Michaela Strachan: Cancer, Family, and Life in South Africa

If you grew up watching The Really Wild Show or dancing along to Hitman And Her, Michaela Strachan’s voice is probably lodged somewhere in your memory. Now 60, the presenter has swapped the British TV studio for a sun-drenched life in South Africa, where she rebuilt herself after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Born: 7 April 1966 ·
Occupation: TV presenter, singer ·
Known for: The Really Wild Show, Hitman And Her ·
Residence: South Africa ·
Children: 1 son ·
Grandchildren: 2

Eight key facts at a glance:

What illness does Michaela Strachan have?

Did Michaela Strachan have a double mastectomy?

• Michaela Strachan was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in October 2014 (ITV Loose Women).
• She described her reconstructed breasts with characteristic humour, calling them “like coconuts” and nicknaming them “Pina and Colada” (ITV Loose Women).

How does Michaela Strachan stay so slim?

• She credits a combination of genetics, an active lifestyle, and a largely plant-based diet (HELLO!).
• Her daily routine includes walking, hiking, and yoga – a lifestyle she says is easier to maintain in South Africa’s climate (Express).

Is Michaela Strachan vegan?

• Strachan has said she follows a “predominantly plant-based” diet, though she doesn’t label herself strictly vegan (HELLO!).
• She has mentioned cutting out most animal products for health and ethical reasons, but occasionally eats fish.

What this means: Strachan’s health approach combines medical treatment, dietary awareness, and an active outdoor life – a holistic model that resonates with her audience of women navigating midlife health changes.

How many children has Michaela Strachan got?

Who is Michaela Strachan’s daughter?

• Strachan has one son, Ollie, born in 2006 to her partner Nick Chevallier. She has no daughter.
• She is also stepmother to three children from Nick’s previous relationship: Jade, Sam, and Tom (Entertainment Daily).
• Strachan became a grandmother for the first time in 2023 and now has two grandsons (HELLO!).

The pattern: Strachan’s family life is blended and international – her children and grandchildren are spread between the UK and South Africa, reflecting a life built across two continents.

Is Michaela Strachan in a relationship?

• Yes, Strachan is in a long-term relationship with Nick Chevallier, a cameraman and director she met while filming in Cape Town in 2003 (Entertainment Daily).
• They are not married but have lived together in Hout Bay for more than a decade (HELLO!).

Why this matters: Strachan’s stable partnership and family life are central to her decision to remain in South Africa, giving her the foundation to balance TV work abroad with a grounded home life.

Do Michaela Strachan and Chris Packham get on?

• Strachan and Chris Packham have a famously close friendship, both professionally and personally (Wikipedia).
• They co-host Springwatch and frequently appear together on BBC wildlife programming, with Packham describing her as “one of my best friends” in interviews.
• Their on-screen chemistry is built on decades of trust and shared passion for conservation (HELLO!).

“She is one of my best friends.”

– Chris Packham

The catch: While fans often speculate about a romantic connection, both have made clear their bond is platonic – a rare example of a long-term male-female friendship in the public eye.

Where does Michaela Strachan currently live?

Why does Michaela Strachan live in South Africa?

• Strachan moved to South Africa in 2002 after falling in love with the country while filming there (Express).
• She lives in Hout Bay, a coastal suburb of Cape Town, with her partner Nick Chevallier and their blended family (HELLO!).
• Reasons include the outdoor lifestyle, climate, and the opportunity to raise her son in a nature-rich environment.

The implication: Strachan’s move was not just a career shift but a deliberate quality-of-life choice – one that many British viewers find aspirational as they consider their own later-life options.

“I am more excited to be 60 than 50.”

– Michaela Strachan, interviewed by Saga in 2026

On her reconstructed breasts, Strachan told ITV Loose Women in 2017 that they feel “like coconuts” and that she nicknamed them “Pina and Colada” (ITV Loose Women).

For British women approaching their 60s, Strachan’s story offers a blueprint: confront a health crisis head-on, relocate for a better quality of life, and redefine what the next chapter looks like. The choice is clear – either let age define you, or, like Strachan, use it as a launchpad for something new.