Chris Packham, the renowned naturalist and familiar face of BBC’s nature programmes such as 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 participated in other television shows including The Really Wild Show, Birdwatch and Blue Planet Live.
Currently, 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.
less is known about his personal life and his Royal connections through his famous sister.
Early life and career breakthrough of Chris Packham
Chris Packham is known for his naturalist work and activism (Image: Getty Images)
Born on May 4, 1961, Chris Packham was raised 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 transitioning into presenting in the 80s. His first major role was on the children’s wildlife show The Really Wild Show in 1986.
Chris Packham, a familiar face on the since landing his co-host role for Springwatch in 2009, has since fronted a slew 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.
Chris Packham’s famous sister
Kate Middleton wore a Jenny Packham dress with matching accessories for her first royal appearance in 2024 (Image: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)
What many people 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 range of celebrities.
For over three decades, Jenny Packham has been at the helm of her own label, dressing stars in her designs that have sparkled in James Bond hits like 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 donned Jenny Packham’s creations, having worn no less than eight dresses designed by her, not least the dazzling gold gown for the No Time to Die premiere. Her client list boasts the likes of Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Aniston, and Keira Knightley.
Chris Packham’s autism diagnosis and how he helped others
In 2005, Chris Packham received a transformative diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome after therapy at the age of 44.
Personal diaries by the nature presenter suggested Chris knew he had autistic traits, but it was this formal diagnosis that was life-changing for him.
Speaking to ’s Good Morning Britain, he said: “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 spoke about his condition in the documentary film Aspergers And Me in 2017, and he later fronted a 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’re truly feeling inside and what’s really going on in their autistic minds.
This groundbreaking series witnessed Chris Packham guiding a group of autistic individuals as they crafted short films to express their inner feelings and thoughts to loved ones, providing a window into the workings of their autistic minds.
Chris Packham’s partner and quaint home life
TV presenter Chris Packham and partner Charlotte Corney (Image: Daily Mirror)
Chris Packham is currently in a relationship with Charlotte Corney, who runs and owns Wildheart Animal Sanctuary. The couple previously spoke about having no plans to marry or live together.
On ‘The Different Minds’ podcast, when quizzed about potential marriage, Chris firmly stated: “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 revelation to The Guardian, Chris discussed how being diagnosed with autism in his 40s has shaped his relationship with Charlotte, making it ‘different’ from past relationships that typically ended 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.
BBC Springwatch star Chris Packham with his dog (Image: Submitted)
“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, who once married 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 thought to reside in a quaint cottage with his two dogs, Sid and Nancy.
In October 2021, the presenter revealed that . 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.