Matt Baker makes TV return in Northumberland after family's 'heartbreaking' loss

Matt Baker posted an 'emotional' tribute to his parents, as he confirmed his family's return to screen on Monday, weeks after they were all heartbroken by the death of a beloved pet.

More than two decades have passed since County Durham born star Matt shot to TV fame as a presenter on Blue Peter, before then going onto reach the final of Strictly Come Dancing and land the role as one of the main hosts on long running BBC evening programme The One Show.

Matt bid an emotional farewell to his One Show colleagues a few years ago and, since then has been earning a new legion of fans thanks to his family's heart-warming shows on More4. First up was Our Farm in the Dales, which was filmed as Matt returned home to help on his family's farm, after mum Janice was seriously injured in a work accident.

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The show proved so popular that it was moved to a primetime Saturday night slot on Channel 4 and bosses were so impressed by Matt's on screen chemistry with parents that they then commissioned spin-off Travels with Mum and Dad. Episodes have seen Matt, together with Janice and husband Mike, travel to famous North East landmarks including Beamish and Bamburgh and the trio were back in Northumberland to film the first episode of a new series.

They took Janice's new puppy Archie and the family's cockerel with them as they headed to the annual Northumberland County Show and teasing Travels with Mum and Dad's return, as well as paying tribute to his parents, Matt, recently on duty as a gymnastics commentator for the BBC at the Olympics, wrote: "If like me you’re lucky enough to have your Mum and Dad I hope this show gives you the nudge to go out and have fun together and that you notice you don’t have to travel far to have a wonderful time together."

He added: "Be the instigator to give your folks precious time that’s more valuable than any materialistic stuff you could get them."

The post about Travels With Mum and Dad's comeback to More4 was Matt's first since he announced the sad passing of his family's much loved labrador Annie last month. Matt confirmed Annie's death in a moving tribute to her, which read: "She helped me and Nicola raise our kids and we owe her so much - just pleased we were all with her at home. I’m sure you’ll agree the reason we all love our dogs so much is, because the only time they break our hearts is when they leave us"