Alumni: Matt Baker visits Durham

Ex-student Matt Baker is back in Travels with Mum & Dad as the trio head down by the riverside in Durham in the latest episode.

Matt Baker is known for his roles on BBC’s Countryfile and for touring the country with his farming parents, Mike and Janice. In the latest season of his travel show, he takes his mum and dad to one of the biggest events in Durham’s social calendar – the 191st Durham Regatta.

The family will also explore some of the wonders of the regatta’s historic surroundings, including the famous Durham Castle. They are also treated to a lift in a rare vintage car to see the stunning sights within the Durham University Botanic Garden.

Matt said it was a privilege to be able to tour the country with his parents and make more memories. He explained: “The key with it is they’re always close to home because obviously, having a farm you can’t go far.

“And plus, with the dad being like 80, the reality of them planning to go on some sort of adventure was never going to be the case.”

Matt was born in County Durham and here’s all you need to know about his early life and his family.

The 46-year-old presenter was born in Easington where his dad ran a newsagent’s shop and his parents had a smallholding in the village.

The star, who has one sister and two half-sisters, moved to Durham when he was 10 as his parents sold up and started an organic sheep farm. Matt took A-levels in Drama, Biology and Sports Science at Durham Sixth Form Centre. He then moved to Edinburgh to train as an actor at Queen Margaret University’s School of Drama.

Matt once said in an interview that his mum Janice who most wanted the move to the country.

He said: “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.”

Matt took over the running of his parents’ farm in July 2020 after Janice had a horrible accident when she was knocked over by some large sheep.

After suffering a broken leg, her recovery meant she was no longer able to look after the 100-acre hill grazing farm.

Matt and his family moved to the farm, which he made more manageable by buying smaller sheep.