‘It's really magical!'

After a life-changing 17 months, son and mum Matt and Janice Baker chat to TV Times about their plans for Christmas on the family farm

- REBECCA FLETCHER

MATT BAKER: OUR CHRISTMAS IN THE DALES

NEW MONDAY / MORE4 / 9PM / FACTUAL

Santa hats, Christmas jumpers and bespoke hay-filled mangers – for the animals lucky enough to live on Matt Baker’s family farm, it’s going to be a very festive December!

‘We just love it,’ grins Matt, 43, who along with mum Janice joins TV Times to tell us all about their More4 festive special, Our Christmas in the Dales.

‘Christmas is a busy time on any farm and the feeding still needs to be done – we just do it in Santa hats and Christmas jumpers!’

‘It’s a lot of fun,’ smiles Janice, 65, who was seriously injured in July 2020 while tending sheep on their 100-acre Durham farm. ‘This Christmas will be very different to last year’s when I was poorly. I can’t wait!’

Here, in an exclusive interview, Matt and Janice reveal their plans to make this an exceptionally magical Christmas...

You seem to be having lots of fun filming the festive special!

MATT It’s great. Mum loves any excuse for a celebration – she’s had the decorations up since November!

JANICE It’s true! We’re very lucky to have holly, ivy and blue spruce by the farmhouse so we do a lot of bringing the outside in.

The mantelpieces are groaning – I’m going for it big time!

That must be lovely given you couldn’t join in as much last Christmas, Janice…