Matt Baker’s British Isles continues on More4 this Tuesday, 17 June at 9PM with a third episode that stretches from Northern Ireland to the West Midlands—and finds its rhythm somewhere between hoofbeats and a whistle blast. It’s another polished hour of travel storytelling from a presenter who knows how to draw the extraordinary out of everyday places.
This week, Baker meets the McKinleys in County Antrim, where native Irish horses aren’t just a family passion—they’re the centrepiece of guided rides through some of the island’s most cinematic landscapes. In Wales, he joins two brothers battling to restore Mumbles Pier, a Victorian-era landmark fighting erosion both literal and cultural. Scotland’s industrial ingenuity gets its turn too, with stops at the gravity-defying Falkirk Wheel and the mythic Kelpies. And in the West Midlands, a small factory turns out a big legacy—the Acme whistles that changed how the world hears authority.
Produced by Big Circus Media, this is the sort of format More4 handles with ease: scenic, personable, and broadly informative without veering into the twee. Baker’s style is steady and unhurried, letting the stories—and the locals—do the talking. There’s no forced jeopardy or glossy reinvention here. Instead, the series builds a quiet case for preserving heritage by spotlighting those already doing the work. The tone stays respectful but never reverent, and the visuals (especially in Antrim and Falkirk) do much of the heavy lifting.
Strategically, Matt Baker’s British Isles fits a long lineage of More4 midweek comfort-viewing, bridging the appeal of countryside escapes with a documentary eye for legacy craftsmanship. It’s not chasing headlines, but it’s smartly placed to win over viewers loyal to British-made, presenter-led programming that values detail over drama.
At a time when cultural programming is often either flat-pack or fussy, Matt Baker’s British Isles manages to feel grounded and purposeful. This week’s instalment has just enough texture—from grassroots tourism to industrial nostalgia—to reward a full hour’s watch. It’s gentle, but not aimless.
Matt Baker’s British Isles airs Tuesday 17 June at 9PM on More4. Series 1 continues weekly.
