Matt Baker, the well-known BBC presenter, has returned to television screens, this time fronting the broadcaster’s coverage of the European Gymnastics Championships currently taking place in Zagreb, Croatia.
At 48 years old, Baker is offering expert commentary on BBC Two, with viewers able to tune in from 5pm on Friday 21 August for day three of the men’s competition, which features the apparatus finals. The championships saw memorable performances two years ago in Italy, where Great Britain’s Sol Scott and Uzair Chowdhury won gold in the vault and parallel bars respectively, and home favourite Tommaso Brugnami triumphed in the floor and rings events. This year, audiences are eagerly anticipating who will claim victory.
Coverage will continue on Saturday 22 August from 3pm, with the individual apparatus finals.
READ MORE: Controversy Surrounds New Pergolas at Cheltenham’s No 131 Hotel Over Planning Concerns
READ MORE: Dan Robson aims to bring stability and success to Gloucester Rugby
Beyond his presenting work, Matt Baker’s personal life has been a subject of interest. He notably moved his family back to his childhood home in the Durham Dales to protect the future of his family farm following a serious injury sustained by his mother, Janice, during a farming accident.
His documentary series, Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Dales, documented the family’s journey as they shifted from traditional large sheep breeds to more manageable heritage varieties.
When not filming or helping on the family farm in Durham, Matt lives on his private farm in the Chiltern Hills, Hertfordshire, with his wife Nicola Mooney and their two children. He has previously spoken candidly about the challenges of leaving his farm and family to centre on his television work.
In an interview with Lorraine Kelly, he said: “We are such doers, 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 has also faced difficult moments, including the loss of their Border Collie, Bob, last year. Reflecting on this in the Radio Times, Matt shared, “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.”
Earlier this month, it was announced that Matt will present a new daytime programme on BBC Two called Matt Baker: Life With Dogs. The series explores the vital roles dogs play in people’s lives, from working farm dogs and therapy dogs to assistance dogs helping individuals with disabilities.
Speaking to the Mirror, Matt said, “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 source 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.”
The European Gymnastics Championships can also be streamed on BBC iPlayer for viewers wishing to follow the competition in full.