I'll beat X Factor to No.1, says Packham

11:10am Tuesday 4th December 2012 in Environment Photograph of the Author By Tara Russell, Feature Writer

A scene from Chris Packham and Rob da Bank's video. A scene from Chris Packham and Rob da Bank's video.

HE is the famous TV naturalist who is in his element in the great outdoors surrounded by wildlife.

But Hampshire celebrity Chris Packham has announced that he will take on this year’s X Factor winner in the battle to reach the coveted Christmas No.1 spot.

The nature expert will swap the birds and bugs of the New Forest for rock and roll to raise money to protect badgers.

Chris, a wildlife campaigner and punk fan, hopes to top the chart with a charity single The Present of Life.

The video features the BBC Springwatch presenter on the drums. Joining him is weather forecaster Michael Fish on the guitar.

Wildlife documentary maker 86-year-old Sir David Attenborough and Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank also feature in the music video.

The song, which will be released on iTunes from December 7, has been produced by Isle of Wight-based eco-friendly clothing firm Rapanui.

Money raised from the single will go to the Badger Trust, which campaigns against badger culling.

Chris, who got a degree in zoology from the University of Southampton and was a former pupil of Taunton’s College and Bitterne Park Secondary School, said: “The battle for the coveted Christmas No.1 spot is always tough but one we are ready for. It will be difficult going up against The X Factor but we’ll give it a good shot.

“It would be an amazing achievement.”

The 51-year-old, who has previously sneaked the titles of songs by David Bowie, Manic Street Preachers, The Cure and The Smiths into links on TV shows, added: “Science shows the cull isn’t the answer. If we supported farmers more and bought their produce, perhaps they’d lend their ear to environmentalists a little more easily.

British consumers can help British badgers by supporting British farmers.”

Rob Drake-Knight, who founded the clothing brand which won the RSPCA Good Business Awards, said: “It was a great coup getting the likes of Chris and David on side.

Hopefully they can help us to hit the No.1 s p o t and stop the badger cull at the same time.”

Plans for the badger cull, due to have taken place this year, were postponed until 2013 after more badgers than anticipated were found in two areas selected for pilot trials.

Comments(16)

St Retford says...
11:30am Tue 4 Dec 12

I once bumped into Chris Packham at a Kitchens Of Distinction gig at Salisbury Arts Centre in 1992. Can any readers beat that?

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elvisimo says...
11:44am Tue 4 Dec 12

St Retford wrote:
I once bumped into Chris Packham at a Kitchens Of Distinction gig at Salisbury Arts Centre in 1992. Can any readers beat that?
When I was a sixth form college student we bumped into chris at what was The Escape Club in town (circa 89/90). Whilst on the dance floor mate said to him "hey chris, love the show" - his reply was "f*** Off".

Never liked him...

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Flatfleet says...
12:27pm Tue 4 Dec 12

I'm not sure if he still does but he used to live in Netley and i used to serve him and his neice drinks in the local pub

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Buntylicious says...
1:18pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Seen him in the nightclub underneath Grand Cafe - made a change from Fatt le Tissier!

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Dasal says...
1:43pm Tue 4 Dec 12

The nature expert will swap the birds and bugs of the New Forest for rock and roll to raise money to protect badgers.


or even "B(rock & roll maybe

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sid the snake says...
1:58pm Tue 4 Dec 12

St Retford wrote:
I once bumped into Chris Packham at a Kitchens Of Distinction gig at Salisbury Arts Centre in 1992. Can any readers beat that?
Kitchens of Distinction! I remember them. Not quite as good as New Fast Automatic Daffoldils!

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eurogordi says...
3:15pm Tue 4 Dec 12

He now lives in Marchwood not far from the Bold Forester pub which does a great carvery!

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georgetheseventh says...
3:17pm Tue 4 Dec 12

elvisimo wrote:
St Retford wrote:
I once bumped into Chris Packham at a Kitchens Of Distinction gig at Salisbury Arts Centre in 1992. Can any readers beat that?
When I was a sixth form college student we bumped into chris at what was The Escape Club in town (circa 89/90). Whilst on the dance floor mate said to him "hey chris, love the show" - his reply was "f*** Off".

Never liked him...
He's just another lump of BBC deadwood financed by the TV tax. Whats he doing..a remake of the BIRDY song...Dhead

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georgetheseventh says...
3:21pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Badgers....BADGERS..
we don won no steenkin BADGERS...

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Lockssmart says...
3:40pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Saw him at Bournemouth airport with Michela Strachan. She was stroking a beaver.

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The Wickham Man says...
4:19pm Tue 4 Dec 12

I love a bit of wock and woll. and Chwis is a total wocker

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Buntylicious says...
6:44pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Lockssmart wrote:
Saw him at Bournemouth airport with Michela Strachan. She was stroking a beaver.
Your comment made me cry with laughter - classic!

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bobbyboy says...
7:00pm Tue 4 Dec 12

I've met and talked with Chris many times he is very passionate with nature i took over and now look after his patch in Mansbridge and Biterne we both have a desire to protect our local wildlife for us our kids there kids and there kids kids Now we have to protect the Badgers as well All peoples should ask them selves what came first the Badger or the Cow if farmers STOPPED using chemical feeds they will proberly stand a chance of finding what caused the problem in the first place So Drum those Drums Woody, Peck away Fishy and howl along wolfy good luck with the Cause.
BOBP Nature Walker Mansbridge

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derek james says...
10:28pm Tue 4 Dec 12

i don't suppose he'd get a job in the real world outside of the bbc but fair play to him for trying, he can't have any less talent than that moronic tv show's contestant's "judged" by the likes of c. cole ( if it's that tv "show") and it's for a good cause, retford seems to think it's like being invited to tea with the queen because he saw him once -get a life

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IronLady2010 says...
11:30pm Tue 4 Dec 12

I'm embarrassed to say I don't know who Packham is, I don't watch much TV, but do know about X Factor and the talentless droll they give out.

I cant't really see anyone knocking the child's choice of No.1 this year, the kids have mobiles and vote fast!

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G-man1 says...
11:58am Wed 5 Dec 12

I sat behind Packham once at Harbour Lights- I think the film was When We Were Kings if I recall. His mate talked throughout, very offputting. He`s not like that when he's in his badger hides is he? Didn`t Dimmock beat him in the recent Vote for a Statue of Pete Waterfield fiasco? Shameful

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