Chris Packham’s life from famous family to autism diagnosis | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

Chris Packham, the renowned naturalist and well-known face of BBC nature programs such as Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, has been in the spotlight for over a decade.

In addition to his television work, Chris is also an accomplished writer and has appeared on other television shows including The Really Wild Show, Birdwatch and Blue Planet Live.

He is currently presenting Winterwatch from RSPB Arne on the shores of Poole Harbor with Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams.

His stepdaughter Megan McCubbin, who is also a zoologist and nature host, often appears with him on shows such as Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer as well as Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.

Wales Online reports less is known about his personal life and his royal connections through his famous sister.

Born on 4 May 1961, Chris Packham was brought up in Southampton. After attending Bitterne Park Secondary School and Taunton’s College, he pursued a zoology degree from the University of Southampton.

He initially worked as a wildlife cameraman before switching to presenting in the 80s. His first major role was in the children’s show The Really Wild Show in 1986.

Chris Packham, a familiar face at the BBC since landing his role as co-host of Springwatch in 2009, has since made a number of 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.

What many may not know, however, is that his sister is one of the country’s most successful designers and has seen her items worn by a number of celebrities.

For more than three decades, Jenny Packham has been at the helm of her own label, dressing stars in her designs who have starred in James Bond hits such as Die Another Day and Casino Royale, as well as iconic TV series Sex and the City and Gossip Girl .

The Duchess of Cambridge is also among those who have worn Jenny Packham’s creations, having worn no fewer than eight dresses designed by her, not least the dazzling gold dress for the No Time to Die premiere. Her client list boasts the likes of Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Aniston and Keira Knightley.

In 2005, Chris Packham received a transformative diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome after therapy at the age of 44.

Personal diaries of the nature presenter suggested that Chris knew he had autistic traits, but it was this formal diagnosis that was life-changing for him.

speaks to ITV‘s Good Morning Britain, he said: “I grew up in the sixties and seventies when the condition was not widely known, certainly by my parents and teachers.

“So by the time I got to the beginning of my teenage years, and certainly into my early 20s, my mental health issues were quite significant.

“I hated myself, I thought I was broken. Obviously I was in a smaller age group than most other people, so I blamed myself for everything that went wrong.”

Chris spoke about his condition in the documentary Aspergers And Me in 2017 and he later fronted a BBC series called Inside Our Autistic Minds.

The series saw the presenter help a group of autistic people create short films to reveal to their family and friends how they really feel inside and what’s really going on in their autistic minds.

This groundbreaking series saw Chris Packham guide a group of autistic individuals as they made short films to express their inner feelings and thoughts to their loved ones, providing a window into the workings of their autistic minds.

Chris Packham is currently in a relationship with Charlotte Corney, who runs and owns Wildheart Animal Sanctuary. The couple has previously said that they had no plans to marry or live together.

On ‘The Different Minds’ podcast, when asked about a potential marriage, Chris stated firmly: “I would say no. It’s 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 with older animals.”

In an intimate reveal to The Guardian, Chris discussed how being diagnosed with autism in his 40s has shaped his relationship with Charlotte, making it ‘different’ from previous relationships that typically ended after five to seven years.

He explained: “They all reached their full term because as much as I dealt with my neurodiversity socially, I didn’t deal with it at home. I couldn’t let my guard down and it was always very challenging for my partners.”

“I have a bit more control over my obsessive personality now. It means I don’t completely expose Charlotte to my obsessions and force her to be a part of them, which is what I did in previous relationships, while being pretty unforgivable when partners wanted me to do something they valued and I didn’t.”

Chris Packham, who was once married to NHS nurse Jo McCubbin, remains close to his stepdaughter Megan McCubbin despite their divorce in 2008.

While Chris Packham’s exact residence in the New Forest is not publicly known, he is believed to live in a cozy cottage with his two dogs, Sid and Nancy.

In October 2021, the presenter revealed that haters blew up a Land Rover outside the gate of his Hampshire property. He has also received death threats in the past and has had human excrement sent to his residence and dead crows tied to the fence of his New Forest property.