The Countryfile presenter spent the summer on the family farm honing his skills on a unicycle, doing back swings, and walking on a wire.
But Matt, 44, admits that his penchant for crazy antics led his anxious wife and children to tell him to slow down and take it a little easier.
Fortunately, the former gymnastics champ will soon have more than just his family to watch as he shows off his circus skills in a production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears over Christmas.
After starting to show on Blue Peter, and then The One Show, Matt quickly became one of the most sought-after presenters. His stint at Strictly in 2010 alongside pro Alyona Villani continued to establish him as a primetime favourite.
When his mother Janice was injured after being run over by sheep, it meant he had to spend more time tending to the farm in County Durham.
So he turned his hand to produce his own shows. He now takes center stage alongside his family in Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Dales on Channel 4.
For Matt, who credits Strictly’s challenge with making him better at his job, performing as Joey the Clown at London’s Richmond Theatre would be his second Bantu assignment.
“The last one was three years ago and Goldilocks was in palladium. I had a great time,” Matt said.
“It’s all that cool stuff, because I walk a tightrope. I was a British champion gymnast when I was younger, so all things acrobatic is something I’ve always loved.
“And when I was a little boy, instead of ordering a mountain bike for Christmas, I ordered a unicycle.
“So I was fortunate that Santa brought me one. It would be very intense. I look forward to being fit for that, to be honest with you.”
“It’s a good excuse for a 44-year-old to ride a unicycle and walk a tightrope,” he added.
Matt has even shared his wife Nicola and children Luke, 13, and Molly, 11.
“We have a tightrope in the garden, so they walk on it too,” he said. “My wife will also, no doubt, try on the tightrope.” But it’s not without challenges, Matt admitted.
“The older I get, the more I hurt myself,” he said. “I still think I’m like a teenager and always put my back on.
I’m still like ‘I’m going to do a backflip,’ and everyone is like ‘Dad stop! “And my wife says, ‘Maybe back off.'”
It was this sticking mindset that made him rank second in Strictly.
“It’s hard to believe it was 12 years ago,” Matt said. “We watch as a family and hear that music, it’s like you’re there, and you’ll never lose it.”
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Richmond Theatre, December 3–31. visit: atgtickets.com/Richmond
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