Chris Packham is best known for being a presenter on the BBC’s nature coverage, having been a face of Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch for more than 10 years
Chris Packham makes his Gogglebox debut
Chris Packham, the well-known face of BBC’s nature programmes including Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, has been in the spotlight for over a decade.
In addition to his TV work, Chris is also an accomplished author and has appeared on other television shows such as The Really Wild Show, Birdwatch and Blue Planet Live.
Wales Online reports he is presenting Winterwatch from RSPB Arne on the shores of Poole Harbour, joined by Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams.
His stepdaughter Megan McCubbin, who is also a zoologist and nature presenter, often appears alongside him on shows like Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer as well as Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.
However, less is known about his personal life and his Royal connections through his famous sister.
Early life and career breakthrough of Chris Packham
Born on May 4, 1961, Chris Packham was raised in Southampton. After attending Bitterne Park Secondary School and Taunton’s College, he went on to study Zoology at the University of Southampton.
He initially worked as a wildlife cameraman before transitioning into presenting in the 80s. His first major role was as presenter on the new children’s wildlife show The Really Wild Show in 1986.
Chris Packham joined the BBC as a regular presenter in 2009, initially co-hosting Springwatch. Since then, he has presented numerous documentaries, such as Chris Packham: Is It Time to Break the Law?, Dogs in the Wild: Meet the Family, and Chris Packham: A Walk That Made Me.
Chris Packham’s famous sister who works with royal family
Chris Packham may be famous to many for his nature programmes and campaigning, but his sister Jenny Packham is also famous.
She is a prominent British designer, having run her own label for over three decades. Her designs have appeared in James Bond films like Die Another Day and Casino Royale, and in TV shows like Sex and the City and Gossip Girl.
Jenny Packham has also created at least eight dresses for the Duchess of Cambridge, including the gold gown she wore to the No Time to Die premiere. Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Aniston, and Keira Knightley are among other celebrities to wear her designs.
Chris Packham’s autism diagnosis and how he helped others
Chris Packham was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2005 at the age of 44, after consulting a therapist. His personal diaries showed he was aware of his autistic traits, but the formal diagnosis had a significant impact on his life.
In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he commented: “I grew up in the Sixties and Seventies when the condition wasn’t widely known, certainly by my parents and teachers.
“So by the time I’d got to the beginning of my teens, and certainly into the early part of my 20s, my mental health issues were quite considerable.
“I loathed myself, I thought that I was broken. Clearly, I was in a lesser cohort than most other people, so I blamed myself for everything that was going wrong.”
Chris Packham opened up about his struggles with mental health in the revealing documentary Aspergers And Me back in 2017. The wildlife expert went on to present a powerful BBC series titled ‘Inside Our Autistic Minds’, where he assisted a group of autistic individuals in creating short films.
These films were a window for their loved ones to see how they truly feel and understand the workings of their autistic minds.
Chris Packham’s partner and home life
Chris Packham is currently in a loving relationship with Charlotte Corney, the owner of Wildheart Animal Sanctuary on Isle of Wright. The couple has been open about their decision not to marry or live together.
On The Different Minds podcast, Chris was asked if they would ever marry and he responded: “I would say no. It’s all about animals at the moment, we have to concentrate on them.
“Her tigers are old, my dog Scratchy is old. It’s not about us, we have to get through this period basically of aged animals.”
In an intimate chat with The Guardian, Chris reflected on how being diagnosed with autism in his 40s has shaped his relationship with Charlotte, making it ‘different’ from past romances that tended to end after five to seven years.
He explained: “They all reached their full term because, as much as I was dealing socially with my neurodiversity, I wasn’t dealing with it at home. I couldn’t let my guard down and that was always very challenging for my partners.
“I have slightly better control of my obsessive personality now.
“That means I don’t totally expose Charlotte to my obsessions and force her to be part of them, which is what I did in past relationships while at the same time being pretty unforgiving when partners wanted me to do anything they valued and I didn’t.”
Chris Packham was previously married to NHS nurse Jo McCubbin, who had Megan McCubbin from another relationship. The pair divorced in 2008, but Chris and Megan are still close together.
It is not known where Chris Packham lives in the New Forest, however he is believed to live in a cottage with his two dogs Sid and Nancy.
In October 2021, the presenter revealed that hate campaigners blew up a Land Rover outside the front gate of his Hampshire property. He has also previously received death threats and has had human excrement sent to his residence and dead crows tied to the fence of his New Forest property.
