EXCLUSIVE: Michaela Strachan, the beloved Springwatch presenter, has fronted over 50 television shows across an impressive 40-year career, yet one coveted role continues to elude her: a spot on Strictly Come Dancing. As she celebrates her milestone 60th birthday, Strachan is launching a one-woman theatre show that takes a nostalgic look back at her diverse and enduring journey in broadcasting.
A Career Spanning Decades and Genres
Michaela Strachan's presenting career is heavily dominated by wildlife programming, with notable stints including 15 years on The Really Wild Show, 10 years on Countryfile, and an ongoing 14-year role on BBC1's Springwatch. Over four decades, she has also ventured into cooking, music, and even ghost-hunting on TV, showcasing her versatility. Her forays into reality television include participating in Splash and making the final of Dancing on Ice last year, demonstrating her willingness to embrace new challenges.
The Strictly Come Dancing Dream
Despite her extensive experience, one reality show remains out of reach. "I have always wanted to do Strictly Come Dancing, it’s no secret," Strachan admits with a sigh. She once reached the long-list and had a promising phone conversation with a producer, but the call never came. "Everybody says I’d be an obvious choice, but they didn’t call back," she recalls, expressing her disappointment.
When Dancing on Ice offered an opportunity, Strachan accepted, partly due to her belief that Strictly might never happen. "I said yes because I thought ‘well, I'm never going to get Strictly’." Ironically, if Strictly were to invite her for the 2026 series, she might have to decline due to a torn hamstring sustained from ice-skating. "If they asked me next year, when my recovery is in a better place, then yeah, I probably would," she explains, highlighting the ongoing challenge of her injury.
Overcoming Early Stereotypes and Personal Struggles
Starting her career on The Wide Awake Club with Timmy Mallett in 1986, Strachan faced immediate backlash for being young, blonde, and on television, with some newspapers labeling her a "bimbo." "If you were blonde, bubbly, enthusiastic and attractive, you were instantly called a bimbo," she states matter-of-factly. Now, with over 50 shows to her name and an honorary doctorate in science from Wolverhampton University, she reflects on this with pride. "For a girl who left school at 16, that’s a big deal for me," she says, adding a cheeky retort to her critics: "Yah boo sucks, you were wrong."
Strachan has also overcome significant personal challenges, including anorexia and breast cancer. She recalls a memorable headline from a magazine interview about her recovery: ‘Michaela Strachan: Saved from death by an egg sandwich.’ "Of course now it makes me laugh, it’s hilarious looking back on it," she says, though she hopes such issues would be handled more sensitively today.
Life in South Africa and Trailblazing Legacy
Today, Strachan lives in South Africa with her cameraman partner, Nick Chevalier, and has one son studying at Loughborough University, along with three grown-up step-children. As she embarks on her theatre tour, she feels no bitterness about the past, instead seeing herself as a trailblazer. "I was the first female wildlife presenter that you can remember really," she explains, citing inspirations like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. "I'm not someone who goes, ‘oh, poor me, it's all about the men’. I'm like well, I’ll be a pioneer then and fight."
Theatre Show and Friendship with Chris Packham
The upcoming theatre show, titled "Michaela Strachan Not Just A Wild Life," will feature archive clips and humorous behind-the-scenes stories, including many with her long-time friend and co-host Chris Packham. Their collaboration dates back to 1992 on The Really Wild Show, and they continue to work together on Springwatch. "We still totally respect each other and we've hardly ever fallen out," she laughs, noting that Packham is supportive of her tour and even planning his own, though his will be more campaign-focused.
The show will include a "lovely montage" of Strachan and Packham through the years, which he has already endorsed. "I said, ‘Do you think it's too long?’ And he said, ‘Oh, I think our audience will love seeing that,'" she shares. The tour runs from 13 to 30 April, offering fans a chance to celebrate her remarkable career and enduring spirit.
