Michaela Strachan

Michaela Evelyn Ann Strachan (/strækən/, born 7 April 1966) is an English television presenter and singer. After beginning her career in theatre, she presented the children's television shows Wide Awake Club (1986–1989) and Wacaday (1987–1989). She subsequently co-presented The Hitman and Her (1988–1992) and embarked on a brief music career under the stage name Michaela, releasing two singles, "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" (1989) and "Take Good Care of My Heart" (1990), which reached number 62 and 66 in the UK Singles Chart respectively. Strachan has since become known for her work as a wildlife presenter. After fronting The Really Wild Show (1993–2006), she went on to become a regular reporter on BBC's Countryfile (1999–2009), during which time she emigrated to South Africa. Since 2011, Strachan has been a regular presenter on BBC's Springwatch and its seasonal adaptations. In 2025 she was a runner-up on the seventeenth series of Dancing on Ice. Michaela Evelyn Ann Strachan was born on 7 April 1966 in Ewell, Surrey. She grew up in Hinchley Wood and attended Chadsworth Stage School, then Claremont Fan Court School, both in Esher. During her teenage years, she suffered from anorexia. Prior to her television career, she briefly held jobs as an Avon lady and as a kissogram. Strachan studied at ArtsEd in London, and, after leaving in 1985, appeared in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool. She subsequently went on to appear in further theatre roles and embarked on a career in children's television. Strachan was a regular presenter on Saturday-morning television shows in the 1980s, in such programmes as Good Morning Britain, Wide Awake Club, Wacaday and WAC '90 with Timmy Mallett. In 1988 she hosted Boogie Box on music channel Music Box. From 1988 to 1992 Strachan starred as "Her" in the nightclub-set music show The Hitman and Her alongside Pete Waterman. Strachan had a brief music career under the name Michaela and released two UK singles: a cover of Edwin Starr's "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" (UK No. 62, 1989) and "Take Good Care of My Heart" (UK No. 66, 1990). In 1993, Strachan joined The Really Wild Show, a wildlife programme for children on BBC1, which she went on to present for the next 13 years. In 1999, she became a regular reporter for BBC One's Countryfile and remained so until the programme underwent a primetime Sunday evening revamp in April 2009. Her move to South Africa prevented her from committing fully to the new show. While filming an item for Countryfile in 2002, Strachan entered the World Gurning competition at Egremont Crab Fair. To her surprise she won the Ladies' World Gurning Crown. Strachan co-presented two series of Orangutan Diary with Steve Leonard for BBC One. These series followed the daily routines at a reserve for orphaned orangutans in Borneo and the work of Lone Drøscher Nielsen and her team in rescuing and rehabilitating the orangutans. They were broadcast in 2006 and 2008. She told The Independent that her greatest inspiration is Nielsen who "works under very difficult conditions and shows an all-consuming dedication to these animals". Since 2011, Strachan has co-presented Springwatch for BBC2, as well as the adaptions Autumnwatch and Winterwatch. The Watches have been hosted by reserves such as National Arboretum at Westonbirt, Slimbridge reserve, Wild Ken Hill and RSPB Arne. In February 2013, Strachan released her book Michaela Strachan's Really Wild Adventures. The same year, she presented the six-part series The Great Penguin Rescue on the Eden channel. In 2014, she appeared as a contestant on the second series of the ITV celebrity diving show Splash!. Strachan reached the semi-finals of the series, where she became the fourteenth celebrity to be eliminated. In 2022 Digging For Treasure: Tonight premiered on Channel 5; Strachan co-presented the archaeology series with Dan Walker and archaeologist Raksha Dave. In 2022, Strachan presented Extreme Conservation on BBC World News and BBC Reel. In March 2024, she was a participant in BBC's Pilgrimage. In April 2024 she appeared, as an enraged ornithologist, in the series 3 episode "The Career Ladder" of the Diane Morgan comedy series Mandy. In 2025 Strachan and professional partner Mark Hanretty were runners-up in the seventeenth series of Dancing on Ice. Strachan married filmmaker Duncan Chard in 1996; they divorced five years later. Since 2003, Strachan has been in a relationship with Nick Chevallier. On 8 June 2005, she gave birth to the couple's son. The couple live in Hout Bay, Cape Town, with Chevallier's children from his previous relationship. Strachan is a fan of Oxford United F.C. She is allergic to elephants. In 2014, she stated that she had had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery following a diagnosis of breast cancer. Michaela's Marvellous Makes and Do's (1990) Michaela Strachan's Really Wild Adventures (2013) "Who is Michaela Strachan? Everything you need to know about the Springwatch presenter". Countryfile.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022. "Rambling Biog | Michaela Strachan". Cooper, Amy (27 September 2023). "Claremont welcomes back alumni, Michaela Strachan for JGP Inpsire talk". Claremont Fan Court School. Retrieved 13 January 2025. Live, Surrey (14 February 2013). "Michaela Strachan chats before Guildford". Surrey Live. "BBC Radio 5 Live - Stephen Nolan, 18/01/2013, Michaela Strachan on her battle with Anorexia". BBC. 21 January 2013. "Michaela Strachan CV". Leninimports.com. 7 April 1966. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2010. 'The Grand Theatre, Blackpool and the Ghost Train in Blackpool Pleasure Beach', Great British Ghosts Series 2, Episode 5 (Altamar Entertainment Ltd., 2012) Pelley, Rich (20 July 2020). "Timmy Mallett and Michaela Strachan: how we made Wide Awake Club". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2020. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 362. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. "BBC Really Wild Show". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2020. "Face puller grabs gurning prize". BBC News. 21 September 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2010. "My Secret Life Michaela Strachan". The Independent. 4 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. (18 November 2011). Autumnwatch: Sheffield reveals urban wildlife secrets. BBC News. Retrieved 25 January 2014 Furness, Hannah (8 March 2012). "Kate Humble to leave Springwatch". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2020. "BBC One - Britain's Big Wildlife Revival - Michaela Strachan". BBC. Retrieved 13 January 2025. "The Great Penguin Rescue - Eden Channel". uktv.co.uk. "Michaela Strachan bombs out of Splash!". ITVX. Retrieved 13 January 2025. "Dan Walker filming 'top secret' new Friday night show". uk.style.yahoo.com. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022. "BBC World News and BBC Reel announce special episode Extreme Conservation, The Maldives". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022. "BBC Two - Pilgrimage". "BBC Programme Index". 3 April 2024. "Mandy Series 3, Episode 4 - the Career Ladder". British Comedy Guide. "Dancing on Ice 2025 adds Springwatch star". Digital Spy. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024. Hogan, Michael (12 January 2025). "Dancing on Ice 2025, episode 1 review: Michaela Strachan the most accomplished in naff opener". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2edpdwk7qo Karim, Fariha (26 March 2016). "Springwatch host's wish for children ended first marriage". The Times. Retrieved 13 January 2025. "All you need to know about Autmnwatch's Michaela Strachan: from family life in Cape Town to overcoming breast cancer". Hello!. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2025. Colderick, Stephanie (12 January 2025). "Michaela Strachan's surprise career, cancer diagnosis and partner". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 January 2025. Personal Stuff. Michaela Strachan. Retrieved 25 January 2014 Blackhall, Sue (20 June 2005). "Daily Telegraph, 20/06/2005, 'I'll be