The best is when you inspired someone to go into conservation

Michaela, who was married to filmmaker Duncan Chard for five years, hosted the BBC’S nature programme Countryfile and now presents Autumnwatch and Springwatch in the UK with Chris Packham.

But as she and her family live behind Table Mountain National Park in South Africa, travel is part and parcel of her work.

She said: “I think my ambitions these days are to find a balance in life – balancing the work I love to do with family life which is really important to me.

“If I can get those two things right I feel I’ve done a good job.

“I always miss my family but I’ve been doing this job for a long time now.

“Although it seems outrageous to some people, to me travelling round the world has always been my life and it’s very normal.

“It takes a lot of scheduling and it takes a lot of juggling but we do it and we’re all used to it. When I’m at home I’m a very big part of my son’s life and then when I’m away I’m not such a big part of his life because I’m not there on a day to day basis.

“That’s how he’s grown up. He’s very used to it and we seem to manage.”

“My partner is amazing with my son and sometimes I think a lot of kids these days only see their mums half of the year because their parents are divorced and it’s 50:50 with either parent.

“I see my son way more than half the year and he’s got two parents who are still very much in love. He has a balanced upbringing, I think.”

Unsurprisingly for someone known for her love of animals, with telly work including The Really Wild Show in the 90s, Michaela’s family includes rescue dog Rio and, in an unplanned development, a cat.

She said: “Rio is the absolute centre of our family’s life. She’s only two years old and she’s adorable. We also have a cat that decided to live with us. I would never actually get a cat these days because they’re predators and they bring birds and goodness knows what in, but we’ve kind of got a little bit fond of it now.” Michaela’s rise to fame began in the 80s on breakfast television shows including Tv-am. Next came music programmes, most notably the The Hit Man and Her. Since then the star has focused on programmes about conservation. She said: “I feel very connected to the natural environment. It’s my happy place. I think the more you learn about something the more passionate you become. I love wildlife so why wouldn’t I like to be with animals in the wild?” Michaela is pleased when she finds out she has inspired others. She said: “The best comments that you get are when someone comes along to you and says, ‘I used to watch you on Really Wild Show as a child and you’ve inspired me to go into conservation.’ “Then you find out they are working for