftyto do list. From 2009, he has co-presented BBC One's Countryfile on Sunday evenings. 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They performed in all thirty-five shows on the tour in arenas throughout Britain and Ireland, winning on twenty-six occasions. Will Heaven, Deputy Editor of Telegraph Blogs, wrote: "Was this the unearthing of a true Northern lefty? By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. But just for the record, Barnard Castle the southern gateway to Teesdale is an hour and 20 minutes from Leeds, or a couple of hours from Manchester so its not that far away, really. [7], During his seven years on Blue Peter, Matt's colleagues were Katy Hill, Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Liz Barker, Ze Salmon and Gethin Jones. Express.co.uk has all you need to know about where the farm is and what it looks like. Its full of interesting shops and cafes, and great walks out of town and along the river, perhaps to the eerie ruins of Egglestone Abbey. The 100-acre farm is in the Durham Hills and Baker said it had been an emotional journey returning to support his family. You know that its tough to live here. The show's star and executive producer. The most recent photo he posted was of his cutest new puppies reuniting wrapped in soft white blankets. The characters around here the farmers and the other neighbours are a real close-knit community. Matt lives in the Hertfordshire with his family and their own farm. Baker co-presented Countryfile Summer Diaries on weekday mornings on BBC One, along with Open Country for Radio 4 and Animal Rescue Squad and Animal Rescue Squad International for Channel 5. Everybody helps each other. Matt still plays a very active role in running the farm, but recent circumstances dictatedhis rolewasabout to get a lot more intense. From St Johns Chapel south along the A689 to Westgate, Eastgate, Stanhope and Wolsingham, theres a real depth to the villages. Matt Baker with mum and dad, Janice and Mike (Image: Channel 4) Group 28 Get the latest County Durham news and updates delivered straight to your inbox - sign up for free email updates In 2003, Baker was a guest on A Song For Europe contest to decide the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, where he announced the scores for the North of England. In Season 2 of Our Farm in the Dales, viewers will get to know all of the animals that live on the farm from the loveable miniature donkeys who stay in a tiny stable yard to Black Welsh Mountain sheep. MORE:13 celebrities with amazing outdoor kitchens and dining areas, Matt previously shared a look at the renovations he had been undertaking in the outdoor barn of the property. The presenter said he wanted to make sure his loved ones were happy with what was being shown to the public. Our Farm in the Dales is filmed on-location at the Baker's 100-acre family farm in the Durham Dales. He also has hopes of increasing biodiversity in the woodland, and Farrier John pays the donkeys a visit. Matt is married to his wife and physiotherapist, Nicola, who he wed back in 2004 and the couple share son Luke and daughter Molly together. Everything you need to know about the Countryfile presenter. [11], On 4 December 2019, Baker announced on The One Show that he would be leaving in the spring of 2020. He said he did not want to feel like a presenter this time around, and instead wanted viewers to feel like they were simply joining him on his farm. Don't miss any TV and showbiz news - sign up to free alerts. He averaged around 60 miles per day, raising well over 1.5 million for the charity. Championing traditional craft and heritage skills along the way, Matt will callonthe services of local expertsand friendsto help the family out and heeven finds the time to save his Dads 1946 Dodge car thats been left in a field for 20 years. Theres something here for everybody so be spontaneous and youll have a great time. Total or partial reproduction of this article and its photographs is prohibited, regardless of links or credits. He has one sister and two half-sisters. Its definitely worth stopping for a wander, and perhaps a coffee at the Rose and Crown.A few miles further on lies Middleton-in-Teesdale, a leafy market town whose streets are lined with handsome stone houses. From the age of 5 Baker was a keen dancer and began competing as a gymnast whilst at school. The series focussed on marine wildlife in Monterey Bay, California. Matt and his family live in the Chilterns and have their own smallholding. Matt Baker is celebrating after his show Our Farm in the Dales landed a primetime Saturday night slot on Channel 4 and has teased that there's more to come. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Channel 5 Our Yorkshire Farm: Who will run Ravenseat Farm when Amanda and Clive Owen leave? Or did Baker just misspeak?". Series 3 Episode 4. He said he had never considered putting his family in the spotlight before as he wanted to be the one overseeing the whole process. Want the latest County Durham news delivered straight to your inbox? For the BBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Baker commentated on the gymnastics events. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Here, speaking to The Big Issue for his Letter To My Younger Self, he explains just how much of a privilege growing up in that environment was.. HELLO! GRV Media Ltd, 18 Mulberry Avenue, Widnes. Matt attended Easington Village School, then, when he was aged 10, his parents bought a farm west of Durham, which they moved into and renovated. The loop from Barnard Castle, northwest along Teesdale, over the top to Weardale and finishing at Durham city, has to be one of the best routes in Britain. Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Daleswas commissioned by Channel 4s Deputy Head of Formats & Features Sean Doyle. The Durham Dales sound idyllic but no one ever knows where they are. Well done @deborahddnntt and @Channel4 @More4Tweets". Our Farm in the Dales viewers gutted as Matt Baker and wife Nicola make sad announcement (Image: Instagram) She took to Instagram to post: "It's the last Our Farm in the Dales tonight at. I'm sure this was well-intentioned, but all this programme ends up looking like is Matt Baker broadcasting his family home movie footage on telly. Matt's parents farm which is in the Durham Dales, near to Lanchester appeared in More4's Our Farm in the Dales (2021). The BBC star moved from Hertfordshire to the Dales to help out with the smooth running of the farm and make some much-needed changes. He was one of three main presenters on the final series of the BBC One reality series City Hospital. When Matt Baker's 77-year-old father called him to say his mum had been involved in an accident on their farm, he didn't hesitate. Lots of changes have been made to the Durham farm to make . The docu-series is a heartwarming show about Matt and his family who. From the castle, the old stone bridge over the Tees leads you to the Middleton road (B6277). The episodes were shown across a week and were broadcast live from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London. Matt has a set of concrete steps leading up to his wooden back door. On a personal note Ive loved getting to know the miniature donkeys.. Matt Baker returns home to rescue his family farm in Our Farm in the Dales, Channel 4 initiates Turkey-Syria Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) advert across 29 channels, Crufts returns to Channel 4, More4 and All 4 with wall-to-wall coverage, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins USA Heading to E4, Grant, Joshua and Hilary Pass SAS: Who Dares Wins - Jungle Hell Selection in Dramatic Series Finale. The room has skylights in the ceiling and glass doors leading out to the garden. These activities include herding sheep and feeding the farm animals. Television presenter Matt Baker receives a call that leads him to move his wife and two children north to run his family's sheep farm in the Durham hills after his mum had a serious accident Television presenter Matt Baker receives a call that leads him to move his wife and two children north to run his family's sheep farm in the Durham hills after his mum had a serious accident. If you come in spring, the meadows are full of breeding redshanks, lapwings and oystercatchers. She took to Instagram to post: "Its the last Our Farm in the Dales tonight at 9pm on More4! Express. Due to his love of animals, even when the wholesome presenter found himself working in London full-time when his TV career took off, he moved to a countryside retreat, a smallholding in the Chilterns, where he brought in a flock of sheep, chickens, dogs and a cat so that it became a small-scale version of the family farm. He has now recently appeared on BBC One's A Countryside Christmas with his wife, Nicola on Wednesday (22 December) morning at 10.45am. When I turn on to the A68, suddenly its as if all of my worries leave me, and I think: wow, Im home. My sixth-form college was right down by the river. Matts parents, Janiceand Mike, live on anorganic sheepfarm that dates back to the 1600s. From Langdon Beck, the road to Weardale winds steeply up to a moorland ridge. His other duties include picking up a flock of ewes and organising an enchanting woodland cookout. You never ever know how good something like this is until you leave it. Countryfile's Matt Baker grew up on a small farm in the north of England. At the remote hamlet of Langdon Beck, theres a network of footpaths on the river banks and across farmland here if you fancy a stroll. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Normally, the Countryfile star lives with his wife Nicola and their children Luke and Molly in an idyllic farmhouse. His home has a light brick exterior, in keeping with the country feel. The One Show stars' homes you need to see, Alex Jones' Scandi-inspired home is haven for third child, 13 celebrities with amazing outdoor kitchens and dining areas, Inside the most stylish celebrity kitchens. One of the first is Romaldkirk, a sleepy hamlet laid out around a green. The 43-year-old Countryfile presenter moved back to the family farm in the Durham Dales with wife Nicola and their two children, Molly, 11, and Luke, 13, after his 65-year-old mum Janice was injured in a farming accident in July last . Series 2 Episode 1. The fields are divided by a grid of drystone walls and in midsummer they are full of wildflowers that remind me of the hay meadows on the family farm with the likes of buttercups, hay rattle and red clover, all buzzing with bees. Television presenter Matt Baker receives a call that leads him to move his wife and two children north to run his family's sheep farm in the Durham hills after his mum had a serious accident. Alternatively, click here to sign up online. This clip is for promotional use only. [13], In 2015, Baker along with Mel Giedroyc co-hosted four-part BBC One series The Gift. Before you the road winds down to the green ribbon of Weardale and the village of St Johns Chapel. [22] He is president for Here4Horses.[23]. READ MORE:Matt Baker leaves mum overwhelmed with touching surprise. [9] In August 2010, Baker co-presented the first series of Secret Britain with Julia Bradbury and presented One Man and His Dog with Kate Humble. ", A third posted: "Noooooo, please make more. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The series is a warm, funny,andoftenemotional look at what it takes for aclose-knitfamily,ably assisted byan eclectic mix of animals, to pull together in the face of adversity., Gareth Collett, Executive Producer for Big Circus Media:Saving his family farm is going to be a long project for Matt but hes got some great plans to give the land he grew up on a brilliant future. ", GALLERY:Inside the most stylish celebrity kitchens. The first season of Matt Baker: Our Farm In The Dales, filmed on the family's organic sheep farm, was More4's biggest commission to date, Channel 4 has said. Matt is reportedly worth 7million. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. I come up here with my wife and kids and to stay with Mum and Dad whenever I can. 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Viewers will alsoget to knowthe menagerie of animals that inhabit the farm from the adorable miniature donkeys who live in a bespoke tiny stableyardand thelitter of Cairn Terrier pups who arrive midway through the series. [3] He continued his education at Belmont Comprehensive School in Durham and was a budding gymnast, but was forced to give up after being diagnosed with anaemia aged 14. Normally, the Countryfile star lives with his wife Nicola and their children Luke and Molly in. Baker and his crew were also unable to stay at the farm during the coronavirus pandemic, due to lockdown restrictions. Determined to keep farming, the Bakers knew they had to make some changes. Matt Baker's TV show set on the family farm in Durham County has been recommissioned for two more series and a Christmas special. They get hands on for lambing season and there's exciting news for the goats. The characters around here - the farmers and the other neighbours - are a real close-knit community. [12] Matt continued his previous commentating work by providing commentary for the Tokyo 2020 gymnastics events. You can unsubscribe at any time. Retracing your steps to Lower Weardale, youll find it feels greener and more inhabited than Teesdale. The family farm is a few miles west of Durham, at the gateway to the Durham Dales. #MattBaker". Baker met his wife Nicola, a physiotherapist, when he was performing in the disco show at Pier 39 in Cleethorpes. 46 min 21 Apr 2021. Having grown up onhis familys sheep farm inthe Durhamhills, CountryfileandformerThe One Show presenter Matt Bakerisheading back to rescue his family farm after his mum had a serious accident. A few miles or so north of Middleton-in-Teesdale lies High Force, an amazing waterfall that you just have to see.Just before the tiny village of Forest-in-Teesdale, the landscape levels off into gently rolling grassy fields dotted with farmhouses. Just as well because its not easy living up here. [14] Also in 2007, he co-presented five episodes of Animal Rescue Live with Selina Scott. Jamie Bamber plays Archie Hughes in Beyond Paradise on BBC One. September 28, 2021 - 14:35 BST Sharnaz Shahid. More than one million viewers tuned in to watch the debut episode, making it the biggest audience for More4 since 2014. Having just finished the second year of a three-year course at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, his future wife's aunt spotted that Blue Peter was looking for a new presenter. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. [17] Baker and Vilani also participated in the 2011 Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour. Matt Baker featured in the series Our Farm in the Dales and the four-part season went down a huge hit. On the 23rd August 2021, Channel 4 Television announced that they have commissioned Big Circus Media to make two further 6-episode series and a Christmas special of the hit show. Green valleys, wild moorland, lovely villages and empty beaches let Countryfile presenter Matt Baker share the secrets of his home county, Durham. Matt Baker has opened up on his decision to return to farming full-time after his mother was trampled by sheep. Its rough country; its not manicured. Matt Baker:This is without doubt the most personal TV show Ive ever made. He had previously worked as an entertainer with a 1970s comedy disco-dancing revival show called Disco Inferno, which toured the north of England. [2][5][6], Baker wanted to become a physiotherapist, but did not achieve the necessary academic standards. 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The BBC star moved from Hertfordshire to the. Another family room and dining areadoubled up as a place for Matt's children to study while their schools were closed following the COVID-19 pandemic. The BBC star moved from Hertfordshire to the Dales to help out with the smooth running of the farm and make some much-needed changes. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. [1], On 8 March 2011, Baker gained media attention by asking then-Prime Minister David Cameron, "How on earth do you sleep at night?". In June 2006, Baker played the role of Dick from The Famous Five in The Queen's Handbag. For the latest County Durham news direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The former The One Show star's garden features dry stone walls, wild bushes and a small blue shed that was visible in the background of this picture. He went onto The One Show with co-presenter Alex Jones from 2011 until 2020. Its such a good programme. The former Blue Peter and One Show presenter, from County Durham, has a family farm in the Durham Dales . Its another great place to base yourself for a night or two. The couple married at Winston in Teesdale, in 2004. You are practically above the clouds at times. Matt regularly posts images of his flowers blooming in his hayfields, as he stated that watching the flowers bloom is one of the highlights of the faring year for him. Matt Baker's hit series about his life working back on the family farm is set to return. Last summer, Matt received a call that would lead him to move his wife and two children north to run the farm. ITV Dancing On Ice's Christopher Dean issues Jayne Torvill health announcement. He had to hire a local bed and breakfast for his family and the crew to stay in while they filmed the series. Our Farm in the Dales is coming back. The series shows the TV presenter, his wife and their two children as they move to Durham to help. The 100-acre farm is in the Durham Hills and Baker said it had been an emotional journey returning to support his family. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Another fan added: "Thankyou for making Our Farm In The Dales, it is restoring my faith in humanity. Matt Baker has a 100-acre farm in the Durham Dales which he shows in Our farm In The Dales (Image: INSTAGRAM) However, while away raising money for charity, Matt told how he left his. Theres a string of hamlets and villages along the way, including Cowshill, where the Killhope Burn river rushes beneath a stone bridge before crashing over Burtreeford Falls. Our Farm in the Dales is a heartwarming series that touches on an emotional part of presenter Matt Bakers life. Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. The farming is some of the toughest in Britain.