- Matt Baker (television personality)
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This article is about the British television personality. For other people named Matt Baker or Matthew Baker, see Matthew Baker (disambiguation).
Matt James Baker 
Matt Baker presenting the BBC's coverage of CruftsBorn 23 December 1977
Easington, County Durham, EnglandOccupation TV presenter Known for Blue Peter, Countryfile, The One Show Spouse Nicola Mooney (m. 2004–present) Website mattbaker.info Matthew James Baker (born 23 December 1977) is an English television presenter who co-hosts the Monday-Thursday editions of BBC One's The One Show[1] and co-presents Countryfile on the same channel.
Contents
Early life
Born in Easington, County Durham, Baker's father ran a newsagents shop,[2] and his parents had a smallholding in the village. When he was aged 10, his parents bought a farm west of Durham, which they moved into and renovated.[3] He has one sister and two half-sisters.
As a boy, he was a Junior British gymnast and sports acrobatics champion,[4] but was forced to give up after being diagnosed with anaemia aged 14.[5] After this he undertook various activities to fill the gap in his life, including sheepdog trials[3] and pole vaulting.[5]
In the late 1990s as a student at Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh (now Queen Margaret University), Baker worked as a DJ, and toured with a 1970s comedy disco-dancing revival show called "Al Fresco's Disco Inferno", which toured the northeast.[2] Baker played the part of "Butch Vendor, the LA Bartender,"[6] later changed to Bernie Suntan. He had to juggle wooden clubs, which his father painted to look like spirits bottles, and do back flips.[7]
Presenting career
Blue Peter
Baker had wanted to become a physiotherapist, but due to a combination of an appearance in the school production of Grease and not making the grade academically,[3] it was suggested that he attend drama school. 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 were looking for a new presenter. After failing with four phone calls directly to the producers office, he put together a show reel of him: presenting to camera in the farmyard; reading a story; and riding a unicycle.[5]
Asked to come to London the next day for an interview, he made his first appearance on the show 25 June, 1999. His gymnastic background helped him in the physical challenges that he undertook, training as a stuntman in addition to passing the recruitment courses for both the Royal Marines and the Parachute Regiment.
In 2003 Baker learnt to fly hang gliders & made a successful tandem world record breaking flight with Airways Airsports instructor Judy Leden MBE. [8]
During his seven years on Blue Peter, his colleagues were Katy Hill, Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Liz Barker, Zöe Salmon and Gethin Jones. He also won two BAFTAs for Best Children's Presenter (two years in a row) and a Royal Television Society award. On 5 June 2006 Baker announced his decision to leave Blue Peter at the end of its 2005–06 series.[9] and his last live show was broadcast on 26 June. Baker's dog Meg, seen alongside him on the programme from 2000 onwards, left with him.
Countryfile and nature programmes
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. From 2009 he has co-presented BBC One's Countryfile on Sunday evenings with Julia Bradbury.[10] In August 2010 he was also co-presenter of the popular prime time BBC One series Secret Britain with Bradbury. He has also presented One Man and His Dog, alongside Kate Humble.
The One Show
From May to August 2010 Baker was a guest presenter on weekday evenings, on BBC One's The One Show. Following Jason Manford's resignation on 18 November 2010, Baker acted as a guest co-host on the programme.[11] He took over as permanent Monday-Thursday co-host alongside Alex Jones on 14 February 2011.[1] He gained media attention and accusations of pro-Labour bias for asking Prime Minister David Cameron, "How on earth do you sleep at night?" on the Tuesday 8th March episode of the show. Opinions differed as to whether the question was merely a query about Cameron's work-load or a political accusation.[12]
Other TV work
In 2003, Baker was a guest on the BBC's A Song For Europe contest to decide the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, announcing the scores for the North of England.
Baker was one of three main presenters on the final series of the BBC One daytime reality series City Hospital. In March 2007, and again in 2008 he co-presented the BBC's coverage of Crufts. Also in 2007, he co-presented the one-off daytime series Animal Rescue Live with Selina Scott.
As part of the celebration for London's win to host the 2012 Olympics, Baker co-hosted the London 2012 party alongside Claudia Winkleman on 24 August 2008, after the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
In October 2009, Baker took part in the BBC television reality programme Around the World in 80 Days, to raise money for Children in Need. He undertook the Kazakhstan to Mongolia leg with Julia Bradbury.
Another notable attempt to raise money for Children in Need, saw him ride a bicycle towing a rickshaw 484 miles from Edinburgh to London. This took place in 2011, starting on the 11th of November, running through to the fund raising night on the 18th. He averaged around 60 miles per day and was successful in his attempt, raising well over 1.2 million pounds for the charity.
Gameshows
In the summer of 2006, Baker was a celebrity showjumper in the BBC's Sport Relief event Only Fools on Horses.
On 8 September 2010, he was announced as a participating celebrity in the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering Aliona Vilani.[7] The pair were runners-up to Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev in the final.[13]
Baker and Vilani also participated in the 2011 Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour. They performed in all thirty-five shows on the tour in arenas throughout Britain and Ireland, winning on twenty-six occasions.[14]
Strictly Come Dancing performances
Week Dance/song Judges' score Result Horwood Goodman Dixon Tonioli Total 1 Cha-Cha-Cha / Ain't No Mountain High Enough 7 8 8 8 31 N/A 2 Foxtrot / She Said 7 8 8 8 31 Safe 3 Quickstep / Dreaming Of You[disambiguation needed 
]8 7 8 8 31 Safe 4 Charleston / Forty-Second Street 9 9 9 8 35 Safe 5 Argentine Tango / Bat Out of Hell 8 8 9 9 34 Safe 6 Viennese Waltz / Where the Wild Roses Grow 8 9 9 9 35 Safe 7 Rumba / Too Lost in You 8 9 9 9 35 Safe 8 Samba / Young Hearts Run Free 9 9 10 10 38 Safe 9 American Smooth / Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down 8 8 8 9 33 Safe 10 Jive / Soul Bossa Nova 8 9 9 9 35 Safe 11 Salsa / Spinning Around 7 7 7 7 28 Safe Swing / In the Mood N/A N/A N/A N/A 2nd/4 points Tango / Hung Up 9 10 10 9 38 12 Samba / Young Hearts Run Free 9 9 10 10 38 Second place Showdance / I Like The Way (You Move) 7 9 9 9 34 Paso Doble / Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood 9 8 9 9 35 Viennese Waltz / Where the Wild Roses Grow 9 9 10 9 37 Commentating
For the BBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Baker commentated on the gymnastics events. He also does the voiceover links for BBC Radio Newcastle.
Acting
In 2002, Baker played himself in an episode of the BBC Drama series Cutting It, while in 2005, he briefly appeared as himself in an episode of the revived sci-fi series Doctor Who, whilst The Doctor was flicking through television channels.
In June 2006, Baker played the role of Dick from The Famous Five in The Queen's Handbag.
In 2008 he returned to his native north-east of England to play the role of Caractacus Potts in a production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Sunderland Empire.[15]
Other Work
In early 2011 Matt was elected as the president for the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs [16]
Personal life
Baker met Nicola Mooney[17] (who later trained as a physiotherapist), when he was performing in the disco show at Pier 39 in Cleethorpes.[6] The couple married at Winston in Teesdale,[3] in 2004[17] and live in Buckland Common, Buckinghamshire[18] with their son Luke (born 2007) and daughter Molly Scarlett (born August 2009).[19]
Filmography
Year Title Roles Notes 1999-2006 Blue Peter Presenter 2003 A Song for Europe Celebrity guest 2005 Doctor Who Himself "Aliens of London" episode 2006 The Famous Five Dick Only Fools on Horses Contestant Finished third BBC Gymnastics Commentator The One Show Reporter Never Mind The Buzzcocks Celebrity guest 2006-2008 Evacuation Main presenter 2007 Crufts Main presenter Richard & Judy Celebrity guest Alongside Jo Whiley Animal Rescue Live Presenter Alongside Selina Scott 2008 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Lead character Caractacus Potts Countryfile Summer Diaries Main presenter 2008 Summer Olympics Lead presenter Gymnastics Blue Peter At 50 Guest With past and present Blue Peter presenters London 2012 Party Co-presenter With Claudia Winkleman 2009 Around The World In 80 Days Contestant With Julia Bradbury 2009-present Countryfile Main presenter With Julia Bradbury 2010 The One Show Presenter Guest presenter and stand-in co-host Secret Britain Presenter With Julia Bradbury Strictly Come Dancing Contestant Partnered Aliona Vilani and finished second 2011 - present The One Show Presenter Main Monday - Thursday co-host, with Alex Jones References
- ^ a b Matt Baker named as new One Show presenter BBC News, 25 January 2011
- ^ a b "Matt's the man". The Journal. Mirror Group Newspapers. 23 May 2009. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Matt%27s+the+man%3B+North+lad+Matt+Baker+has+gone+from+a+juggling...-a0200362772. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d "My North: Matt Baker". Living Northeast. 25 February 2010. http://www.livingnortheast.co.uk/features/5028861.My_North___Matt_Baker/. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ Matt Baker The Right Address
- ^ a b c Hardy, Rebecca (11 December 2010). "The fabulous Baker boy: Saviour of Countryfile, star of The One Show and Strictly’s surprise hit... so what’s Matt's secret?". London: Mail Online. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1336830/The-fabulous-Baker-boy-Saviour-Countryfile-star-The-One-Show-Strictly-s-surprise-hit--s-Matts-secret.html#ixzz17pzHvUZX. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- ^ a b "TV personality Matt Baker favourite to take Strictly Come Dancing crown". This is Grimsby. 11 December 2010. http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news/Matt-Baker-dances-inferno/article-2716008-detail/article.html.
- ^ a b "Matt Baker". Strictly Come Dancing 2010. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/2010/dancers/celebrity/matt_baker.shtml. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ "Hang-gliders break world record". BBC News. 15 October 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2331253.stm.
- ^ "Matt Baker is leaving Blue Peter" Newsround, 5 June 2006
- ^ Countryfile moves to peak time on BBC One BBC Press Office, 6 March 2009
- ^ Jason Manford quits The One Show BBC News, 19 November 2010
- ^ "Matt Baker, David Cameron's baby-faced assassin". The Daily Telegraph (London). 9 March 2011. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/willheaven/100079180/matt-baker-david-camerons-baby-faced-assassin/.
- ^ Kara Tointon crowned Strictly Come Dancing winner BBC News, 19 December 2010
- ^ http://www.strictlycomedancinglive.com/tour-dates-2011/previous-2011-winners/
- ^ Review: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sunderland Empire Journal Live, 23 April 2008
- ^ http://www.nfyfc.org.uk/national_news?articleid=1291
- ^ a b UK Civil Registration index - Marriages
- ^ Matt’s at home in the Hilltops Hilltop News, Cholesbury-&-St Leonards Parish, August-September 2010
- ^ Matt Baker: Country boy finds best of both worlds Mail Online, 4 May 2009
Preceded by
Stuart MilesBlue Peter Presenter No. 28
1999–2006Succeeded by
Andy AkinwolerePreceded by
Kevin KennedyActor to portray Caractacus Potts
2008Succeeded by
Aled JonesChristopher Trace · Leila Williams · Anita West · Valerie Singleton · Sandra Michaels · John Noakes · Peter Purves · Lesley Judd · Simon Groom · Christopher Wenner · Tina Heath · Sarah Greene · Peter Duncan · Janet Ellis · Michael Sundin · Mark Curry · Caron Keating · Yvette Fielding · John Leslie · Diane-Louise Jordan · Anthea Turner · Tim Vincent · Stuart Miles · Katy Hill · Romana D'Annunzio · Richard Bacon · Konnie Huq · Simon Thomas · Matt Baker · Liz Barker · Zöe Salmon · Gethin Jones · Andy Akinwolere · Helen Skelton · Joel Defries · Barney Harwood
Strictly Come Dancing series 8 Kara Tointon · Matt Baker · Pamela Stephenson · Scott Maslen · Gavin Henson · Ann Widdecombe · Patsy Kensit · Felicity Kendal · Michelle Williams · Jimi Mistry · Tina O'Brien · Peter Shilton · Paul Daniels · GoldieCategories:- 1977 births
- Living people
- People educated at Easington Community Science College
- Alumni of Queen Margaret University
- Blue Peter presenters
- English gymnasts
- English television presenters
- People from Easington, County Durham
- Strictly Come Dancing participants
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