Michaela Strachan marks 40 years on screen with new live theatre tour

Beloved television presenter and BAFTA award-winning wildlife champion Michaela Strachan is celebrating four decades on screen with a brand-new live theatre tour.

Not Just A Wild Life will run for two weeks in April 2026, coming to Exeter's Corn Exchange on Thursday, 16^th April. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, 11th September, via awildevening.co.uk/michaela.

The show promises a mix of humour, nostalgia and candid storytelling as Strachan reflects on a remarkable broadcasting career that has taken her from children’s television to household-name natural history programming.

Michaela Strachan said:
“When I started presenting in the 80s, I thought it would be incredible to last even 10 years. It’s been an extraordinary career and I’m excited to share my memories of what’s been a ‘Really Wild’ ride at times. I’m really looking forward to taking a trip down memory lane and inviting audiences to reminisce and laugh along with me!”

Strachan’s career began in the mid-1980s when she joined the cult Saturday morning programme The Wide Awake Club alongside Timmy Mallett. She later co-hosted ITV’s late-night music and dance show The Hitman and Her with Pete Waterman, gaining a reputation as one of TV’s most versatile young presenters.

But it was with The Really Wild Show in 1993 that she became a household name, inspiring a generation of children to take an interest in the natural world. Her approachable style and on-screen chemistry with Chris Packham and Terry Nutkins turned the BBC show into a flagship of children’s factual programming.

Since then, Strachan has become one of the BBC’s most recognisable wildlife presenters. She joined Countryfile in the 1990s, fronted a number of nature documentaries, and has been a core part of the Springwatch and Autumnwatch team for over 15 years. Her work has earned her critical acclaim, including a BAFTA for Children’s Television.

Beyond wildlife presenting, Strachan has shown her versatility by competing in Dancing on Ice, where she reached the final, and appearing in documentaries exploring environmental and conservation issues across the globe. From cuddling orangutans in Borneo to raising awareness about endangered species in Africa, her work has combined entertainment with education.

The new stage show will shine a light on these adventures while also reflecting on what it means to grow up, and grow older, in front of a television audience.

Promoters describe Not Just A Wild Life as “a night of inspiration and nostalgia for nature nerds, 80s kids, and anyone who’s ever wondered how a rubber chicken can change the course of your life”.

Audiences can expect anecdotes from behind the camera, tales of live television mishaps, and reflections on the changing face of wildlife broadcasting over the last 40 years.

With her trademark warmth and humour, Strachan will celebrate the highs, acknowledge the lows, and share the joy of a career that has touched millions of viewers across generations.