Matt Baker has announced he is quitting his role as co-host of The One Show with an emotional on-air message.
The presenter was tearful as he told viewers he would be leaving the programme in the spring after nine years on the famous sofa.
Addressing viewers directly at the end of Wednesday night’s show, Matt said: “The One Show has been a massive part of my life for almost a decade now, and I have loved every second of being a part of it, but I am leaving this green sofa in the spring.
“It’s time to give someone else the opportunity to see how big-hearted and generous you, the viewers, really are.”
Becoming tearful, Matt also spoke about the show’s annual Rickshaw Challenge, which see him assemble a team of people cycle up and down the country to raise money for Children In Need.
″[Viewer generosity] is something I get to witness every year. When you help to change the life of so many vulnerable youngsters, the Rickshaw Challenge for Children In Need,” he said.
“All that support that you show us, you will never really understand how much that means to me. So I’d like to thank you, and I’d like to pay a huge tribute to all those who have ridden over the last nine years.
Matt also thanked long-term co-host Alex Jones, who is currently on maternity leave, as well as the crew behind the scenes who “make the show feel like a massive family”.
“I’m going to miss you all very much indeed and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
“I’m looking forward most of all to spending evenings with my wife Nicola and putting my kids to bed of an evening.”
Matt joined The One Show in 2011 as a replacement for Jason Manford.
He made his last appearance for the year on Wednesday, ahead of starring in the London Palladium’s pantomime Goldilocks And The Three Bears.
He will return to the early evening BBC One show in the New Year before departing in the spring.
Matt also confirmed he would be staying with the BBC, continuing as one of the hosts of Countryfile and working on the broadcaster’s sporting coverage.
