Springwatch Michaela Strachan's huge career change and surprising hidden talent

11 June 2024 , 17:30

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The broadcaster shot to fame on programmes including The Really Wild Show (Image: BBC ONE)

Michaela Strachan is one of the nation's most loved wildlife presenters but many fans don't know about her previous career in showbiz.

The 58-year-old, best known for hosting BBC's Springwatch, is now a staple figure on daytime nature shows, having fronted Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Countryfile. And before finding fame amongst nature, she was a friendly face on children's TV.

But her life in the spotlight didn't start amongst wildlife, as the Springwatch star was once a popstar with two UK singles under her belt. Performing as Michaela, she covered Edwin Starr's H.A.P.P.Y. Radio in 1989, reaching number 62 in the charts, while Take Good Care of My Heart peaked at number 66 in 1990.

"My passion as a child was dancing and musicals," the all round performer revealed on her website. "I went to a local dancing school and did ballet, tap, modern dance, acrobatics, singing and drama. I did all the competitions and exams and my dream was to perform in the theatre."

Michaela appeared in the musical 7 Bridges For 7 Brothers in London's West End before turning to pop music and while the 58-year-old star didn't set the music charts alight her next showbiz move proved the right one.

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The TV presenter was a popstar in a former life, with two UK singles (EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS)

Michaela presented a range of shows including Hitman and Her

The presenter bagged her first job on children's morning TV when she fronted The Wide Awake Club from 1986 alongside Timmy Mallett. She went onto front Wacaday and Michaela on Sunday before joining The Hitman and Her in 1988.

"This was a late night music show with Pete Waterman," said Michaela. "It became very cult. We used to descend on nightclubs throughout Britain, mainly focusing on the North of England, we filmed bands, competitions, interviews, punters and lots of 80s style music and dancing. It really captured club culture from the late 80s early 90s and was, at the time, the longest running night time show."

Michaela spent four years on the music show but her love of wildlife was becoming apparent and she hosted kids wildlife documentary show Owl TV between 1989 and 1992 before switching from ITV to the BBC to front The Really Wild Show. She went onto host the popular kids programme for 15 years, saying: "I absolutely loved working on the series and got to travel all over the world.

The star joined Springwatch in 2011 and still hosts the show with Chris Packham (BBC Studios)

"In fact I managed to tick off all seven continents in six months one year. Towards the end of the RWS, my role was presenting animal issues, anything from shark finning to the bushmeat trade to circus animals."

More wildlife series followed for the star, including Wildlife Rescue, Orangutan Rescue, and Elephant Diaries. Michaela became part of the BBC Countryfile team in 1999 and after ten years on the show, joined BBC Two's Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Winterwatch alongside Chris Packham.

Offscreen, the star moved to Cape Town in South African in 2002 with husband Nick Chevallier, her son Ollie and stepchildren Jade, Tom and Sam. They live in the coastal town of Hout Bay.

While Michaela has enjoyed a steady rise to fame in her career she has had to face obstacles in her personal life. After beating anorexia in her late teens, the presenter spent her 20s battling alopecia and allergies, including chronic eczema. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and had a double mastectomy to give her the best chance of survival.

Thankfully, Michaela is now cancer-free and believes the health challenges she'd faced have given her a new appreciation for life.

Watch Michaela on Springwatch tonight on BBC Two, 8pm

Vikki White