Chris Packham has upped his personal security while he films the current series of Winterwatch for the BBC.
The 62-year-old TV presenter and eco activist has said he’s received “specific threats” to “harm” him and his family.
He said of the need for extra security: “A couple of times recently, before the Watches, we’ve had specific threats for me. So we’ve had a person who’s there and stays at the hotel and then goes with me to the place.
“We have had several threats recently that are not death threats but they’re saying, ‘We’re going to harm you.'”
In what Packham described as an “unbelievable” act, the threats have come his way via email.
As a result, Packham has “reported them to the police” but is yet to hear anything back from authorities.
Chris Packham has returned to present Winterwatch
BBC
“I haven’t heard back from the police but they’ve acknowledged receipt of them,” he added to the publication.
“So we’ve had two in the last month, saying, ‘I’m going to harm you and harm your family.’”
Packham has been subject to several threats before including having dead crows strung up outside his home in 2019 and a case of arson in 2021.
The former incident came after he publicly backed a legal challenge that restricted the shooting of “pest” birds.
Chris Packham now has a bodyguard on the set of Winterwatch
GETTY
“This year has been very tough, with two wars and a cost-of-living crisis. Our news is filled with heartbreakingly sad images. People now realise we’re not facing climate change but climate crisis,” she told Radio Times.
“It feels like everywhere you go, someone’s building or dredging something. Sometimes we’ve gone too far and people have told us that’s not what they come to the programme for… our role is also to uplift and empower.
“Our viewers are caring people who want to make a difference but don’t always know how, so we’ll offer ideas for citizen science or celebrate unsung heroes, whether they’re rewilding estates or putting up a few nest boxes.
“We need that more than ever this year – although sadly, we seem to say that every year…”
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