Matt Baker is back with his new series, Our Barn in the Dales, but he once had his heart set on something very different.
Matt Baker fans were confused over why he was covering the World Gymnastics Championships.
TV presenter and farming icon Matt Baker is back with his family in a new series called Our Barn in the Dales, as he takes on the mammoth task of renovating an old barn on his family farm. However, he has also been spotted on the BBC as the lead commentator at the World Gymnastics Championships, and his role left viewers curious as to why he was covering sport.
Best known for his roles on Countryfile and The One Show, the presenter had a completely different passion in his early years and has since become a well-known voice at the Olympic Games, European Championships and Commonwealth Games. Gymnastics has been close to his heart since childhood and he once dreamed of representing Great Britain at the Olympics.
Sadly, his dreams were shattered after a health battle forced him to say goodbye to his dream of becoming a competitive gymnast. He had started training when he was just five years old and went on to win a North of England title.
He once scored a perfect 10 from the British Amateur Gymnastics Association during his early years, but his dream came crashing down when he was diagnosed with anaemia at the age of 13. Anaemia, which refers to low levels of healthy red blood cells, causes symptoms like extreme tiredness, weakness and shortness of breath.
The condition meant he could no longer train with such intensity and he made the tough decision to step away from the sport. Speaking to Wiltshire Farm Foods about the decision, Baker previously said: “It meant I just couldn’t train to the level that was needed, so I made the heartbreaking decision to stop.”
He previously told The Telegraph the diagnosis had left him “really upset”, adding: “When I was told aged 13 that I was anaemic and had to slow down my gymnastics training, which meant that I wouldn’t be able to continue at the level I was at, I was really upset.
“I’d lost my identity in a way. But then I just committed to something else: I went off and became a North of England pole-vaulting champion and did sports acrobatics.” He has also agreed that people often got confused seeing him as a sports commentator.
He shared with TV Times: “It makes me laugh when people ask, ‘Why is the guy from Countryfile commentating on gymnastics?!’ But yes, I love the eclectic mix of things that I do and have done.”
During the recent coverage of the Gymnastics World Championships, Matt announced that his fellow commentators, Christine Still and Craig Heap, would be leaving the team and he offered an emotional tribute, saying: “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this could be the last time that we all sit together and enjoy the gymnastics.
“Christine, we have worked together for 20 years. You’ve been like a mum to me, you really have, as we’ve travelled all over the world together. And may I say, I’ve loved every single second.” Matt then turned to Craig, adding: “We’ve been friends for many, many years. I’ve loved your company, mate. Honestly, I’m so gonna miss you both, I really am.”
BBC viewers were left feeling emotional after watching Matt’s tribute, calling it the end of an era.
Our Barn in the Dales returns to More4 on Tuesdays at 9pm
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