January 3rd 2024.
BBC presenter Iolo Williams will be back on our screens for the new series of Winterwatch, just months after suffering a sudden heart attack. The 61-year-old, who has presented Springwatch, Winterwatch and Autumnwatch on BBC Two since 2019, will be joining Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan.
Iolo opened up about his health scare in October, discussing the "intense pain" he went through and how he was eventually fitted with a stent. Michaela Strachan said of the upcoming season: "The theme of Winterwatch is resilience and renewal – only the tough survive and spring brings warmth, renewal. We're all witnessing so much heartbreak, so much sadness, trauma and horror, and experiencing a huge amount of anxiety, including eco anxiety. I hope Winterwatch will bring people some joy, a programme to look forward to."
Iolo recounted to The Mirror how he had been out running when he experienced the sudden heart attack. He said: "It came like a bolt out of the blue. I knew what it was – intense pain under my sternum. It was a heart attack. And I thought well, I can’t go down here! So I walked on, crouched a little bit every now and again when the pain got a little bit worse."
He walked more than a mile to safety before calling the emergency services, but faced a long wait so his wife drove him to hospital. Iolo recalled that the NHS staff were surprised to see him there, as they don't usually see "super-healthy ornithologists and TV presenters".
He reflected on the experience: "Maybe getting older and still trying to push my body wasn’t the wisest thing to do but it’s a run I’ve done twice a week for 15 years."
Iolo is now back to filming and is ready to join Chris and Michaela on our screens for Winterwatch, which returns to BBC Two from Tuesday, January 16 at 8pm for four nights.
We wish Iolo all the best for his recovery and are looking forward to seeing him on our screens again!
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