Michaela Strachan
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| Michaela Strachan | |
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| Born | 7 April 1966 Ewell, Surrey, England |
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| Occupation | Television presenter |
Michaela Evelyn Ann Strachan (born in Ewell, Surrey, 7 April 1966) is a British television presenter.
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[edit] Career
Educated at Claremont Fan Court School, Esher, a Christian Science school[1], while she was at college, Strachan held jobs briefly as an Avon lady and as a kissogram [2]. After studying at ArtsEd London, Strachan performed in theatre in her younger years then moved to children's television. She was a prominent feature in Saturday morning television programmes in the 1980s and was involved in such programs as TV-am and Wide Awake Club with Timmy Mallett. In 1988 she hosted the pan-European music show Boogie Box on music channel Music Box.
In 1993, Strachan joined the team of presenters of the The Really Wild Show, a wildlife programme orientated towards children on BBC 1[3], becoming one of the programmes most prominent presenters and remaining until its cancellation in 2006. Strachan starred as "Her" in the music show The Hitman and Her alongside Pete Waterman.
Since the 1990s, Strachan has mostly been famous for her appearances in wildlife television shows. Her approach towards animals is more light-hearted than other presenters such as David Attenborough, and Strachan is frequently seen giggling whilst being affectionately mobbed by anything from dolphins to wolves. She is the author of a book entitled Wild About Baby Animals.
She also had a brief music career as Michaela with two singles, a cover of "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" and "Take Good Care Of My Heart" and has also acted with a small role in the sitcom Game On.
More recently Strachan has been the principal presenter on the multi BAFTA award winning wildlife series, Michaela's Wild Challenge (Two Hand Productions for Five TV) and has been one of the regular presenters for BBC's Countryfile on a Sunday morning.
While filming an item for Countryfile in 2002, Strachan entered World Gurning competition at Egremont Crab Fair. To her surprise she won and walked away with ladies' World Gurning Crown. [1]
She won a BAFTA for Best Presenter in 2006 for Michaela's Wild Challenge (Two Hand Productions for Five TV).
She has also been in Orangutan Diary along with Steve Leonard in which they follow the daily routines of a reserve for orphaned orangutans in Borneo.
In 2007 British indie band Scouting For Girls included a song called "Michaela Strachan You Broke My Heart (When I Was 12)" on their self-entitled debut album, as a hidden track.
Michaela is a celebrity supporter of the charity World Vision as a child sponsor. She also supports their Alternative Gifts - real life changing gifts for communities in the developing world.
[edit] Personal life
A vegetarian, Strachan was married to film-maker Duncan Chard, but they divorced after five years. On 8 June 2005 she gave birth to her son Oliver with Nick Chevalier. The couple live in Cape Town, South Africa with Chevalier's children: daughter Jade and two sons, Tom and Sam.
