Michaela Strachan

Award-winning TV presenter and speaker

One of Britain’s most loved television presenters, BAFTA award-winning Michaela Strachan has been a regular face on our screens for over three decades.  

Film work

In 2024 Michaela appeared in the popular series Pilgrimage and made a surprise cameo appearance on Mandy with Diane Morgan (both BBC Two).

Ice Age a three-part documentary which she co-presents with Steve Backshall is coming soon to Channel 5.

For the past 12 years, Michaela has co-presented Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch (BBC Two).

In addition to ‘The Watches’, Michaela has worked extensively with the BBC on other popular programmes. She spent 15 years presenting the award-winning children's series The Really Wild Show and ten years presenting the hugely popular Countryfile. As well as Orangutan Diaries, Elephant Diaries, Shark Encounter, Orangutan Rescue and One Man and His Dog to name a few. 

In 2023, Michaela presented Swimming in Sewage: Britain’s Water Scandal; Digging for Treasure (both Channel 5) and for BBC World News Extreme Conservation in The Maldives and Turkey.

Michaela’s Wild Challenge for Channel 5 was a double BAFTA award-winning production; Michaela won the BAFTA for Best Children’s Presenter and the programme won Best Children’s Factual. Other programmes for Channel 5 include Michaela’s Zoo Babies, Michaela’s Animal Road Trip, Animal Rescue Squad and Animal Families.

Work for National Geographic and Animal Planet includes fronting Safari Live, from the Kruger National Park, Adopt a Wild Animal, Postcards from the Wild and Big 5 Little 5 which she presented alongside long-standing friend Chris Packham.

For the Natural History Unit - South Africa, Michaela volunteered in a sea bird rescue centre for The Great Penguin Rescue. She has also presented two series of Great British Ghosts (Yesterday TV), The Fossil Roadshow (BBC), Full Bloom (BBC) and Club Vegetarian (Granada TV).

Michaela’s presenting career began with TV-am, The Wide-Awake Club with Timmy Mallett, Boogie Box and The Hitman and Her. Other notable programmes include Splash, Total Wipeout and All Star Musicals. 

Speaker

Michaela is much in demand for personal appearances, award ceremonies and presentations. Her natural effervescence and engaging personality appeal to a wide range of audiences. With her extensive experience of wildlife conservation and her gift for communication, Michaela is a popular choice to present award ceremonies, and host wildlife festivals and environmental events around the world.

Speaker testimonial: “Michaela brought the marquee to life with interest and laughter as she talked eloquently and honestly about her life, connection to wildlife and the wonders of Springwatch.” James Newman: Essex Wildlife Trust.

Radio

In 2023, Michaela was a guest on Rufus Hound’s My Teenage Diary (Radio 4) and made a guest appearance on Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies (Radio 2).

Tour

In 2018, Michaela completed a tour of the arena spectacular Walking with Dinosaurs playing the part of Huxley the palaeontologist with a cast of life-size animatronic dinosaurs.

Interests

Michaela is an ambassador for Breast Cancer Now and supports as many Wildlife Charities as she can including The Animal Asia Foundation, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, Secret World, SANCCOB, Home from Home, World Vision, and TEARS.

Pictures courtesy of: BBC, Jo Charlesworth, Charlie Shoemaker, Caroline McClelland, Sam Gracey, Brian Jordan, Benjamin Harris.