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.

Early life

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.

Career

Children's television and music career

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).

Wildlife presenting and other projects

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.

Personal life

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.

Filmography

Stage

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Bibliography

• Michaela's Marvellous Makes and Do's (1990)
• Michaela Strachan's Really Wild Adventures (2013)

External links

• at IMDb