Chris Packham pays tribute to Michaela Strachan as he shares heartfelt statement about working relationship: ‘Never let down!’
Springwatch star Chris Packham has given high praise to his co-star Michaela Strachan for the way she has “grown” with his “quirks” due to not being the easiest person to work with.
The series is set to return next week for its 20th year, leaving Packham and Strachan to return and showcase three weeks of wildlife from the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate in the Peak District.
To celebrate the milestone of two decades, an exciting new segment, Springwatch Street, will lift the lid on the natural neighbours of one Sheffield Street.
Teasing what viewers can expect from the new series, Strachan noted: “The delight of Springwatch is that we never know!
“We tell the stories nature gives us. We’re in a new location – the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate in the Peak District – so we’ll be tracking wood warblers and curlews.”
Packham added: “There will be a different ecology in the Peak District; the habitat looks like heathland, but it’s moorland.
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“This year, some of our more common bird species have started to nest earlier due to this warm, dry spring, which means they’ll have probably fledged by the time we’re on air.
“We’re expecting redstarts, pied flycatchers, wood warblers and ring ouzels.”
However, the naturalist, nature photographer, and television presenter admitted that he’s impressed with how he and Strachan get along so well.
When discussing their on-screen chemistry, Strachan said: “I’m a menopausal woman and Chris is an autistic bloke! He’s a delight to work with.
“We’ve known each other for 30-odd years so we play to each other’s strengths; he’s got the science background [a BSc in zoology] and I’m the storyteller.
“I used to feel inadequate because his knowledge is unbelievable. Now I’m comfortable with what I bring to the show.”
Packham piggybacked and added when speaking to Radio Times “Menopausal and autistic – what a combination! She’s grown up with my quirks.
“I’m not a sociable person, so Michaela has to invite herself to my house in the New Forest, where she’s always welcome.
“We have a compatibility through difference. We’d never let one another down.”
As well as Strachan and Packham, Iolo Williams will once again join the team, but from Northern Ireland.
For the first time on Springwatch, he embarks upon a three-week nature trek through some of the region’s most diverse wildlife hotspots.
Megan McCubbin is also returning to the series and will uncover the unsavoury world of egg stealing/collecting by joining the team fighting to protect our precious birds of prey.