Springwatch's Michaela Strachan discusses 'shocker of a year' following breast ... trends now
Michaela Strachan has candidly discussed her 'shocker' of a year after three devastating losses and a battle with breast cancer.
The Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch presenter, 57, was diagnosed at the beginning of 2014 after a routine mammogram, but went on to make a full recovery after a double mastectomy which was followed by reconstructive surgery.
She then struggled with grief after losing her sister-in-law, and two of her close friends lost children.
Michaela has now signed up to take part in the new series of Pilgrimage on BBC Two.
Speaking to the Express after filming the show, Michaela said: 'These were people our age. I know I'm getting on but I'm 57 – I shouldn't know this number of people who have died.
Michaela Strachan has candidly discussed her 'shocker' of a year after three devastating losses and a battle with breast cancer
The Springwatch presenter, 57, has signed up to take part in the new series of Pilgrimage on BBC Two
'I went from her funeral, basically, to Pilgrimage. So I was carrying grief, which made it a different journey.'
Michaela added: 'I don't think I would have processed the grief.
'I would have compartmentalised it. I can be quite controlling in my own emotions sometimes.'
Michaela previously revealed how her worst fears were confirmed after a routine mammogram at the beginning of 2014.
Surgeons advised her to have a double mastectomy since there was a risk of the lobular cancer spreading from one breast to the other.
The presenter told The Mail On Sunday at the time: ‘I couldn’t get my head around the fact that on Monday morning I’d been apparently healthy, by Tuesday I had cancer, and by Wednesday I was talking about a double mastectomy.'
She went onto have reconstructive surgery and has worked as an ambassador for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, stressing the importance of having regular mammograms.
The TV presenter has now signed up to take part in the new series of Pilgrimage on BBC Two.
She revealed she signed up to the faith-based series not because she's religious (she isn't), but because the outdoorsy presenter was eager to tackle the two-week trek in Wales.
Yet fate got in the way and it became a journey laden with grief for Michaela, who's best known as a Springwatch co-host.
'Last year was heartbreakingly sad,' she says. 'I lost several people in a short space of time. I lost my sister-in-law to cancer , my partner Nick's best friend had a heart attack, one of my friends lost her son at 35, and then one of my closest friends died.'
