Michaela Evelyn Ann Strachan (/strækən/, born 7 April 1966) is an English television presenter. She is best known for her work with wildlife series such as The Really Wild Show and Springwatch. She lives in South Africa.
Early life
Born in Ewell, Surrey, on 7 April 1966[1][2] Strachan grew up in Hinchley Wood and attended Chadsworth Stage School, then Claremont Fan Court School, both in Esher. In her teens, she suffered from anorexia.[3][4] Later, while at ArtsEd, London, she briefly held jobs as an Avon lady and as a kissogram.[5] After her years at ArtsEd, Strachan performed in theatre, before moving on to children's television.[6]
Strachan had a brief music career as "Michaela" with 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).[8]
She was a regular reporter for BBC One's Countryfile for many years 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.[10]
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".[11]
Strachan presented the paranormal documentary Great British Ghosts between 2011 and 2012.[2]
In 2013 she presented the six-part series The Great Penguin Rescue on the Eden channel.[12] In 2014 she was a contestant in series 2 of celebrity diving TV Show Splash!.[citation needed] In 2022 Digging For Treasure: Tonight premiered on Channel 5; Strachan co-presented the archaeology series with Dan Walker and archaeologist Raksha Dave.[13] In 2022 Strachan presented Extreme Conservation on BBC World News and BBC Reel.[14]
In March 2024 she was a participant in BBC's Pilgrimage.[15] In April 2024 she appeared, as an enraged ornithologist, in the series 3 episode "The Career Ladder" of the Diane Morgan comedy series Mandy.[16][17]
Strachan married filmmaker Duncan Chard in 1996, but they divorced five years later. On 8 June 2005, she gave birth to a son Oliver by partner Nick Chevallier. The couple live in Hout Bay, Cape Town, with Chevallier's children from his previous relationship.[20][21]
In 2014, she stated that she had had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery following a diagnosis of breast cancer.[25][26] She later said, "Going through breast cancer also strengthened me. It has given me more resilience and made me appreciate my life more because I realise that something could have ended it early and that's a shock."[27]
^'The Grand Theatre, Blackpool and the Ghost Train in Blackpool Pleasure Beach', Great British Ghosts Series 2, Episode 5 (Altamar Entertainment Ltd., 2012)
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 362. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
