She was one of the group of people including Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen approached by the BBC in 1996 to work on a television show called Changing Rooms as designers.

After six years of Changing Rooms, restricted by the BBC's position on commercial endorsement and disappointed[citation needed] to be overlooked as a replacement presenter to Carol Smillie, she left the show.

Barker launched her more commercially focused career by appearing in the second series of the ITV reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, on which she finished in third place on the final day.

[citation needed] Barker adopted a new personal image, being featured in lads' magazine shoots and making a yoga DVD.

Barker also appeared on a celebrity edition of Come Dine with Me, aired on 17 September 2008, alongside Peter Stringfellow, Michelle Heaton and Lee Ryan.