Chris Packham and the rest of the team are returning for a two-week run of the nature show – continuing to film from home...
What do you love most about autumn? GILLIAN, 45: I get really excited about Strictly Come Dancing. I love it, and I love Halloween.
CHRIS, 59: I live in woodland and I like very simple things, like leaves falling off the trees. I’m a massive fan of autumn and I think it smells good. These past few days, I’ve been out in the garden at night with the dogs after it’s rained, and it’s been rich and dense; it sort of hits your nostrils and chills your face.
Any tips for what to look out for? CHRIS: This is a time for Sunday afternoon walks and looking at what you find. Insect life under a log is always fascinating, and you’ve got all the fungi, which can be very beautiful. Listen out for those early signs of winter; tawny owls calling, foxes vocalising... Exercise your senses; use your nose and ears, get down on your hands and knees and look at the little stuff. Michaela, you were locked down in South Africa for Springwatch. How does it feel to be back? MICHAELA, 54: I watched it from home, and I was really proud of what they managed to achieve. I was very anxious about whether I would make it over for Autumnwatch, but I’m back in the UK now and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to blocking out the coronavirus and immersing myself in British wildlife in such a fantastic spot. Chris and Gillian, you must be chuffed to have Michaela back? CHRIS: Well, we’ve banished her to a far-flung corner of Scotland where we know the internet signal is very poor – so there’s every chance that Michaela won’t be featuring quite as strongly as she hopes. I for one will be much happier because she won’t keep trying to squeeze up to me next to the bonfire when it’s quite cold, compelling me to remind her of my dislike for anything tactile…
GILLIAN: I’m really glad Michaela’s back – we need someone to keep Chris in line! CHRIS: No, it’s great to have her back. It felt really weird in the spring not having the whole team – I had to work harder! MICHAELA: Go on Chris, say it – you missed me!
CHRIS: We all missed you! We missed those moments in the morning meetings when you go off on one, but everyone’s already decided it’s a really bad idea, and we let you go for another two or three minutes before silence emanates across the room…
Chris, you presented with [stepdaughter] Megan McCubbin last time; is she back? CHRIS: Yeah, she’s going to do a few more things. We’ve got other young presenters as well – we need younger people coming in; we want as broad an audience as possible.
What are you hoping to capture on Autumnwatch?
CHRIS: I’m on my patch, so I’m very keen to extol the virtues of my oak, hazel, beech woodland and this part of the New
Forest. My badgers that were entertaining in the springtime are still there, and the foxes that I have enormous fondness for. There are so many great stories going on at this time of year. I’m hoping for some Dung beetle action, or maybe a fungi that I’ve found that morning. Filming in my own backyard means I might stumble upon things when I’m out walking the poodles in the morning.