BBC’s Countryfile presenter Matt Baker has given a candid update on his health during an interview with iconic comedian Harry Hill, after suffering a painful injury.
Matt Baker has shared an update on an injury(Image: BBC)
Renowned television figure Matt Baker has given an update on a health issue that he has been dealing with for some years. The 48-year-old, who has been co-presenting Countryfile since 2009, spoke about the matter during a vodcast (video podcast) interview earlier this month.
Matt, who was being interviewed by comedian Harry Hill on The Harry Hill Show on YouTube, was asked to engage in some gymnastic activities after the latter had performed a move called ‘The Crab’.
However, Matt declined because he had a back injury. When Harry asked: “Do you want a go?”, Matt replied: “I’ve slipped a disc so I can’t do the crab.”
Matt, who was a competitive gymnast in his youth, subsequently joked: “But I can do a triple back somersault, like, in one.”
This isn’t the first time Matt has addressed his back injury with the former The One Show presenter previously opening up about it two years ago in 2024.
Matt suffered a back injury when he was engaged in a performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and he came crashing down on his coccyx when he did a stunt involving chairs during the show.
The incident, in late 2022, caused Matt to have a herniated disc, something that required him to attend rehabilitation sessions in order to fix the issue.
Speaking to The Sun in September 2024, he admitted that it had not been the easiest thing to manage and deal with. He said: “It’s a pain, it’s really challenging to get back and get fully fit again. I’m still like, really… Yeah it’s really tough. I’m just trying to do rehab all the time and stretch and do strength training exercises and that.”
In a separate interview, this time with the MailOnline, Matt said that one Christmas, the pain had been so bad that his family had to do a critical part of the festivities whilst he was still in bed.
Matt, a former gymnast, said: “We did presents in the bedroom. My wife was very kind and put a Christmas tree up in there too, and hung baubles off the doorknobs. I had to have Christmas dinner off a tray. It was my worst Christmas.”
Outside of his physical health, Matt has been a vocal advocate for people with neurological differences, including those who, like himself, are neurodivergent.
Matt has talked extensively about what it is like to live with both ADHD and dyslexia, going so far as to say that his neurodivergence is a “superpower”.
His neurodivergence came up in a recent interview with the Radio Times in which Matt talked about the loss of his beloved border collie Bob.
Addressing his grief, Matt touched on the role pets had played throughout his life and how his own brain had reacted to them during that time.
He said: “I have ADHD and dyslexia, but when I was younger I was known as a sort of hyperactive child and, for me, pets were my companions on adventures, running around outside and doing stuff. They were a constant presence.”
Matt was then asked whether the pets he’d had as a child and into adulthood had operated almost like therapy dogs before such a term was widely used. To this he responded: “Yes, as it turns out, and continue to do so.”
