FROM an early age, Chris Packham loved nothing more than searching out all manner of wildlife and creepy crawlies around his childhood home in Midanbury, Southampton.

After attending Bitterne Park Secondary School and studying at Southampton University's Zoology Department, he started taking still photographs and trained as a wildlife film cameraman.

He stepped in front of the camera with his first TV presenting role on the award-winning Children's BBC programme The Really Wild Show in 1986.

Packham stayed with the show for a decade and the TV work has kept coming ever since.

Other credits including Inside Out, Nature's Calendar, X-Creatures, Birdwatch Wildwatch and Animal Zone.

Also a wildlife photographer and author, he is passionate in his concern for conservation and the environment.

He ran his own television production company Head Over Heels' for several years, which made scores of wildlife programmes for ITV, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel and the BBC.

The avid Southampton FC supporter lived in Netley for a number of years and currently has a house in France where he spends time with his two poodles Mr Itchy and Mr Scratchy.

Name: Chris Packham Occupation: Naturalist and TV presenter Date of Birth: May 4, 1961 Local Link: Born and brought up in Southampton