Who Is Megan McCubbin?
Megan McCubbin is a British zoologist, television presenter, author and photographer who has become one of the most recognisable voices in modern wildlife broadcasting. Best known for her work on the BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, she combines a strong scientific background with an approachable, down-to-earth presenting style that has made conservation topics accessible to a wide audience. Alongside her television career, she has built a reputation as a photographer, author, and passionate campaigner for environmental protection.
Early Life and Family
Megan McCubbin was born on 8 February 1995 in the United Kingdom. She is the daughter of Jo McCubbin, a nurse, and the stepdaughter of naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham, who became part of her life when she was around two years old after he began a relationship with her mother. Although Chris and Jo’s relationship ended when Megan was twelve, she remained close to her stepfather, and the two have continued to work together on numerous projects throughout her career.
By her own account, Megan’s fascination with wildlife began in early childhood, tracking butterflies and searching under logs for insects before she was old enough for school. That early curiosity, nurtured further by a household immersed in nature and conservation, set the course for the career she would go on to build.
After finishing school, Megan completed a foundation year in biology before going on to study Zoology at the University of Liverpool, giving her the formal scientific grounding that continues to inform her broadcasting today.
Career in Wildlife Broadcasting
Megan McCubbin’s television career began in 2017, when she presented Undercover Tourist: Inside the Illegal Bear Bile Market for BBC Three, an assignment that saw her travel to Vietnam and volunteer in China helping to rescue and rehabilitate bears held on bile farms. This early work reflected the hands-on, campaign-driven approach that has continued to define much of her career.
She has also reported on environmental issues such as plastic pollution for Al Jazeera and contributed to Earthrise, an environmental series connected to the Extinction Rebellion movement. Her work with rescued animals and big cats, including experience at the Isle of Wight Zoo and conservation projects in Namibia, further broadened her expertise beyond the studio.
Megan joined the presenting team of BBC’s Springwatch in 2020, a year reshaped by the Covid-19 pandemic, when presenters broadcast from home rather than a central location. During this period, she moved in with her stepfather Chris Packham, since her mother, working as an NHS nurse, felt it safer for Megan to relocate. Out of this period came the Self Isolating Bird Club, a YouTube series the pair created together that combined wildlife content with a sense of shared purpose during lockdown. Her role on Springwatch quickly expanded to include Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, cementing her position among the BBC’s core wildlife presenting team.
In the years since, her presenting work has grown further, with appearances connected to Animal Park and other conservation-focused programming, alongside continued contributions across British broadcasters. She has become known for shining a spotlight not only on well-known species but on smaller, frequently overlooked creatures, from pollinating beetles to reptiles and marine life, encouraging audiences to see the value in every part of an ecosystem.
Photography and Writing
Photography has been part of Megan McCubbin’s life since childhood. In 2007, she won the under-12s category of the RSPCA’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, an early sign of the talent that would later become part of her professional work. She has since become particularly known for her Antarctic photography, and in 2019 she was appointed judge and coordinator of the Bird Photographer of the Year competition.
In November 2020, Megan published her first book, Back to Nature: How to Love Life and Save It, co-written with Chris Packham. The book offers practical guidance for readers looking to support wildlife in their own outdoor spaces, and the pair also recorded an audiobook version together. Beyond the book, she has continued to combine writing, photography and broadcasting as part of a wider effort to make conservation science approachable for general audiences.
Conservation Advocacy
Megan McCubbin’s work extends well beyond the screen. She has taken part in environmental campaigns and protests alongside Chris Packham, describing their shared sense of humour and complementary approach to advocacy. Her conservation focus spans habitat protection, endangered species and the broader biodiversity crisis, and she frequently uses her platform to encourage practical, everyday actions that support wildlife.
Her theatre show, Stopping Extinction, explores what it actually takes to prevent a species from disappearing, extending her science communication beyond television and into live performance. Across all of these formats, her central message remains consistent: that scientific understanding paired with everyday action can make a meaningful difference for the natural world.
Megan McCubbin Today
Today, Megan McCubbin remains a prominent presence in British wildlife broadcasting, continuing her long-running role with the BBC’s Watches series while expanding into new projects across television, writing and photography. She has appeared at high-profile events celebrating wildlife broadcasting’s legacy, including celebrations marking Sir David Attenborough’s influence on the genre, and continues to champion lesser-known species and everyday conservation action. With a career built on genuine scientific expertise and a talent for storytelling, she has established herself as a leading voice for a new generation of wildlife communicators.
FAQs
1. Who is Megan McCubbin? Megan McCubbin is a British zoologist, television presenter, author and photographer, best known for presenting BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.
2. Is Megan McCubbin related to Chris Packham? Yes, she is Chris Packham’s stepdaughter. He entered her life through a relationship with her mother, Jo McCubbin, when Megan was about two years old.
3. What did Megan McCubbin study? She studied Zoology at the University of Liverpool after completing a foundation year in biology.
4. When did Megan McCubbin start presenting Springwatch? She joined the Springwatch presenting team in 2020, during the format changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
5. Has Megan McCubbin written any books? Yes, she co-wrote Back to Nature: How to Love Life and Save It with Chris Packham, published in November 2020.
6. What other work has Megan McCubbin done besides television presenting? Alongside broadcasting, she works as a wildlife photographer, has judged the Bird Photographer of the Year competition, and is active in conservation campaigning and live events such as her show Stopping Extinction.