Michaela Strachan is a multi-award-winning British television presenter, wildlife advocate, and inspiring keynote speaker with a broadcasting career spanning almost four decades. A charismatic and versatile figure, Michaela has captivated generations through her work on iconic shows such as The Really Wild Show, Countryfile, and Springwatch. In 2025, she made headlines once again as the oldest-ever finalist on Dancing on Ice, skating into the final with grace and resilience, proving that age is no barrier to achievement or reinvention. Her dynamic presence and lived experience make her a compelling voice for audiences across generations.
Michaela's path to the screen was shaped by early passions in theatre and dance. Born in Surrey and educated at Chadsworth Stage School and Claremont Fan Court School, she later studied at ArtsEd in London. After graduating in 1985, she began her professional career in theatre, including a role in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Michaela quickly made the leap to television, joining the children's programmes Wide Awake Club and Wacaday in the mid-1980s. By 1988, she was co-hosting the cult late-night music show The Hitman and Her with Pete Waterman. During this period, she also explored a short-lived music career, releasing two UK charting singles under the name “Michaela”.
Michaela transitioned into wildlife broadcasting in the early 1990s and became a household name through 13 years on The Really Wild Show, earning two BAFTA awards, including Best Children’s Presenter and Best Factual Programme. She went on to become a regular reporter on Countryfile (1999–2009) and has co-presented BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch since 2011, a series celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025. Her other credits include Michaela’s Wild Challenge, Extreme Conservation, The Elephant Diaries, and Orangutan Diary. A published author, she also tours her stage show, Really Wild Adventures, based on her book of the same name. Michaela is a proud ambassador for several wildlife charities and an advocate for breast cancer awareness, following her own diagnosis and double mastectomy in 2014.
Michaela is a truly engaging keynote speaker whose talks combine humour, warmth, and powerful storytelling. She speaks on wildlife and conservation, women’s empowerment, resilience, health and wellbeing, and life in the media, making her a perfect fit for corporate events, leadership forums, environmental summits and school outreach programmes. Her genuine enthusiasm and deep knowledge ensure audiences come away inspired, informed, and uplifted. Michaela Strachan is living proof that with courage, compassion, and curiosity, you can thrive in any chapter of life.
Social Media
Books
Michaela Strachan's Really Wild Adventures: A book of fun and factual animal rhymes
Michaela's Marvellous Makes and Do's
Michaela Strachan's official speaker topics are listed below:
- Children’s Education & Wildlife Communication
- Health, Wellbeing & Life After Illness
- Inspiring Later-Life Achievement
- Media & Broadcasting Industry Insights
- Overcoming Adversity & Personal Resilience
- Wildlife Conservation & Environmental Advocacy
- Women’s Empowerment & Leadership
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Michaela brought the audience to hysterics as she delved into the behind-the-scenes of her television career and the struggles of working with animals, including having a young group of orangutans steal her makeup bag and destroy all the contents from up in the trees, with two weeks left of filming." - Essex Wildlife Trust
- 2025 – Finalist on Dancing on Ice (Series 17), partnered with Mark Hanretty
- 2025 – Co-presented Ice Age: Apocalypse
- 2024 – Appeared as an ornithologist in Mandy (episode: “The Career Ladder”)
- 2024 – Participant on BBC's Pilgrimage
- 2023 – Presented Ice Age: A Frozen World
- 2022 – Presented Extreme Conservation (BBC World News/BBC Reel) and Digging for Treasure (Channel 5)
- 2018 – Won BAFTA for Best Factual Entertainment Programme for Michaela's Wild Challenge
- 2014 – Contestant on Splash! (ITV celebrity diving show, reached semi-finals)
- 2013 – Published Michaela Strachan’s Really Wild Adventures
- 2011–present – Co-presenter on Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Winterwatch (BBC)
- 2007–2009 – Presenter of Orangutan Diary (BBC)
- 2005–2008 – Presenter of Elephant Diaries
- 2005 – Won Children's TV BAFTA
- 2003–2006 – Presenter of Michaela’s Wild Challenge
- 2002 – Won Ladies' World Gurning Crown at Egremont Crab Fair while filming Countryfile
- 1999–2009 – Regular reporter on Countryfile (BBC One)
- 1993–2006 – Presenter on The Really Wild Show
- 1992–1993 – Stage role as Goldilocks in Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- 1992 – Featured on The Hitman and Her (1988–1992)
- 1990 – Released single “Take Good Care of My Heart” (UK No. 66) under the name "Michaela"
- 1989 – Released single “H.A.P.P.Y. Radio” (UK No. 62) under the name "Michaela"
- 1989 – Presenter for Outdoors and Wildlife TV
- 1988–1992 – Co-presented The Hitman and Her alongside Pete Waterman
- 1987–1989 – Presenter on Wacaday
- 1986–1989 – Co-presented Wide Awake Club
- 1985–1986 – Stage role as Liza in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
- 1985 – Presented on The Wide-Awake Club
How to hire Michaela Strachan
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Michaela Strachan for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
