Main content

Chris Packham

Kirsty Young interviews Chris Packham, naturalist, TV presenter and author.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the naturalist, Chris Packham.

TV presenter, filmmaker, writer, photographer, every bit of his work revolves around wildlife. If he's not busy telling us why we should love midges he's enthusing about the hearing capacity of a barn owl. His passion for animals is clear, what they think of him remains a little more uncertain; he's been attacked by a baboon, charged by lions and bitten by a puff adder.

His obsession with the natural world began early when a predictable boyhood fascination for tadpoles and ladybirds grew to encompass mosquito larvae, lizards, snakes and bats. As a teenager he collected badger droppings by day and pogoed with electric blue hair at Clash gigs by night.

These days he distinguishes himself by his impressive knowledge of his subject and his outspoken views on everything from countryside culls to the problems with cat owners.

He says, "I'll never rest until I've tried to do my own small bit in terms of changing the environment so it's a better place. I won't do it for my grandchildren because I won't have any and I won't do it for yours. I'll do it because it's the right thing to do."

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Oct 2013 09:00

Music Played

  • David Bowie

    Rebel Rebel

    • David Bowie - Best Of Bowie.
    • EMI.
  • T. Rex

    20th Century Boy

    • The Best of T Rex.
    • A&M.
  • The Undertones

    Teenage Kicks

    • The Best of the Undertones.
    • Sanctuary Records.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Penetration

      Shout Above the Noise

      • DonÂ’t Dictate – the Best of Penetration.
      • Virgin.
  • The Jesus and Mary Chain

    Happy When It Rains

    • 21 Singles.
    • Britannia Music.
  • Billy Bragg

    A New England

    • Back to Basics.
    • Cooking Vinyl.
  • The Smiths

    Girlfriend in a Coma

    • The Very Best of the Smiths.
    • WEA.
  • The Lightning Seeds

    Pure

    • Best of the Lightning Seeds.
    • Epic.
  • Book Choice

    • The complete works - F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • Luxury Choice

    • Binoculars

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Chris Packham
Producer Cathy Drysdale

Broadcasts

  • Sun 13 Oct 2013 11:15
  • Fri 18 Oct 2013 09:00

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast