Matt Baker
From Blue Peter's daredevil to Britain's living room favourite, he became the warm, trusted face of countryside life and primetime magazine television.
Born 1977 (age 49)·British television presenter·Birthday: December 23·Generation X
Biography
Matt Baker's journey to becoming one of Britain's most recognizable television presenters began not in a studio, but in a circus tent and on a farm. A trained gymnast and former children's performer, he brought a unique physicality and boundless enthusiasm to Blue Peter in 1999, where he became known for tackling stunts and challenges with a cheerful grit. This genuine, can-do persona proved to be his trademark. After leaving the children's show, he seamlessly transitioned to mainstream BBC One, finding his perfect niche co-hosting 'Countryfile,' where his farming background lent authentic warmth to reports on rural Britain. For nearly a decade, he also anchored 'The One Show,' becoming a familiar evening presence in millions of homes. Baker's skill lies in his relatable, unflappable manner, whether he's shearing a sheep, interviewing a prime minister, or performing a backflip—a versatility that has made him a enduringly popular figure on British television.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matt was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-presented BBC's flagship magazine programme 'The One Show' from 2011 to 2020.
- Has been a main presenter on BBC One's 'Countryfile' since 2009, becoming synonymous with the show.
- Served as a presenter on the children's programme 'Blue Peter' from 1999 to 2006, winning two BAFTA awards.
- Presented the BBC's coverage of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Greenwich New Year's Eve fireworks.
- Finished as runner-up on the 2020 series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' with professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec.
Did You Know?
He is a qualified gymnast and performed in a circus as a teenager as part of 'The Mini Troupers'.
Baker grew up on a hill farm in County Durham and remains a practicing farmer, breeding sheep.
He and his Blue Peter co-host Konnie Huq once delivered the show's weather forecast while suspended from the ceiling of the studio.
He was a champion junior gymnast and considered pursuing it professionally before a back injury.
He has served as a commentator for the BBC's coverage of gymnastics at the Olympic Games.
“You can't be what you can't see, so I try to show what's possible.”
