Winterwatch presenter Chris Packham has shared why he and his long-term partner, Charlotte Corney, have chosen not to live together, despite being together for 17 years. Chris, 64, moved into his home in the New Forest, Hampshire, four years ago after living in Southampton for a long period.

Charlotte, meanwhile, is the founder and trustee of the Wildheart Trust and lives and works on the Isle of Wight.

Recently opening up about his decision to move to the New Forest, Chris said he fell in love with the area as a child, particularly because of its wildlife.

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"I’d be badgering my dad to drive me out at weekends to see the birds and bugs and bees and butterflies and things," he shared. "So it’s an area I’ve known, you know, all of my life."

When asked if Charlotte lives with him, the presenter replied: "She spends a lot more time here now than she did.

"She has her own house which she loves in East Cowes in the Isle of Wight, it’s very different than this."

Speaking on the Homing podcast, he said that while he enjoyed spending time with Charlotte, he is “more comfortable” with being alone.

"I like having time on my own, you know, obviously I'm in a relationship with Charlotte, I like spending time with her, we sort of share our lives together," he shared.

"But, you know, I think both of us recognise that it's a value to our relationship to have time when we're not together."

Chris went on to say that his preference to live alone is also a consequence of having autism.

"I create a space where essentially I feel comfortable because I’ve made it, I’m in control of it, but it’s a space which isn’t entirely comfortable for other people,” he explained.

“And so, as a consequence of that, it’s my way of controlling the fact that I really just want to be there on my own. And ultimately, what I accepted long ago is that, and I will say this to Charlotte, I’m best on my own.”

Expanding further, he added: “Because then I’m not judged by anyone I don’t have to judge myself.”

Chris also revealed that he recently travelled to Spain without Charlotte, explaining that they have different tastes when it comes to itineraries.

The couple first met in 2007 when Chris visited the Isle of Wight Zoo to film a programme there.

In a rare admission about their relationship, his partner previously revealed that he kept his autism diagnosis private for many years.

Speaking to Radio Times magazine, she said: “It was about five years before he told me he has autism, and that was only because I asked.

“I had googled the conundrum of his absolute devotion to me and his daily lack of empathy. It felt like I didn’t know who I was with.”

She added: “Asperger’s [Syndrome] came up as the answer, and when I put it to Chris, I thought he would be horrified.

“Instead, he gradually agreed. He hadn’t told me because he thought he had the techniques to hide it.”

Winterwatch airs tonight at 7pm on BBC Two