Good times with Michaela Strachan

Anything with music in it suits me to a T

Michaela lives with her partner, Nick Chevallier, in Cape Town. She has a 14-year-old son, Ollie, and three grown-up stepchildren.

 The last great film you saw…

Pavarotti. It’s a documentary film about the opera legend. I’m not a fan of opera, yet I was fascinated by it. I also loved Rocketman. Anything with a bit of music in it suits me to a T.

 The film you could watch over and over… Eddie The Eagle. It’s based on the life of British skier Michael Edwards. When you see the film, you gain so much respect for him. It’s a reminder to celebrate people’s successes, rather than knock their failures.

 The performance that blew you

away… Six the musical. It’s so different to anything else I’ve seen. It’s about the six wives of Henry VIII, and each of them takes a turn telling their story to see who suffered the most from being married to him. It’s fun and the performances are brilliant.

 The song that made you cry…

Wasn’t Expecting That by Jamie Lawson. It tells the story of a couple who fall in love, but are left devastated when the woman is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Having had breast cancer myself, and having lost friends to it, it makes me cry every time I hear the lyrics.

 The podcast you loved… I really enjoyed Kevin Pietersen: Beast Of Man, which is about the former England cricketer who made it his mission to save South African rhinos after he retired. It’s quite a tough listen, but it’s worth the emotional stress.

 Top of your TV planner this month…

Dancing On Ice. I love all those dance shows. Last year, I actually got asked to do a trial for it, which was great fun. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it through, but maybe that’s a good thing!

 The last album you loved… Queen’s Greatest Hits, because I watched the film Bohemian Rhapsody recently and absolutely loved it. My partner’s car has a CD player, so I dug out the album and have been singing along to it ever since.  The book that inspired you… Ben Elton’s Identity Crisis. It looks at political correctness and the quest to navigate your way around it. I’m 53 and very much in that space – trying not to upset anyone or say the wrong thing.  The best recommendation you received… A friend recommended the musical Come From Away. It’s based on the events of the week following the 9/11 attacks, and it’s incredible.

 The ticket you’d love to get your hands on… I’m dying to see Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre. It’s done in two parts and I’ve heard it’s amazing.

 Winterwatch returns to BBC Two at the end of January