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Chris Packham has revealed in a new interview that he’s not “terribly social” with Michaela Strachan, who will appear in a new series of Winterwatch with him, starting next Tuesday. The 62-year-old dropped the bombshell that they barely spend time together at all, but was keen to insist it’s nothing personal, explaining that he scarcely socialises with “anyone”.
Chris, who has always seen himself as a loner, revealed to this week’s Radio Times that he and Michaela enjoy a “comfortable friendship”. “We don’t need to speak all the time, just when it’s necessary,” he explained.
“I’m not terribly social; she’s a very social person so if she’s over from South Africa, she’ll invite herself to the house.” The TV naturalist added: “Apart from that we don’t hang out, but then I don’t hang out with anyone!”
Michaela also once joked that she’d assumed Chris would “hate” her due to their major differences in musical taste; while he was always a punk rocker and a huge fan of The Clash, she loved Kylie Minogue. However, ever since the pair first met to film The Really Wild Show over three decades ago, they instantly hit it off – and the camaraderie is sure to continue this year.
Meanwhile, the filming for the latest Winterwatch series will bring the pair closer together. It’s been a tough time for the popular wildlife programme, after cutbacks were announced meaning it will air for only four nights this month, while its sister show Autumnwatch has recently been axed altogether.
However, Chris has remained stoic about the shakeback, believing that it prevents the BBC from spreading itself too thinly.
He explained: “We’re trying to cut our cloth according to our means at the BBC, and still produce quality garments.
“With our one week of Winterwatch, we can guarantee no compromise on its quality.”
It’s been seven years since Chris has been seen at Dorset’s RSPB Arne, after presenting his last show there in 2017, but he’s now keen to get back to business and explore its diverse “range of habitats”.
He’ll likely be reintroducing viewers to all his favourite birds, plus their potential predators, which he warns include the white-tailed eagle, marsh harrier, visiting merlin, hen harrier and short-eared owl.
However, one of the main priorities in this year’s show will be engaging viewers about the perils of climate change.
Chris insists all is not lost in the fight to save the planet, quipping: “If I thought [it was], I’d probably get drunk in a gutter!
“We have the capacity to restore and recover, reinstate and reintroduce. Our job is to motivate that to happen and engage our audience, so that when creatures and habitats are under threat, people will stand up and fight for them.”
Winterwatch returns on January 16 at 8pm on BBC Two, featuring Iolo Williams, Michaela Strachan, Gillian Burke and of course Chris Packham.
The full interview with Chris runs in this week’s issue of Radio Times Magazine, out now.
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Source: NewsFinale
