TV WILDLIFE presenter Nick Baker from Chagford is ready to take on a new challenge — as a reporter on Tomorrow's World.

Naturalist Nick, 27, who describes himself as 'the luckiest man alive' will be bringing viewers all the latest science news along with fellow presenters Phillipa Forrester and Peter Snow.

But the TV star, who co-hosts 'The Really Wild Show' and was recently seen reporting from the US tornado belt for the BBC's 'Twister Week', is more surprised than anyone that he was asked to join the team.

'It's not my bag at all really,' he said. 'It did come as a bit of a surprise because I am a naturalist and do wildlife programmes.

'They talked me into it and told me that occasionally there would be wildlife reports. I have always watched Tomorrow's World — it was regular viewing for me when I was studying science.

'The programme is a BBC stalwart and it was really flattering to be asked.'

Nick said he was worried he would not be able to fit it in with his other commitments, which also include writing books and articles and presenting his Channel Five show 'Nick's Quest', the latter of which he believes may have caught the eye of the Tomorrow's World producers. But he likes to take on new challenges.

'Although I have really no idea why they asked me, I have developed a style on Nick's Quest which involves me working a lot on the hoof,' he said. 'It's very unpredictable and I think it is the programme I enjoy the most.'

Nick's first assignment for his latest role is far from glamorous. The TV team are sending their new reporter down one of London's oldest sewers. His report from a large sewage pipe near Kings Cross is on a new device for detecting faults.

'It's certainly been interesting so far,' he said. 'They've had me dangling from cranes above the British Museum and now I'm off to the sewers — talk about seeing London from all angles.'

With all the travelling involved in his job, Nick spends less time than he would like in Chagford, where he has lived for the last five years.

He has fulfilled a lifetime's ambition to live in a National Park where his career began several years ago chasing butterflies on the moor.

A former biology student at Exeter University, the man who originated from Sussex made the press for his escapades on the moor looking for butterflies, and he became known as the bug man on Radio Devon before being discovered nationally.

But he admits it has not all been plain sailing and it felt at times as if he was 'banging his head against a brick wall.'

'It was all worth it in the end and now I feel the luckiest man alive,' he said.