Chris Packham is a national treasure. He first appeared on our TV screens in the 1990s on

the really wild show. In recent years he's hosted the likes of Springwatch, Autumn Watch

and Winterwatch taking over from Bill Ody. We spoke about so much from Southampton Football

Club to HS2 and Pandas. Chris Packham, welcome to Downstream. Thank you. How are you doing?

You well? Do you want an honest answer? Go on, please. Okay. Boarding on exhaustion and

tired and quite frustrated and probably angrier than I have been since I was in my 20s.

But on a day to day, it's still breathing and getting on with what I need to do. Cheered

up occasionally by taking the poodles out to the woods and seeing some birds. That's good.

We said you're angry and frustrated. I thought, goodness, that might be on us. No, no, no,

you thought I can assure you. No, no, you bring a little bit of joy to my life. I read

your Instagram, you know, shortened stories and what breath of fresh air, frankly, in an

age where there is no decent use, it's really refreshing to have the facts and figures,

you know, graphically well and clearly presented in short form. So I think that's most welcome.

Thanks. That's really kind to hear. We're going to start with your early years.

The Chris Bakker, I presume much of the public isn't really familiar with. I have to say,

actually, reading your biography, both your actual autobiography, but also just your story

more broadly, you're a surprising character. Go on. Football, for instance, we'll talk about

cars as well. Football and cars are the kind of passions that you would normally associate

with a conservationist. I mean, no, probably that's not fair, but you're a big fan of Southampton

Football Club. Should we deal with football? Well, I was. You were. I haven't fallen out in

particular with Southampton Football Club, but I've fallen out with football. Qatar, you know,

we could go back from that point really. I just see it as now as enormously corrupt, way too

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