23 January 2023 , 20:42
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Chris Packham is taking a break from being a TV presenter to try his hand as an animal sculptor.
The Winterwatch star, 61, says he has cancelled all TV work for three months to create abstract sculptures of birds, snakes and humpback whales.
He insists he is not having a midlife crisis but wants to get "off the treadmill" and feels a bit "burnt out" after decades of being on screen. "I'm not going to buy a Ferrari and run off with a 20-year-old," he laughed.
"I've never taken three months off work. Never. I can barely sleep I am so excited. I might have to ban [partner] Charlotte from the studio," he said.
Chris Packham is taking a break from TV presenting (BBC/Jo Charlesworth)Do you enjoy reading about celebrities? Sign up for all the best celeb news from the Mirror .
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"I don't want any interference or disruption, I want to get on with it. It will be good to clear my head and focus on something completely different."
But he said that his poodles Sid and Nancy will be with him for the duration.
Chris said: "I can't heat the studio so I will be in my Puffa jacket. I'm making a big nest of old duvets and I'm getting an electric blanket to keep them warm." He said he got the idea to go more off-grid while filming in Chile last year.
He's going to spend some time creating abstract sculptures of animals (BBC/Pete Dadds)"I was locked in a hotel room because one of the team got Covid and I was in isolation for 10 days. I got up every morning and I was typing all day long and I thought, 'this is good'," he added.
Presenters Chris and Michaela Strachan return to anchor the wildlife show from Wild Ken Hill in West Norfolk.
Winterwatch runs from Tuesday 24th to Friday 27th January at 8pm on BBC2 and iPlayer.