Michaela Strachan has opened up about Autumnwatch being cancelled. The BBC confirmed it was axing the much-loved programme after 17 years back in February.
Now ahead of the return of Springwatch, which kicks off on Monday, May 29, Michaela has discussed the broadcaster's decision. Appearing on ITV's Loose Women on Friday, May 25, Jane Moore asked Michaela: "Springwatch is still going strong, why did they axe Autumn Watch?"
The presenter responded: "I think it's all to do with budget, unfortunately, and if you think what the BBC has put on this year, there's been a lot of expense. I think you have to be realistic, you know, fewer people are buying the license so there's more choice on what to watch and budgets have got smaller."
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Explaining how it happened, Michaela said: "We were given a choice, well production was given a choice, either cutting the budget back on everything or getting rid of one of them.
"I think they made the right decision, because Springwatch, which starts on Monday and I'm really looking forward to it, is at the heart of the Watches and that's the season that I love best because we can really get into the stories of the wildlife."
The BBC said in a statement back in February: "These are challenging times financially and we need to make difficult decisions and focus our resources on content that has the highest impact. "Sadly, this means that Autumnwatch will not be continuing. Instead, we are investing more money into Springwatch and Winterwatch, as they are most popular with audiences.
"We are incredibly proud of the Watches and would like to thank the presenters and production team who will continue on Springwatch when it returns in May for three weeks, and Winterwatch when it returns next year for one week, reduced from two weeks."
During the interview, Michaela also talked about her blended family. The 57-year-old has been with her partner Nick Chevallier for over 20 years.
Speaking about the "secret" to their successful partnership, Michaela said: "We do [spend a lot of time apart] and I think that's part of our secret, we've been together 20 years but I think that it's really good when you can separate, particularly if you're very independent people.
"Some people need each other all the time, I'm not one of those, I need my independence and I need my own life and so does he so it works really well."
She added: "I didn't have children when I met him, he was widowed so he had a few children and then we had one together. And I think that's the secret when you have one together that blends you as a family.
"So instead of them and me it did become us as a family, and we are a great blended family." For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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