Michaela Strachan has recalled the surreal moment she was serenaded by thousands of people singing a song inspired by her at a Scouting For Girls concert.
The Springwatch presenter, 58, who moved to Cape Town in 2002, is currently back in the UK as she trains for her next season on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
And making the most of her time here, in November Michaela spent a free afternoon to see the band live at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London.
However, the TV star has a very special connection with the group, as Scouting For Girls’ debut album in 2007 included a song about her, which is even named after her.
The tune, which is called Michaela Strachan, features lyrics about a boy who comes home from school, sees Michaela on TV and falls in love.
‘You helped me sleep. I liked you a lot, but so did my dad. There’s a big chorus singing, “It’s not going to happen to me and the Strachans.”
Michaela Strachan has recalled the surreal moment she was serenaded by thousands of people while singing a song inspired by her at a Scouting For Girls concert.
Making the most of her time here, Michaela spent a free afternoon in November to see the band live at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London.
After attending the concert with a friend and receiving special recognition, Michaela joked, “Oh my God, that was so funny.” I sat there and the singer said, ‘You all know the song.’ There was a woman who broke my heart when I was 12 years old. Well, she’s here tonight!
“A spotlight shines on me and I see thousands of people at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire holding telephone lights, swaying and singing to me. It was one of those moments where you’re trying to be terribly humble but then I thought, ‘You know what? Damn be it!’
She jumped to her feet to greet the audience and soak up the adoration, admitting, “I’m just a showgirl at heart.” It was the most surreal night I’ve had in a long time. I left with the biggest smile on my face.’
Michaela was born in Surrey but moved to Cape Town in 2002 after falling in love with Nick Chevallier, a South African videographer and producer.
It comes just after Michaela opened up about the emotional toll of her battle with breast cancer and revealed her worries as she prepares to hit the dance floor for Dancing On Ice next week.
The Springwatch presenter was diagnosed in early 2014 after a routine mammogram and made a full recovery after a double mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery.
When it comes to taking part in the ITV show, Michaela has candidly admitted that it’s the tight tops that bother her, not the fear of horrific injuries.
“I don’t want this to define me, but if it helps people, I don’t mind talking about it,” he said.
‘I went for a routine mammogram on a Monday. That night the doctor called me and said, “I’m sorry, you have breast cancer.”
He was driving home to Cape Town. ‘All I heard was ‘cancer.’ I thought, ‘Oh my God, I have to tell Nick.’
The song, which is called Michaela Strachan, features lyrics about a boy who comes home from school, sees Michaela on TV, and falls in love.
‘You helped me sleep. I liked you a lot, but so did my dad. There’s a big chorus to sing: “It’s not going to happen to me and the Strachans.”
Michaela’s partner Nick had lost his wife Nicky, mother of three of his children, to cancer. When I asked her how she took it, Michaela said quietly, “It was difficult.” It was really difficult.’
Others had the same question, which irritated her. “His friends were like, ‘Oh my God, what did Nick say?’ You get to the point where you think, ‘Hey, I feel sorry for Nick too, but this is happening to me!’
Things moved quickly as they had private healthcare. ‘On Wednesday I was already seeing the specialist. He said something very strange: “Considering that you have breast cancer, this is the best news: we have caught it early and can treat it.” Go home and have a glass of champagne.
The cancer had been difficult to detect. “It wasn’t a lump, so we thanked the guy who did the biopsy.”
Doctors offered her the option of removing one or two breasts. “I talked to a friend who had a double mastectomy and she said, ‘If I were you, I’d have them both removed or you’d be worried.’
From diagnosis to recovery it was six weeks. ‘Only then do you process everything. That takes time.’
She has thought about this a lot since then. ‘Surely there is a better way to treat a little bit of cancer in a woman’s breast than to cut it out. It seems brutal, doesn’t it? I hope that in 20 years it won’t have to be like this. It’s an incredible thing to take a woman’s tits away.
Michaela underwent reconstructive surgery and asked Dancing On Ice stylists to take that into account. “I’m obviously very brave and all, but I don’t want a tight top on my boobs, thank you very much.”
It comes just after Michaela opened up about the emotional toll of her battle with breast cancer and revealed her worries as she prepares to hit the dance floor for Dancing On Ice next week.
The Springwatch presenter, 58, was diagnosed in early 2014 and made a full recovery following a double mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery.
Michaela said, “You work so hard you forget lunch.” We eat a banana and that’s it. I’ve got an endorphin rush right now’ (pictured with Nick and his son Oliver)
She’s petite and slender in her black jeans and floral shirt, but Michaela says she’s lost weight during training.
‘You work so hard you forget lunch. We eat a banana and that’s it. Right now I have a rush of endorphins.
Michaela added: ‘Most days I also do yoga or Pilates and I join a spa where I go swimming and sit in the steam room or sauna, which helps. The first few weeks of working with Mark, everything hurt.’
Lifting the lid on his health now, the star said: “No one will be clean forever.” I was taking the drug tamoxifen for five years. So they gave me the go-ahead. When people call me a cancer survivor, it shocks. I forgot I had it. “It’s an incredible position to be in.”
There was a terrible reminder last year, when her friend Lucy Bowden, a former Springwatch producer, was given a similar diagnosis and choice.
‘They detected the cancer early, it had not spread. They removed one breast. He was unlucky,” Michaela says flatly.
“The cancer came back.” Lucy’s funeral took place a week before Michaela appeared on the BBC show Pilgrimage. “I was mourning the death of one of my closest friends. I walked it with her.
A priest invited those walking the North Wales Pilgrims’ Way to write a name on a stone and leave it on the beach in contemplation of someone they had lost.
Michaela underwent reconstructive surgery and asked Dancing On Ice stylists to take that into account.
When it comes to taking part in the ITV show, Michaela has candidly admitted that it’s the tight tops that bother her, not the fear of horrific injuries.
Michaela collapsed. “I wasn’t sure how comfortable I was filming raw emotions. I’m usually in control of myself. The camera focusing on you while you cry your heart out is an extra layer to deal with.”
Lucy is still on Michaela’s mind. ‘It makes me sad that she’s not here to see me do this; she would have been the friend who invested 100 percent in this trip. She was Mrs. Entertainment Telly. There is a breathy tone to Michaela’s voice. “I really miss her.”
Finally, when asked if she would ever consider moving back to Britain, Michaela reasoned: “I never say never to anything anymore. Who knows? I really enjoyed my time here. I have made the most of it. I’ve been out every night.
“I miss my home, my partner and my dog, but considering I’m here, I accept it,” she said. ‘To any woman who feels like an empty nester: take on a challenge. Doing this made me feel 20 years younger.”
His face lit up. “I’m not in an empty house thinking, ‘What do I do now?’ Do something for yourself. It has given me a lot of joy.”
Dancing On Ice returns on January 12 from 6.30pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.