The primary query I ask the ever-smiling Michaela Strachan as I interview her over Zoom is, who painted the portrait in her attic? I’m referring, after all, to Oscar Wilde’s ever youthful character Dorian Grey who ceases to age whereas a portrait in his attic takes on the duty.
It wasn’t a query I used to be meaning to pose however aside from a number of laughter strains across the eyes, La Strachan barely appears to have aged since her Hitman and Her days – the trash-tastic, late-night TV music present she hosted with music mogul Pete Waterman from 1988 to ‘92. But she’s nearly 60! She laughs.
“What? Take a look at my sleepy, proper eye. And I’ve acquired wrinkles. However, sure, individuals inform me on a regular basis that I look the identical as I did within the eighties once I offered Large Awake Membership with Timmy Mallet. I’ve acquired good genes.”
It’s greater than that, although. I reckon it’s additionally about perspective and the best way you take a look at life. Michaela agrees.
“I could also be nearly 60 however I’ll at all times be 35 in my head,” she says. “You’ve acquired to suppose like a youthful individual and carry on shifting on – particularly as life modifications. Whether or not that be by your children leaving the nest and feeling like life has misplaced a few of its goal, feeling a bit lonely or such as you’ve misplaced your approach. As girls, I believe we really feel these modifications notably keenly.”
She has clear recommendation on how to do that. “Problem your self, search for new stuff to do, meet new individuals, get entangled in a brand new neighborhood, make new buddies, take dangers,” she says. “I adored doing Dancing on Ice earlier this yr, for example, as a result of it was all about pushing myself and doing one thing utterly new and a bit scary. It gave me an unlimited quantity of pleasure and an actual increase of vitality.”
It additionally gave her a leg damage that took a number of months to completely heal. She laughs once more – extra ruefully this time.
“The damage taught me that bodily I’m not 35 even when I believe I’m. Proceed with warning, is what I’d say. However heck, girls of my age, submit menopausal girls who’ve come out the opposite facet – I don’t like occurring in regards to the menopause – there IS life afterwards, nicely, we’ve to maintain pushing boundaries.
She chuckles. “I’m massive on pushing boundaries and breaking down boundaries. I’ve accomplished so all through my life. Don’t inform me I can’t do one thing due to my age – I’ll resolve if I can. Be lifelike although. I at all times wished to surf, for example, however now I realise that it’s not for me. I don’t like feeling like I’m in the course of a washer cycle. And, so what? It doesn’t matter.”
This may-do lifestyle has been influenced by Michaela’s restoration from breast most cancers. She was identified in 2014 and had a double mastectomy, adopted by breast reconstruction.
“Since having most cancers, I see each minute as a present,” she says. “I’m like ‘Yay!’. I’m almost 60, I’m nicely, I’m match, I’ve an amazing profession, I’ve acquired an amazing child – Ollie who’s 19 and finding out at Loughborough College – and three great stepchildren. I’ve acquired two grandchildren and a loving relationship with my companion Nick who I’ve been with for the reason that early noughties. What’s to not have a good time?
“It’s all about specializing in the positives. You’ve acquired to try this in any other case there’s not a lot level, is there? The world is in such a grim state proper now. It’s all so detrimental on the market – we’re bombarded with detrimental info and information, hate and vitriol, a lot disappointment and it’s all so miserable. Let’s all attempt to hunt down the positives in life. Stuff that brings us pleasure.”
One of many causes she loves doing the BBC’s seasonal nature reveals – Winterwatch is again in early January, by the best way – is due to the optimistic suggestions the present will get from viewers.
“We now have such a loyal viewers and I really like social media after the reside programme has gone out as a result of there’s simply a lot heat and pleasure there,” she says. “I’d say 85% of the feedback are optimistic and that’s just about exceptional lately. OK, we take a look at controversial points and stuff like wildlife safety, the setting and sustainability however the common remit of the Watches [spring/summer/autumn and winter] is to have a good time British wildlife. You really should seek for the detrimental feedback. What an absolute delight that’s.”
Working along with her previous mucker Chris Packham – whom she met presenting The Actually Wild Present within the early Nineteen Nineties – is one other delight.
“We’ve been buddies for years and years – we’re lifelong mates and know one another very nicely in spite of everything this time,” she smiles. “The general public has seen us develop up on telly. I really feel so fortunate to have had somebody I’ve labored with for therefore lengthy. What number of presenting duos get the possibility to try this? We work in very other ways. He is acquired the science background – a BSc in zoology – and I am the storyteller. I used to really feel insufficient as a result of his information is unbelievable. Now I am snug with what I deliver to the present. Chris is extraordinary and the campaigning that he does is extraordinary and I believe he is all people’s hero on the Watches crew. We want extra individuals like Chris.”
In April subsequent yr, Michaela is hitting the highway along with her Not Only a Wild Life theatre tour throughout the UK. It’s to coincide with the fortieth anniversary of her TV profession and in addition a part of her sixtieth birthday celebrations. Forty years on the field… it’s a very long time.
“Isn’t it? I can’t actually consider it. Once I began, I reckoned I’d be fortunate to have a profession that lasted a few years, not to mention 40. I bear in mind being on the Large Awake Membership with Tommy Boyd, a former presenter on Magpie who’d accomplished 10 years on youngsters’s TV, and pondering ‘Wow! Think about that! 10 years!’. It’s incredible that I’m nonetheless remembered from these reveals within the Nineteen Eighties.”
The Hitman and Her was a specific responsible pleasure of mine – and numerous others.
“The quantity of people that come as much as me and point out that present is astounding,” she exclaims. “I look again at it and cringe a bit. We had all these ridiculous video games which you simply wouldn’t get away with now. I additionally suppose, ‘OMG – what was I carrying?’ However everybody dressed like that again then. The theatre present shall be an actual stroll down reminiscence lane, a stunning nostalgic night.”
Subsequent month sees Michaela co-hosting one other theatre present A Wild Night, alongside fellow well-known wildlife fans Gordon Buchanan, Lizzie Daly and Hannah Stitfall. She additionally just lately hosted the celebrated annual Animal Motion Awards awarded by The Worldwide Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which places a highlight on the unsung animal heroes from around the globe which can be making an enormous distinction – a trigger very near her coronary heart. She lives in South Africa but she appears to be right here greater than she’s there. How does this have an effect on her private life with companion Nick?
“We’re superb buddies and get on very well – we’re each into the outside, we’re each into wildlife, being outdoor, being match. We’re very like-minded individuals. However perhaps the key is that we’re aside loads. We do not get on one another’s nerves as a lot as perhaps we might if we had been collectively on a regular basis.”
“We’re not married,” she continues. “I don’t actually see the necessity plus it’s an terrible lot of expense. I at all times miss my household however I’ve been doing this job for a very long time now. Though it appears outrageous to some individuals, to me travelling around the world has at all times been my life. It takes a number of scheduling and it takes a number of juggling however we do it and we’re all used to it.
“Perhaps my profession would have been totally different if I’d stayed right here. However I really like the steadiness of working right here after which going there, and having a really totally different form of life altogether.”
Clearly Micheala shall be strolling on the wild facet for a few years to return.
Not Only a Wild Life excursions from April 13-30 2026, for tickets go to awildevening.co.uk/michaela
