My wife, Nicola, and I moved to an old farmhouse in the Chilterns about 12 years ago. It needed a lot of work but I’m more than happy to get stuck in. I’ve done everything from replacing windows and roof joists to plastering walls and sorting out the gutters. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to look around and say, “I did that!” Those are the things that turn “a house” into “our home”.
Why the Chilterns?
All the usual reasons: close enough to London for work, but I still get to enjoy green fields, hills and a flock of sheep. When I moved to London, just after I got a job on Blue Peter, I lived in a tiny flat on Chiswick High Road. I hated it. I felt boxed in. There was a communal garden for the whole block and in a desperate attempt to get myself a dose of the outdoors, I went round all the flats asking people if they’d mind me redoing the garden. They looked at me as if I was mad. That was the point when I realised that I needed nature to make me happy. I always wondered if they advertised for another northerner after I left, thinking they’d get another free gardener.
Who looks after the garden these days?
It’s very much a working garden and we all get stuck in. My favourite bit is the orchard. We’ve got 16 varieties of apple and some of the trees are seriously old. The whole point of living in a house like this is giving the kids a sense of what life was like for me when I was their age. The animals, the orchard, the big skies, planting and harvesting vegetables, the wildlife, being in touch with the seasons, not being afraid of getting your hands dirty. I’ve got mates who can’t even put up a shelf! At least have a go before you start calling out the local handyman.
Your childhood home in County Durham is featured in your Channel 4 series Our Farm in the Dales. What was it like growing up on a working farm?
There’s an interesting difference between a regular home and a working home like a farm. I call them make-do-and-mend homes. They’re full of walls that aren’t quite straight and doors that don’t quite fit. Strange nooks and crannies that have no purpose. You can see where people have made quick repairs and alterations because that was what was required at the time. It’s almost like the house is haunted, but not in a frightening way. There’s blood, sweat and tears soaked into the walls and floors. A direct connection with the past and the people who have lived there.
Describe the teenage Matt Baker’s bedroom
Model aeroplanes hanging from the ceiling, Street Hawk [1980s TV show] quilt cover and wallpaper. I had the airing cupboard in my room — which was great for hardening conkers — and another massive cupboard stuffed with every toy that I’d ever been bought. I hate getting rid of stuff, even today. I had a call from my mum recently and she’d found some of my old toys. She wanted to throw them out. No way! I hate this disposable culture we’ve created. I have a connection with those toys. I have memories. Why would I want to get rid of them? It’s like throwing away a part of me.
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Are you a messy person to live with?
Yes and no. I like a home to look lived-in; never been a huge fan of those houses with bare walls and empty white rooms. Wouldn’t last two minutes with my lot. Dog leads, tools, vegetables, muddy footprints and lots of wellies. In fact, I’ve got so many pairs of wellies, boots, gloves and waterproofs that I’ve built myself a walk-in wardrobe for them. There’s a whole section just for helmets and goggles. Well, you never know when you might want to go caving or mountaineering.
What’s your most treasured possession?
I’m not sure it would be the most treasured, but I am very fond of my tool shed. Some of the stuff in there was my dad’s and I can remember using that saw or that screwdriver to mend a fence when I was 10 or 11 years old. Dad sometimes comes and helps me with stuff on the house and we instantly settle into this quiet, contented state. Being with someone you love, doing something that matters. That’s quality time we’re spending together.
Ever thought about moving to another country?
During my time with Blue Peter I was lucky enough to visit almost every corner of the globe. Wyoming is a huge place and it left a huge impression on me. I don’t know if it will ever happen, but I sometimes imagine myself looking after a ranch in the shadow of the Teton mountains. Riding out on horseback, miles from anywhere, no mobile signal. Being in a place like Wyoming gives you a little reminder that nature is in charge and you need to treat it with respect.
Matt Baker: Our Christmas in the Dales is on Monday December 13 at 9pm on More4 and All 4
