If you have watched Springwatch, Autumnwatch or Winterwatch in the last few years, chances are you already know Megan McCubbin’s face. Her full story might still be a bit of a mystery, though. She is the zoologist with the easy smile who seems just as happy crouched in a hedge looking for hedgehogs as she is chatting live on national television.
Megan McCubbin has become one of the most recognisable young voices in British wildlife broadcasting. People search her name for all sorts of reasons. Some want to know her age. Others are curious about her connection to Chris Packham. Many simply want to understand how she went from a zoology student in Liverpool to a familiar presence on BBC Two.
This article brings everything together in one place. You will find her age and background, the real story behind her relationship with Chris Packham, how her career actually developed, and what she has been doing more recently, away from the cameras and beyond Springwatch.
Who Is Megan McCubbin
Megan McCubbin is an English zoologist, conservationist and television presenter. She is best known for co hosting the BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch series. Her reputation rests on being a knowledgeable, approachable communicator who can explain complex ecological ideas without making them feel like a lecture.
What sets Megan McCubbin apart from many wildlife presenters is her scientific grounding. She trained as a zoologist first and moved into broadcasting afterward. That background shows in how she handles interviews, fieldwork and live segments.
Writing, wildlife photography and public conservation speaking all sit alongside her broadcasting work. Her public profile stretches well past her screen appearances as a result.
Megan McCubbin Age and Early Life
Megan Leigh Shannon McCubbin was born on 8 February 1995 in the United Kingdom, which puts her in her early thirties as of 2026. Her mother, Jo McCubbin, worked as a nurse. From a young age, Megan showed a deep fascination with animals and the outdoors.
Much of that early love for wildlife came from her surroundings. A large part of her childhood was spent in and around the Isle of Wight Zoo, a sanctuary known for rescuing and rehabilitating animals that had previously been used in circuses or the exotic pet trade. Watching that kind of rehabilitation work up close, from a young age, clearly shaped the direction her life would take.
Dyslexia is also part of her story, and something she has spoken about openly. Rather than holding her back, it seems to have pushed her toward subjects and careers where curiosity and hands on learning mattered more than traditional academic pressure. Environmental Studies at A level came first, followed by a foundation year in Biological Science, which then opened the door to a full zoology degree.
Megan McCubbin and Chris Packham: What Is the Real Connection
This is probably the single most searched question about her, so it deserves a clear and complete answer.
Megan McCubbin is the stepdaughter of naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham. Her mother began a relationship with Packham when Megan was around two years old, and the two later married. Chris Packham was therefore present for most of Megan’s childhood, even though he and her mother eventually divorced in 2008.
The divorce did not end the closeness between Megan and Packham. Their bond was never built on a shared surname or a formal title. Instead, it grew from years of shared time outdoors, with Packham introducing a young Megan to birdwatching, insect spotting and the small, patient rituals that define a naturalist’s life.
That closeness became visible to the public during the 2020 lockdown. The pair launched the Self Isolation Bird Club, a daily livestream on Facebook and YouTube, built around a simple idea. Two people who already knew and trusted each other talked about the birds and wildlife in their garden, at a moment when millions of people were stuck at home and craving a connection to nature.
A loyal following built up almost overnight, and the show effectively became Megan’s launchpad into mainstream broadcasting. Not long after, she joined Packham on Springwatch. Since then, the pair have continued to appear together across Autumnwatch, Winterwatch and other BBC wildlife programming.
It is worth being precise here. Chris Packham is not Megan McCubbin’s biological father. He is her stepfather, and their relationship, while genuinely close, was built through years of shared experience rather than blood.
How Megan McCubbin Studied Zoology and Found Her Path
Megan McCubbin studied for a BSc in Zoology at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 2018. Her academic work was not just a formality either. The research thesis she completed focused on the social dynamics and behaviour of ring tailed lemurs, particularly how enrichment practices affected their interactions.
Her first real taste of presenting came during her time at Liverpool. A friend working on the BBC documentary series Undercover Tourist asked for her input on a story. Megan had recently spent a summer volunteering with rescue bears in China, so she suggested they investigate the illegal bear bile industry instead.
That suggestion turned into her first on screen credit in 2017, when she hosted an episode looking at the bear bile trade. It was a serious, uncomfortable subject for a first broadcasting job. Even so, it set the tone for the kind of presenter she would become: someone willing to engage with difficult conservation topics rather than only the cute and photogenic side of wildlife.
Megan McCubbin Career Timeline
Looking at her career in order helps make sense of how quickly things moved once she started.
2017 An episode of Undercover Tourist for BBC Three marked her television debut, focused on the illegal bear bile market in Vietnam.
2018 to 2019 Reporting work for Al Jazeera’s Earthrise programme followed, covering environmental and plastic pollution stories and building further experience in factual television.
2020 Alongside Chris Packham, she launched the Self Isolation Bird Club during the Covid lockdown. That same year brought her first Springwatch presenting role, broadcast from home due to pandemic restrictions, along with the release of her first book.
2021 She and Packham co hosted Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer, travelling around the UK in an electric campervan to explore British wildlife.
2022 Springwatch took her to Kielder Forest, Hauxley Nature Reserve and Newcastle upon Tyne that year. Later, she joined the presenting team on Animal Park, a fifteen part series filmed at Longleat.
2023 Her second book, An Atlas of Endangered Species, expanded her reputation as both a broadcaster and an author.
2024 and beyond Regular presenting work across the Watches franchise has continued, alongside a growing public voice in conservation and animal welfare discussions online.
Life Beyond Springwatch
Springwatch is the programme most associated with her name, but it only tells part of the story. Several other areas of Megan McCubbin’s work rarely get the same attention.
Animal Park at Longleat gave her experience with captive wildlife management and conservation breeding programmes, a very different skill set from filming in the wild. International volunteering has also shaped her work, including projects with Africat in Namibia on big cat conservation and with Animals Asia in China.
That international field experience matters for a simple reason. Her on screen expertise is backed by genuine hands on conservation work, not just studio knowledge or scripted talking points.
She is also President of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, a role that connects her back to the region where she grew up. In addition, she serves as Patron of Wonderseekers, a charity focused on sparking curiosity in science, technology, engineering and maths among children and families.
Books Written by Megan McCubbin
Two books make up Megan McCubbin’s published work so far, and each reflects a different side of her interests.
Back to Nature: How to Love Life and Save It came out in December 2020, co written with Chris Packham. The book blends personal reflection with practical advice on reconnecting with the natural world, written partly in response to the isolation many people felt during the pandemic.
An Atlas of Endangered Species followed in 2023, taking a more educational and visual approach. Species under threat around the world are mapped throughout, giving readers a clear, accessible entry point into global conservation issues rather than a dense scientific text.
Taken together, the two books reveal a writer who can move between emotional storytelling and structured, factual content. That range mirrors the balance she strikes on screen.
Megan McCubbin as a Photographer
Photography has been part of Megan McCubbin’s life since childhood. At just twelve years old, in 2007, she won the under twelves category of what was then the RSPCA’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
That early recognition was not a one off. In 2019, a judging and coordinating role with the Bird Photographer of the Year contest placed her on the other side of the lens, evaluating and championing new photographic talent.
Antarctic photography is where she is particularly well known, having travelled to the region to document wildlife in one of the most challenging environments on the planet. For anyone following her work purely as a broadcaster, that photography portfolio is worth exploring separately, since it reveals a more visual, patient side of her relationship with nature.
Her Personal Life and Relationship
Privacy is something Megan McCubbin has generally maintained around her personal life, sharing details only when it feels relevant or comfortable for her to do so. What is publicly known is a relationship with wildlife cameraman James Stevens, someone who works within the same broadcasting and conservation world she does.
Having a partner in the same field is not unusual for people whose careers involve long filming stints in remote locations. Unpredictable hours, extended travel and unreliable weather are all easier to navigate with someone who understands them firsthand.
Beyond that detail, the focus stays largely on her work rather than her private life. That pattern holds fairly consistently across most of her public interviews and profiles.
Advocacy, Conservation Work and Public Causes
One part of Megan McCubbin’s public presence often gets overlooked in traditional biography style articles: her advocacy work. She is not a presenter who simply narrates wildlife content and then steps back from the issues involved.
Trail hunting has been a regular target of her campaigning on social media, where she describes it as a loophole that effectively allows illegal fox hunting to continue. Dog breeding practices have drawn her criticism too, particularly the celebration of extreme physical traits in certain breeds when those traits lead to serious health problems for the animals.
This willingness to take a public stance, rather than staying strictly neutral, has become part of what defines her as a conservationist rather than just a television host. It aligns her closely with the more outspoken, campaigning style of environmental communication that Chris Packham himself is known for, though she expresses it in her own voice and on her own terms.
Where to Follow Megan McCubbin Online
For people who want to follow her work beyond scheduled television broadcasts, Megan McCubbin is active across several platforms.
- Instagram, where she posts under a wildlife focused handle, sharing photography, behind the scenes content and conservation updates
- X, formerly known as Twitter, used mainly for commentary on current conservation issues and campaigns
- Facebook, carrying a mix of professional updates and community engagement
- TikTok, where shorter form wildlife content reaches a younger audience
Across these platforms, her tone stays consistent with her on screen persona. Warmth, useful information and a willingness to raise difficult topics all come through, regardless of the format.
Why Megan McCubbin Resonates With a New Generation of Nature Fans
Part of what makes Megan McCubbin stand out is timing combined with authenticity. British wildlife broadcasting has traditionally leaned heavily on older, established voices. A younger generation entering that space with genuine scientific training, rather than simply inheriting a platform, is exactly what she represents.
Openness about dyslexia, comfort discussing mental health and wellbeing in the context of nature, and ease moving between traditional broadcasting and social media all give her a reach that spans age groups. Younger viewers see someone closer to their own age discussing serious environmental issues. Longtime Springwatch viewers, meanwhile, appreciate her scientific credibility and clear on screen chemistry with Chris Packham.
Credible expertise paired with relatable, modern communication is likely a big reason her name continues to trend in search results well beyond each new season of Springwatch.
Conclusion
Megan McCubbin has grown from a zoology graduate with a personal connection to bear conservation into one of British television’s most trusted wildlife voices. Her age, now in her early thirties, places her among a newer wave of presenters bringing fresh energy to a genre often associated with much older, more established figures.
Her relationship with Chris Packham, built through years as his stepdaughter rather than any formal title, gave her an early platform. Academic background, international volunteering and genuine conservation advocacy are what have sustained her career since.
Whether you came here to understand her family connections, her educational background or simply to learn more about the woman behind the Springwatch camera, the throughline is consistent. Real scientific expertise, combined with a willingness to speak plainly about the issues facing British and global wildlife, defines Megan McCubbin’s public work. That combination is unlikely to fade from public interest anytime soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Megan McCubbin?
Megan McCubbin was born on 8 February 1995, which makes her in her early thirties as of 2026.
Is Chris Packham Megan McCubbin’s biological father?
No. Chris Packham is her stepfather. Her mother, Jo McCubbin, began a relationship with him when Megan was around two years old, and the two later married before eventually divorcing in 2008.
What did Megan McCubbin study at university?
A BSc in Zoology at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 2018. Her thesis focused on the social behaviour of ring tailed lemurs.
Has Megan McCubbin written any books?
Yes, two so far. Back to Nature: How to Love Life and Save It, co written with Chris Packham in 2020, and An Atlas of Endangered Species, released in 2023.
Does Megan McCubbin only present Springwatch?
No. Springwatch remains her most recognised programme, but her credits also include Autumnwatch, Winterwatch, Animal Park and earlier work such as Undercover Tourist and reporting for Al Jazeera’s Earthrise.
