Matt’s the man

May 23 2009 by Michael Kelly, The Journal

North lad Matt Baker has gone from a juggling bartender to acrobat and gymnast to Blue Peter presenter. Now in another career leap he is helping to present Countryfile. He reveals to Mike Kelly why the job is like returning to his roots.

IT’S an odd name, Butch Vendor. Chosen to rhyme with bartender, former Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker gives a good natured chuckle as he is reminded of one of his lesser known roles.

He was part of travelling comedy disco dancing group ‘Disco Inferno’ which used to tour clubs in the North East.

“It’s amazing what you do when you’re a student,” he comments, wryly. His dad Mike used to help create special coloured glass bottles for him to juggle, like Tom Cruise in the film Cocktail.

And like Tom, Matt got the girl, in this case Nicola, who he met when he was 18 and is now his wife.

The couple now live near Tring in Hertfordshire with son Luke aged two and another child on the way in August.

Matt, 31, says he couldn’t be happier, in his distinctive County Durham accent.

He was born in Easington and his dad ran a newsagents in Easington Colliery. However, when he was 10 his parents sold up and started an organic sheep farm west of Durham where his family still live and mum Janice is County organiser for Durham Young farmers.

Matt said it was Janice who perhaps most wanted the move to the country.

He explains: “She was adopted and doesn’t know much about her background but she was drawn to the countryside. Before we moved she said ‘this is the time’. It’s a beautiful part of the world.”

Perhaps a bit like his mum, Matt has proved to be a bit of a driven character too.

In a wide ranging CV he was British gymnast and sports acrobatic champion as a lad and after being Butch got his big break in June 1999 when he joined Blue Peter, becoming its 28th presenter.

His gymnastic background helped him become the all action

It was an amazing job. I got to travel the world. I had a whale of a time being able to do it.