I feel at my happiest here; its where Im meant to be. He hosted alongside Steve Backshall, Liz Bonnin, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Lindsey Chapman. Matt and his family are currently appearing together on Channel 4's Our Farm in the Dales. Want the latest County Durham news delivered straight to your inbox? Matt Baker: Inside the Countryfile presenter's stunning Durham farm In a penned piece for iNews, Matt wrote: ""It was one of those scenarios when you automatically go into rescue mode, so we downed tools, went up there and from day one, it was all hands on deck. Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Dales | All 4 - Channel 4 Fans of new More4 show Our Farm in the Dales were left devastated this week after Matt Baker and his wife Nicola made a sad announcement before the latest episode. As you head north from Scotch Corner, everything on the left-hand side is lovely: miles of green fields rising to massive shoulders of fell, moorland and commons, with the green dales between them. hopefully you can join us on more 4 at 9pm for the last instalment of new beginnings. In the summer of 2006, Baker was a celebrity showjumper in the Sport Relief event Only Fools on Horses. Everyone comes north up the M6 and turns left at the Lake District, but they never turn right, over the North Pennines to the Durham Dales. [5] The couple married at Winston in Teesdale,[3] in 2004[20] and live in Buckinghamshire with their son and daughter. These plants include daffodils, winter, aconite, foxgloves and daisies. Matt Baker celebrates as Our Farm in the Dales lands primetime slot Baker's dog Meg, seen alongside him on the programme from 2000 onwards, left with him. When you turn up here, you almost feel like you are interrupting locals lives but thats the magic of it. Matt Baker revealed his beloved grandfather had passed away recently The TV star's farm is in Hertfordshire, and has featured on Countryfile. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. He said he had never considered putting his family in the spotlight before as he wanted to be the one overseeing the whole process. These activities include herding sheep and feeding the farm animals. Express.co.uk has all you need to know about where the farmhouse is and whether you can stay there. Matt Baker lifts the lid on his wild year running his parent's Durham farm Its the huge open spaces, and the peace, that I love. Matt Baker:This is without doubt the most personal TV show Ive ever made. He wrote an article for inews about the ordeal, saying: "It was one of those scenarios when you automatically go into rescue mode, so we downed tools, went up there and from day one, it was all hands on deck. Baker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for charitable and voluntary services to fundraising. [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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Matt Baker has opened up on his decision to return to farming full-time after his mother was trampled by sheep. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Take your time plan three or four days or more; stop and explore the villages. Matt Baker's Our Farm in the Dales: Where is the family farm? And TV The series is also unscripted meaning that the small camera crew follow the family as they go about their daily lives. By taking these embed codes you are agreeing to the terms and conditions. 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. The series is also unscripted meaning that the small camera crew follow the family as they go about their daily lives. The docu-series is a heartwarming show about Matt and his family who. This clip is for promotional use only. 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. Retracing your steps to Lower Weardale, youll find it feels greener and more inhabited than Teesdale. Well be saying a fond farewell to the puppies as they head to their forever homes. You can see from the top edge of the Yorkshire Dales above Richmond to the distant Greta Valley the Pennine pass where the A66 crosses and north to the high land of County Durham: Hamsterley Forest, Pikeston Fell, Monks Moor, Five Pikes. Now this area is like a magnet for me. Matt's. One Show star Matt Baker rushed back to family farm after mum - mirror The characters around here the farmers and the other neighbours are a real close-knit community. You could probably do the whole journey from Barnard Castle to the hills and down to Durham in an hour and a half; but thats not the point, of course. Matt's parents, including his mother Janice, renovated the farm and kept it going for the family. "Dad rang up and said 'Mum's had a nasty . Speaking of filming Channel 4's Our Farm in the Dales, he told The Metro: "We have our own smallholding in the Chilterns, a smaller version of my parents farm, where we have our own chickens and livestock." If you come in spring, the meadows are full of breeding redshanks, lapwings and oystercatchers. He grew up with his parents having a smallholding, which is a small farm, in the village of Easington whilst his father, Mike, ran a newsagents shop. ", One of his followers was quick to express their sadness at the news, commenting: "Nooooo please make more we've loved it. One of the first is Romaldkirk, a sleepy hamlet laid out around a green. The family farm is a few miles west of Durham, at the gateway to the Durham Dales. The Durham Dales sound idyllic but no one ever knows where they are. Star Matt Baker See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 4 User reviews Episodes 12 Browse episodes 3 seasons 2 years Photos Add photo The story will feature in a More4 series,Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Dales, from Big Circus Media(4x60). EPISODE 1. The star has received endless praise for making the selfless move to support his beloved parents. County Durham is a brilliant place to come for a road trip, especially the Dales. 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. Baker was born on 23 December 1977 at Easington in County Durham where his father ran a newsagent's shop,[2] and his parents had a smallholding in the village. 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. One animal that Matt regularly photographs is his dog Bob, who helps in his everyday farming activities. In this intimate series, Baker returns to his childhood home of Durham to help mother Janice and father Mike. Theres an amazing sense of open space, and I love the fact that you can see the weather coming from miles away. The series shows the TV presenter, his wife and their two children as they move to Durham to help. 2023 GRV Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved. 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. ", Another said: "I love the Baker family! Weve made 6 programmes this time round, picking up where we left off . cant wait for you to see it.". Weirdly, it reminds me of Oxford. Matt Baker returned to live on his family farm in Durham after his mum suffered an accident. See inside Matt's country property where he has sheep, chicken, dogs and donkeys, GALLERY: The One Show stars' homes you need to see. "We live a life thats up and down the whole time anyway I am a northerner through and through and the Durham Dales, where I grew up, are like a magnet; I cant stay away. Last summer, Matt received a call that would lead him to move his wife and two children north to run the farm. The series followed Matt as he tried to adapt his familys sheep farm at his childhood home, for his parents, with his wife and kids on hand to help. Its so dark up there you wouldnt believe it. The room has skylights in the ceiling and glass doors leading out to the garden. Our Farm in the Dales viewers gutted as Matt Baker and wife Nicola make sad announcement. Normally, the Countryfile star lives with his wife Nicola and their children Luke and Molly in an idyllic farmhouse. Thesiblings were filmed working at the wooden dining table. The A689 brings you eventually to Durham city, the end of our road trip. Matt cares for a wide range of animals on his farm. Baker and his crew were also unable to stay at the farm during the coronavirus pandemic, due to lockdown restrictions. Matt Baker: Our Farm on The Dales on More 4 at 9pm and available to watch on the . If you havent seen the first few you can catch up on demand on All4. The 42-year-old broadcaster was busy over lockdown renovating his incredible Durham farm. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. From the castle, the old stone bridge over the Tees leads you to the Middleton road (B6277). 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. There are waterfalls, lakes, rivers, meadows, wild uplands and amazing views. Its worth pulling over at the top for the view. Meet Countryfile presenter Matt Baker's wife and children #MattBaker". Another fan said: "Our farm in the Dales. 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. 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. You are practically above the clouds at times. The presenter said he wanted to make sure his loved ones were happy with what was being shown to the public. - Newcastle restaurateur Terry Laybourne on reopening St Vincent for first time since Covid, Top city chef and 21 Hospitality Group owner Terry Laybourne talks about the March 9 re-launch of quayside restaurant St Vincent, the effects of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and Newcastle's current dining scene. [citation needed]. Lots of changes have been made to the Durham farm to make . 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. The room has a log-burning fire and sofas, with a green bookcase positioned against one wall. DON'T MISS:Orchid care: How to get an orchid to re-flower in one step[COMMENT]When to prune hydrangeas - Best time to cut back hydrangea[INSIGHT]Gardening: Two ways to get rid of weeds from your lawn[TIPS]. WATCH MATT BAKER: OUR FARM IN THE DALES AT 9 PM ON MORE4, AND GET FREAKY WITH US ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK. 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.. Why did Matt Baker and his family move away to the Dales? Total or partial reproduction of this article and its photographs is prohibited, regardless of links or credits. 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. [2][5][6], Baker wanted to become a physiotherapist, but did not achieve the necessary academic standards. In 2016, Baker again provided the BBC commentary on the gymnastic events at the Rio Olympics. Social media snaps have captured chickens, donkeys and their family dogs, with one photograph even showing a sheep in his utility room. Most of them were students. Everybody helps each other. More info. My sixth-form college was right down by the river. PHOTOS:Alex Jones' Scandi-inspired home is haven for third child. In this intimate series, Baker returns to his childhood home of Durham to help mother Janice and father Mike. The pair have two children together: Luke and Molly Baker. Available now. The former Blue Peter and One Show presenter, from County Durham, has a family farm in the Durham Dales . Matt admitted he uses a turntable record player that once belonged to his granddad to regularly to play old vinyl records. The series has appealed to viewers of all ages and there will most definitely be calls for a second season. The TV star could be seen ripping down a wall made of wooden panels, while his daughter Molly filmed his progress., Matt's home also has a utility room, which one of their sheep once managed to get into. Matt Baker takes his mum Janice and dad Mike on some memorable, easy-to-reach excursions around their beloved North East, as they relive old memories and make new ones Sign in to play Episode 4. Prior to this, Matt presented the children's TV show Blue Peter from 1999 to 2005. Where is Our Farm in the Dales filmed? Filming location explored After an appearance in the school production of Grease,[3] it was suggested that he attend drama school. The farming is some of the toughest in Britain. You can unsubscribe at any time. In 2003, Baker learned to fly hang gliders and made a successful tandem world record-breaking flight with Airways Airsports instructor Judy Leden MBE. Baker said the main aim of the series was to provide a sense of escapism and he wanted fans to enjoy meeting his family.