MICHAELA Strachan is an icon of 1980s/1990s children television in this country.

For many being an iconic part of so many people’s childhoods might be a bit hard to carry off but Michaela wears her iconic badge with pride.
When I asked her how did she feel about being ‘an icon’ she replied:

“Yes, funny you should say that as I am sitting here in my dressing gown as it seems such a long time ago.

“It is funny as people used to say to me I used to fancy you, or my dad really fancied you but now it is my grandad used to fancy you.

“What has happened with me is the audience who watched children television in the 1980s/90s have grown up with me. They might have been 10 years old then but now they are 38 years old and they are still my audience.

“They used to watch Wide Awake Club but now they are watching Springwatch.”

And there in a split second or even a nutshell is the magic of Michaela Strachan an icon who still shines.

She will be shining when she comes to The Brewhouse Theatre on October 28, for ‘A Wild Evening with Michaela Strachan’.

Returning to the subject of being a children television presenter, Michaela said: “I absolutely loved being a children’s television presenter. 

“At the time I was doing it you had such a laugh and could get away with so much. Can you believe it when I started there was only three channels!.

“If you were watching television at 7.30am you were watching the Wide Awake Club or the Test Card.
“It was a very big adventure.
“It (children’s television) gave me a huge amount of experience. 
“It was fun, it was off the cuff and unplanned.
“It gave us all the chance to experiment as we were not watched by the powers above.

“Now people have to re-evaluate what they say and what they do.

“Saturday morning television was the big thing with shows like Multi-Coloured Swap Shop or Wide Awake Club or No 73. These were magazine shows where you could have a laugh, watch cartoons and just have fun.

“Now children have their own channels either watching them on television or on their laptops.

“I have noticed the changes since I have been a parent. Back in the good old days children’s television was Watch with Mother in the morning and then a few hours in the evening so there was self regulation.

“Now children’s television goes on quite late on Disney but something like CBeebies does stop at about 7pm.”

Now thanks to the world of nature, Michaela has turned over a new page in her presenting book and for her now it is all about wildlife.

It started for her when she was part of The Really Wild Show (1986-2006) and she has now become part of the BBC’s Autumnwatch and Springwatch.

She explained by doing these shows she is always learning different things but then joked she was of an age (51) that many of the things she had learnt she had forgotten.

Speaking about a programme like Springwatch, Michaela said: “What we are doing with Autumnwatch or Springwatch is commentating over film which has already been shot.

“We go in with one idea but these can quickly change. 
“We had planned on doing a bit about otters but we could not find any.
“Then we got a call about Peregrine falcons nesting in Salisbury Cathedral.

“The RSPCA had found three chicks at another location who were orphaned and they put one of these chicks in this nest. We could then watch how they integrated with this new family and it turned out to be one of the highlights of Springwatch 2017.”

As an individual and a presenter, Michaela has a passion for wildlife and would like to do more programmes which raised awareness about individuals who have given up so much of their lives to help animals.

Explaining more, Michaela said: “Some people have done amazing things for wildlife and have given up so much of their lives. They have helped save a species and I would really like to do a series on this and to highlight some of the real issues going on in the world.

“We did do something like it when I did The Really Wild Show on topics such an Antarctica.

“It is very difficult to get any programme commissioned if it is too depressing.

“What you have got to have in it is some lighted hearted bits, some serious items but also hope.

“If it has hope then it is a winning formula. And that is why Springwatch works is it has the feel good factor.”

Looking ahead to the ‘A Wild Evening with Michaela Strachan’, Michaela said: “I have done these before but this will be the first time in a theatre.

“The first half will be about my career and the second about Springwatch and her passion for wildlife. In life whatever job you are doing you learn about yourself and become more comfortable about your job.

“The jobs I have done have influenced me and as you get older your develop.”

You can Join Michaela Strachan, the award winning TV presenter, for a unique opportunity to hear about her fascinating life and career when she comes to Taunton.

She will talk about the early clubbing days in the 80’s on ‘The Hitman and Her’ and ‘Wacaday’, through her time on Children’s TV in the 90’s on ‘The Really Wild Show’, to her passion for wildlife and conservation films, ‘Orangutan Diaries’  – and most recently ‘Springwatch’.  All illustrated with her own film footage and photography.

‘A Wild Evening with Michaela Strachan’ at The Brewhouse Theatre at 7.30pm on October 28.Tickets cost £16.

For further information go online at thebrewhouse.net or call the box office on 01823 283244.