BBC Springwatch's Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan admit they 'disagree' on set

Daily Record

20-05-2025

Their bond has stood the test of time, but even close mates like Michaela Strachan and Chris Packham have their own disagreements.
As Springwatch celebrates its 20th anniversary, Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan will present three weeks of wildlife from the National Trust's Longshaw Estate in the stunning Peak District.
Marking two decades of observing nests, badger setts, otter holts and waterways, Springwatch still has stories to share. There's a thrilling new segment called Springwatch Street, which will reveal the natural neighbours of one Sheffield street, uncovering foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and a swifts' nest living unnoticed right under residents' noses.
"There will be a lot of surprises," says Michaela, 59. "If you watch your garden in the day, you'll see the birds come, but what comes out at night is going to be really interesting.
"And what's happening in the undergrowth. It's the small stuff that is always so fascinating and hopefully that will inspire people to do even more in their gardens. We'll give tips to encourage people to help particular insects or worms or caterpillars for instance."
Michaela adores the wildlife on the show, but she also cherishes her co-presenter Chris, who she first started out with on The Really Wild Show in the 1990s.
"Not only are we friends, and we know each other's personal lives, but people have watched us growing up on telly," says Michaela, reports the Mirror.
"We're great mates," declares Chris, 64. "We know each other inside out, so occasionally we might have a disagreement and the team might think, 'Blimey, the presenters are at odds!' But we're not. We don't let those things bother us.
"We don't need to see eye to eye on everything. We just move forward. So, the fact that we're close, lifelong, trusted pals helps, but also that we have distinct approaches to our job."
Michaela is hopeful that Springwatch will carry on for another two decades as she believes that connecting with nature is crucial for our mental health and wellbeing. However, in her 13 years with Springwatch, she's observed the effects of climate change on our wildlife.
"I reckon it's becoming increasingly important because climate change has altered the world we inhabit and there is dwindling wildlife," Michaela points out.
"Over the years I've been on the show, I've noticed it's much more difficult to locate wildlife to film, even in areas that are maintained for wildlife. Even in managed reserves, we're sometimes struggling.
"And we need to keep people engaged. That's what it's all about - it's about getting people connected to wildlife, making them understand how vital wildlife is, and making them realise how beneficial it is for their mental health and wellbeing. Fundamentally, we're meant to be connected to wildlife. By losing that, we're losing part of ourselves as a human species."
Chris has expressed his belief that Springwatch plays a crucial role in encouraging people to pause their busy lives and appreciate nature. "Springwatch is one of those programmes that gives you the opportunity to stop and think about the little things in life that you may not have spent enough time focusing upon," Chris remarked.
"I love the things that I didn't know sort of existed. Tree slugs for instance, I had seen slime trails up trees when I was a kid but I'd never bothered to come up with the answer. And then someone said that these creatures live on the ground in the daytime and they go to the tops of the trees at night, and they felt like a complete revelation."
Reflecting on the past twenty years, Chris highlighted a memorable moment involving a stickleback fish named Spinless Si. "If I had to pick one thing that really encapsulated the program's success, it would be in Minsmere, with Spinless Si, the stickleback," he shared.
"Because we managed to turn a five centimetre small common fish into a national treasure that featured on the news across TV, Radio and national newspapers."
Chris attributes the show's enduring appeal to its engagement with viewers and focus on accessible wildlife. He explained: "We also deliberately focus upon a lot of back garden wildlife, things that people know, that they already share with their communities, whether that is foxes or hedgehogs or blackbirds or blue tits.
"And then we show people the intricacies of their life, stories which otherwise they wouldn't be able to see, because we've got the technology to do it." And then we reveal to people the intricacies of their life, stories which otherwise they wouldn't be able to see, because we've got the technology to do it."
Springwatch is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.