Former Countryfile presenter Michaela Strachan is to join the BBC’s Autumnwatch Live when it returns later this year.
The move sees Strachan reunited with Chris Packham who she first worked with on The Really Wild Show.
In addition to Countryfile, her credits include Orangutan Diary and Elephant Diary for the BBC, and Michaela’s Wild Challenge and Michaela’s Zoo Babies for Channel Five.
According to a BBC executive, Ms Strachan was axed from Countryfile because she did not want to work in abattoirs. The revelation came out during evidence from BBC staff during Miriam O’Reilly’s successful tribunal case following her own axing from the BBC One rural affairs show.
O’Reilly subsequently won her claim against the BBC for agism and has since appeared on BBC One’s Crimewatch roadshow.
Strachan says: “I am really excited to be joining the Autumnwatch Live team, it’s a great opportunity to take a close look at the UK’s amazing wildlife across the season.
“I’m looking forward to working with Martin, and being reunited with Chris – he has such incredible knowledge and we’ve always had a great relationship.”