Liz Barker

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For the Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords, see Elizabeth Barker, Baroness Barker

Elizabeth 'Liz' Barker (born 16 May 1975) is a television presenter on British television.

Born in Cambridge, England, Barker took a philosophy degree at the University of Southampton. After this was completed, she became a runner for independent production company Lion TV, a researcher, and eventually the sports presenter for BBC Choice programme Backstage.

On 23 June 2000, Barker joined the children's television programme Blue Peter, and became its 29th presenter. During her seven-year stint, Liz reported from Vietnam, Morocco, Brazil, Austria, Greece, India and the US. Her adventures have included lawn mower racing, paragliding, walking a circus high-wire, and cleaning windows at London's Canary Wharf tower.

On May 25, 2004, Barker announced that she was pregnant with her first child, by husband Michael Todd. The baby boy, called Dexter Jack Barker Todd, was born on Saturday December 4, 2004, and featured on the show many times, including at just 13 days old, on his first birthday and on her leaving date. When Barker was pregnant, scan images were also shown. She became the first presenter to rejoin Blue Peter after having a baby, but on 23 January 2006, she told viewers that she would be leaving the programme at Easter and moving away from London so she could spend more time with Dexter and the rest of her family.

Liz has presented with Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Matt Baker, Zoe Salmon and Gethin Jones.

On April 11, 2006, Barker left the programme after six years, with a special This Is Your Life-style show devoted to her, containing former presenters, family, friends, and people she had met along her Blue Peter travels. She also announced, on her last live show, that she would be co-presenting a new CBBC show, Totally Doctor Who, with CBBC's Barney Harwood; the first episode was broadcast on April 13, 2006.

On the 18th September 2006 it was announced on Blue Peter that Liz was due to have another baby and on the 20th February 2007, It was annouced on Blue Peter that she gave birth to a girl, called...

She has gone on to doing voiceovers, such as on the Sony Playstation game Buzz Junior.

Preceded by Katy Hill

Blue Peter Presenter No. 29 2000-2006

Succeeded by Zöe Salmon who originally took Liz's place in December 2004 when she had her baby but came she back earlier than expected in early 2005 so both stayed until Liz left in April 2006