The BBC presenter on listening to techno, wanting his ashes scattered with those of his dogs and shaving with his eyes shut
Born in Southampton, Chris Packham, 65, gained a zoology degree at the University of Southampton. He began his TV career on The Really Wild Show in the 1980s and went on to front other BBC programmes such as Springwatch and Earth. In 2023 he presented the documentary Inside Our Autistic Minds. His bestselling memoir, Fingers in the Sparkle Jar, was voted the UK’s favourite nature book in 2018 and his awards include a CBE for services to nature conservation. Chris Packham’s World of Wonder: A Planet on the Edge is touring until 1 December. He has a partner and lives in Hampshire.
When were you happiest?
When I was 14 years old I had a kestrel and I would get up before school to fly it. Nothing else happened that summer. My whole world revolved around that one bird and I have never been happier or more in love since.