CHRISTMAS at the castle

MATT BAKER and his mum, JANICE, on their tree-mendous adventure

- REBECCA FLETCHER

CHRISTMAS TRAVELS WITH MUM AND DAD

THURSDAY, 9 PM, MORE4 TRAVELOGUE

Watching Matt Baker and his lovely parents Janice and Mike potter around their beloved North East was a TV treat earlier this year. So it’s wonderful to hear they will be spreading festive cheer with a one-off special, Christmas Travels with Mum and Dad.

‘Viewers have loved seeing me take Mum and Dad to enjoy rural days out,’ smiles Matt, who first introduced us to his parents in the More4 hit Our Farm in the Dales in 2021, as he took on the momentous task of modernising their family organic sheep farm in Durham after Janice was injured in an accident.

‘Doing this Christmas special is great because it feels like a celebration after everything we’ve been through on the farm. It was so full-on, so emotional and such hard work, whereas the Travels with Mum and Dad show is about enjoying a fun time together and making some new memories.’

The Yuletide episode sees the trio explore County Durham’s spectacular Raby Castle, which was built in the 14th century, where they help the present owner, the 12th Baron Barnard, prepare for the festive season.

Here, Matt, 44, and Janice, 66, tell TV Times all about their adventures…

Raby Castle looks stunning. Have you visited before? 

JANICE I was involved in the Young Farmers’ Clubs, so I’ve done quite a lot with Raby Castle [as the youth organisation holds events in its grounds], but I didn’t know about its rich history or how it was run. I learnt so much filming this show.