Chris Packham has never followed the conventional route, and his 17-year relationship with partner Charlotte Corney is no exception. The beloved wildlife presenter, known for his passionate love of animals and candid openness about his neurodivergence, has shared new details about how his relationship defies expectations—from a 16-year age gap to the fact that they still live apart.
Now aged 64, Chris has been with 48-year-old Charlotte, the director of a wildlife park, for nearly two decades. Despite their deep connection, they’ve never married—and likely never will. Chris admitted that his attention is entirely devoted to their aging animals, including Charlotte’s tigers and his beloved dog, Scratchy. “It’s not about us,” he confessed. “We have to get through this period of aged animals.”
Chris has also been honest about the impact of his Asperger’s, which he didn’t tell Charlotte about for five years. He described how his obsessive traits used to overwhelm past relationships, but with Charlotte, he has learned to manage them. Still, they sometimes experience misunderstandings due to the way his brain processes emotions and situations.
Their separate living arrangements have also raised eyebrows. While they remain committed, they’ve chosen to maintain individual homes—something they’re still “working towards” changing, though not in any rush.
Chris believes that maturity is what made this relationship last. “If I had met Charlotte when I was younger, there is every chance it would have failed. And that would have been my fault,” he told The Guardian.
Despite everything, Chris says the bond is different—more enduring, more understanding, and, most of all, more real.
