Matt Barbet

Matt Barbet
Born Matthew Barbet
8 June 1976
Chester, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom
Occupation Journalist, presenter, newsreader
Employer ITN (for 5 News)
ITV
Notable credit(s) 5 News (2007–12, 2014–)
Daybreak (2012–14)
The Cycle Show (2014—)
Spouse(s) Katie
Children 2

Matthew Barbet (born 8 June 1976) is a British television presenter and journalist currently employed by ITN.

In 2003, Barbet joined BBC News, where he worked on various news programmes. In September 2007, he joined 5 News. He covered some of the broadcaster's main news events. He left Channel 5 in July 2012 to join ITV for their breakfast programme Daybreak, which he began co-hosting with Ranvir Singh in September 2012. In March 2014, it was announced that the show had been axed with Barbet making his last appearance on the show on 4 April 2014.

During his time at Daybreak, Matt also presented a number of news bulletins for the national ITV News bulletins. However, in 2014 Barbet left ITV News and returned to 5 News.

Early life

Growing up in North Wales, Barbet attended the Alun School in Mold, Flintshire and later studied at Cardiff University before returning to the Cardiff School of Journalism.

Career

Before joining BBC London in 2003, Barbet worked at BBC Radio 1 as a newsreader on the Sara Cox Breakfast Show. In 2006 he presented BBC London's Children in Need coverage. He also presented the BBC's STORYFix programme – a light, upbeat look at the news shown on BBC News 24 and the BBC website. In 2007 he was an occasional relief presenter for BBC Breakfast.

In September 2007, Matt Barbet was named as a presenter and correspondent for 5 News on Channel 5. His position came after Kirsty Young, the principal anchor, announced her departure from the programme. He took up his new role in November 2007.[1] In June 2008, Matt Barbet and Isla Traquair, were announced as stand-in presenters on 5 News while Natasha Kaplinsky was on maternity leave.[2] Matt visited Haiti in January 2010 after the earthquake and has also been embedded with the British Army in Afghanistan.[3][4] In February 2011, he was announced as the new presenter of the flagship 17:00 programme, after Kaplinsky left the station.[5] He left on 26 July 2012.[6][7]

On 11 June 2012 it was announced Barbet would leave 5 News to join ITV Breakfast's Daybreak.[8] He made his debut on 3 September 2012 and presented the show from 6am to 7am with Ranvir Singh.[9] Throughout 2012, Matt occasionally reviewed the news on This Morning with Singh.

On 17 August 2013 he made his debut presenting the ITV News weekend bulletins on ITV and ITV News London on ITV London.

On 3 March 2014, it was announced that Daybreak had been axed and will be replaced by Good Morning Britain later in the year. Matt presented his final episode of Daybreak on 4 April 2014, and it was confirmed by the Daily Mirror on the same day that he would not be part of the presenting team at Good Morning Britain. During his time at Daybreak, Matt co-presented 330 editions of the show.

On 16 April 2014, it was confirmed that Matt would rejoin 5 News to present their 5 News Tonight programme, weekdays at 6:30pm. He returned as host of 5 News on 28 April 2014.[10] Commenting on his return to Channel 5, Matt said "I'm really happy to be returning to Channel 5 at what is a very exciting time for the network".

Since 8 July 2014, Barbet has presented The Cycle Show on ITV4.[11]

Other appearances

On 20 December 2013, Matt appeared as a contestant in a Text Santa special of the ITV game show The Chase, and won £55,000 for ITV's Text Santa appeal.

Personal life

Matt lives in London with his wife, Katie, and two daughters.[12]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Holmwood, Leigh (20 June 2008). "Five announces Isla Traquair and TV's Matt Barbet as Kaplinsky stand-ins". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  3. ↑ "Matt Barbet". Knight Ayton Management.
  4. ↑ "Matt Barbet" (PDF). Five News Presenters. Sky Press Office.
  5. ↑ "Emma Crosby to front Five news". BBC News. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  6. ↑ Matt Barbet Signs Off 5 News, Heads to Daybreak TV Newsroom, 26 July 2012
  7. ↑ 5 News – Matt Barbet's Final Sign Off TheSbm2010, YouTube, 26 July 2012
  8. ↑ "Ranvir Singh and Matt Barbet will be the new presenters of the first hour of ITV1's Daybreak, ITV announced today.". ITV Press Center. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  9. ↑ Daybreak relaunch: Lorraine Kelly, Aled Jones start on September 3 Kate Goodacre, Digital Spy, 23 August 2012
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/matt-barbet-unveiled-new-host-itv4-cycling-show#.U7wJrZRdXY8
  12. ↑ "Just keeping the sofa warm for Natasha...". The Independent. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2010.

External links