Matt Baker: ‘No one’s Strictly experience was more intense than mine’

For a quarter of a century, Matt Baker has presented the biggest shows in telly, from Blue Peter to The One Show , but nothing hit him quite like Strictly . The 46-year-old reached second place in the BBC ballroom competition series with professional dancer Aliona Vilani, 40, in 2010. ‘It was a busy time for me,’ Matt told Metro , ahead of the launch of Channel 4 show Matt Baker: Travels with Mum and Dad season 3.

Busy is an understatement. While Matt was busting a gut on the Strictly live shows and rehearsals, he was also juggling The One Show and Countryfile . He said: ‘I don’t think anybody in the history of Strictly has had a more intense experience than me when you look at all of the work I was doing at the same time.

’ Join Metro's Strictly community on WhatsApp Want to be the first to get all the latest news and rumours from the Strictly dancefloor? Join our Strictly Come Dancing WhatsApp channel to keep up to date with all the behind-the-scenes gossip about your favourite pros, judges and celebrities. Simply click on this link , select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers. Keep dancing! It is an experience the Olympics commentator looks back on fondly 14 years later – although he has not stayed in touch with Aliona or the rest of his Strictly cohort.

Strictly has been battling with its reputation this year after a scandal emerged over the alleged treatment of contes.