Megan McCubbin is an English zoologist, conservationist, author and television presenter who has become one of the most recognisable faces of British wildlife broadcasting. Best known as a co-host of the BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, she brings something unusual to the screen: a real science degree, years of field experience and a warm, jargon-free presenting style. This guide covers her age, early life, education, television career, books, conservation work and personal life, using only verifiable facts.
Who Is Megan McCubbin?
McCubbin is a British zoologist and wildlife broadcaster whose work sits at the meeting point of science and storytelling. She is the stepdaughter of naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham, but her career has been built on her own qualifications and fieldwork rather than on family ties alone.
Unlike many presenters who arrive at natural history through drama school or journalism, McCubbin came to it through fieldwork, volunteering at wildlife hospitals and conservation organisations in the UK and overseas before she ever appeared on screen.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Megan-Leigh Shannon McCubbin |
| Born | 8 February 1995, United Kingdom |
| Age | 31 (as of November 2026) |
| Occupations | Zoologist, conservationist, presenter, author, photographer |
| Education | Zoology, University of Liverpool |
| Best known for | Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Winterwatch (since 2020) |
| Mother | Jo McCubbin, a nurse |
| Stepfather | Chris Packham, naturalist and broadcaster |
| Partner | Reported relationship with wildlife cameraman James Stevens |
| Married | No, not married |
Megan McCubbin Age and Early Life
McCubbin was born on 8 February 1995 in the United Kingdom, which makes her 31 years old as of November 2026. Her mother is Jo McCubbin, a nurse. When McCubbin was two years old, her mother began a relationship with Chris Packham, and Packham became the father figure in her life from that point on.
Her interest in wildlife began almost as early as she can remember. In a BBC interview she recalled first getting into wildlife at around the age of two, following a butterfly around the garden or looking under a log for a centipede. Growing up alongside Packham gave her an unusual education: she travelled with him on filming trips and wildlife tours around the world.
One point worth clearing up is the confusion about her age online. Several older biography websites still list her as 27, 28 or 29 because they were written years ago and never updated, and a few even give her birth year as 1996. The reliable sources agree: she was born on 8 February 1995.
Education and Overcoming Dyslexia
McCubbin has spoken openly about having dyslexia, and school was not always easy for her. What carried her through was a subject she genuinely cared about: at A-level she took Environmental Studies, a choice that played to her strengths and kept her connected to the natural world.
After leaving school she completed a foundation year in Biological Science, then studied Zoology at the University of Liverpool. Reports say her degree focused on primate behaviour and conservation, with an interest in ring-tailed lemurs, though no primary source has confirmed that detail. She is now an ambassador for Made By Dyslexia, which campaigns for dyslexic thinking to be recognised as a strength.
- Field experience matters as much as exam results; volunteering is a strong first step.
- A foundation year can bridge the gap into a science degree.
- Choosing a subject you care about makes the hard parts of study far easier.
- Communication skills count: explaining science clearly is what turns a zoologist into a broadcaster.
From Zoology Graduate to Television Presenter
Megan McCubbin made her television debut in 2017, presenting an episode of the BBC documentary series Undercover Tourist about the bear bile industry in Southeast Asia. It was a serious, investigative first assignment, and it set the tone for a career mixing popular broadcasting with hard conservation issues.
The turning point came in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic changed how the BBC’s seasonal wildlife programmes were made. McCubbin joined the presenting team and has co-hosted Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch on BBC Two with her stepfather Chris Packham ever since.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Born 8 February in the United Kingdom |
| 2017 | TV debut: Undercover Tourist, on the bear bile industry |
| 2020 | Joins Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch (BBC Two) |
| 2020 | First book, Back to Nature, with Chris Packham |
| 2021 | Co-hosts Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer for the BBC |
| 2022 | Springwatch from Kielder Forest; joins Animal Park |
| 2023 | Second book, An Atlas of Endangered Species |
| 2026 | BBC announces new series Naturewatch |
Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch
The seasonal “Watches” are the heart of McCubbin’s television career: long-running BBC Two programmes following British wildlife through the seasons, broadcast live from locations around the UK to a loyal audience.
McCubbin joined the presenting team in 2020, working alongside Packham, Michaela Strachan and others. As a trained zoologist, she can answer questions about animal behaviour in the moment rather than reading from a script. In May and June 2022 she presented Springwatch from Kielder Forest, Hauxley Nature Reserve and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. What viewers notice most is her enthusiasm: she treats every sighting as worth genuine excitement, and she talks about biodiversity loss and climate change without turning the programme into a lecture.
Animal Park and Other Television Work
In August 2022 McCubbin joined the presenting team of Animal Park, a 15-part series filmed at Longleat in Wiltshire and shown daily on BBC One and BBC Two. The show follows the animals at Longleat Safari Park, and McCubbin brought a conservation angle, explaining the science behind animal care and breeding programmes.
In 2021 she and Packham co-hosted Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer for the BBC. She has also appeared as a wildlife expert on This Morning and Morning Live, and her credits include the BBC series Earthrise and the documentary Planet Defenders. In October 2026 the BBC announced she will co-present a new series, Naturewatch, with Chris Packham and Kyle Thomas.
During the Covid-19 lockdown she co-founded the Self Isolating Bird Club, a YouTube series made with Packham that brought live nature content to people stuck at home. It showed her instinct for reaching audiences where they actually are rather than waiting for a television commission.
Books by Megan McCubbin
McCubbin is an established author as well as a presenter, with two books so far. Both are rooted in the same concern: people will only protect nature if they understand it and feel connected to it.
| Book | Year | About |
|---|---|---|
| Back to Nature: How to Love Life – and Save It | 2020 | With Chris Packham; reconnecting with nature to protect UK wildlife |
| An Atlas of Endangered Species | 2023 | Solo book on 20 threatened species and the people fighting to save them |
Her first book, Back to Nature: How to Love Life – and Save It, was published in December 2020 and co-written with Packham. It argues that reconnecting with nature is good for human wellbeing and essential for conservation, and it became a bestseller. Her second book, An Atlas of Endangered Species, published in 2023, tells the stories of 20 species facing extinction, from the northern white rhino to the lady’s slipper orchid, and became the basis for a live theatre tour.
Conservation Work and Campaigns
For Megan McCubbin, conservation is not a side interest. It is the reason she studied zoology, the subject of her first television assignment and the thread running through her books, charity roles and public appearances.
She is a co-founder of Wildlife Rebellion, a campaigning group focused on wildlife protection, and she has spoken at major platforms including the COP26 climate conference. She is President of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Patron of the Winchester Science Centre and of Helping Rhinos, and an Ambassador for organisations including the RSPB, WWF, the League Against Cruel Sports, Rainforest Concern, the Beaver Trust and the National Oceanography Centre.
She also co-hosts a podcast, The Frog’s Bollocks, with wildlife cameraman James Stevens, exploring quirky, lesser-known facts about wildlife in a light-hearted but informative style. Her campaigning style is direct but constructive: she pairs warnings about biodiversity loss with practical things people can do, from supporting wildlife trusts to changing how they use their gardens.
Family, Partner and Personal Life
Family is central to McCubbin’s story. Her mother, Jo McCubbin, is a nurse, and through her she met Chris Packham at the age of two. Packham has been her stepfather and mentor ever since, and their on-screen partnership is built on a real, decades-long relationship. They are very close and get on well together.
Questions about her biological father come up often, but his identity has never been publicly confirmed, and McCubbin has chosen to keep that part of her life private.
On relationships, the reliable picture is straightforward. Countryfile reports she is in a relationship with wildlife cameraman James Stevens; other sites say the pair reportedly met at a Springwatch wrap party in 2018, though that detail comes from a single secondary source and is unconfirmed. She is not married and does not have a husband. Two figures searchers often ask about need caution: some sites list her height as 5 feet 5 inches and her net worth at around $1 million or €1 million, but neither comes from a reliable source, so treat both as unverified estimates.
What Makes Her Presenting Style Different
What sets McCubbin apart: scientific credibility from her degree and fieldwork, plain language without jargon, genuine enthusiasm for every sighting, and a willingness to tackle uncomfortable subjects while pairing them with hope and practical action.
- Scientifically trained: a zoology degree and real fieldwork behind the presenting.
- Plain language: complex behaviour explained without jargon.
- Genuine enthusiasm: every sighting treated as worth excitement.
- Honest about problems: wildlife crime and extinction covered directly, not avoided.
- Hopeful and practical: warnings paired with things viewers can actually do.
How to Follow Her Work
To keep up with her work, follow the programmes and organisations she works with rather than gossip sites, which are often years out of date:
- Watch Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch on BBC Two, or catch up on BBC iPlayer.
- Look out for the new series Naturewatch, announced by the BBC in October 2026.
- Read her books, starting with Back to Nature and then An Atlas of Endangered Species.
- Follow the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the other charities she supports.
- Listen to her podcast, The Frog’s Bollocks, co-hosted with James Stevens.
- Check science festivals such as New Scientist Live, where she speaks.
- Follow her on Instagram at @meganmccubbinwild.
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FAQs
How old is she?
She was born on 8 February 1995, making her 31 as of November 2026. Older articles listing her as 27, 28 or 29 are simply out of date.
Is she married?
No. She is reported to be in a relationship with wildlife cameraman James Stevens, but she keeps her personal life largely private.
Who is her stepfather?
Chris Packham, the naturalist, broadcaster and photographer. She has known him since she was two, and they co-host the seasonal Watches together.
What did she study at university?
Zoology at the University of Liverpool, after a foundation year in Biological Science and A-levels including Environmental Studies. Reports say her degree focused on primate behaviour and conservation.
What is her net worth?
There is no verified figure. Some sites estimate around $1 million or €1 million, but no reliable source confirms this, so treat it as an unconfirmed estimate.
What books has she written?
Back to Nature (2020), co-written with Chris Packham, and her solo book An Atlas of Endangered Species (2023).
What is she doing now?
She continues to co-host the BBC’s seasonal wildlife programmes, and in October 2026 the BBC announced she will co-present the new series Naturewatch.
Conclusion
Megan McCubbin has built a career few wildlife presenters can match: a zoology degree, years of fieldwork, a television debut investigating wildlife crime, six years co-hosting the BBC’s flagship seasonal nature programmes, two books and a long list of conservation roles. She did it by combining scientific knowledge with a genuine love of the natural world.
She overcame dyslexia to earn a science degree, turned childhood curiosity into a profession, and used every platform she was given to argue for nature. As Naturewatch approaches, she looks set to remain one of the most important voices in British wildlife broadcasting.
