Trivia

From 1990 -1995 Michèle Winstanley volunteered in the ape house at London Zoo. Winstanley was also an active member of the International Primate Protection League UK, where she headed their campaign called 'Don't Say Cheese with Chimpanzees' which aimed to stop photographers in Spain and Tenerife from using baby chimpanzees as props. Winstanley served on IPPL-UK's board of trustees until it closed in 2014. Her play 'Keepers' was written from her experiences of working within primate conservation.

In 2017 Michèle Winstanley qualified as a freelance British sign language interpreter, having been inspired to learn sign language after meeting Marli Matlin on the set of 'Walker' in Nicaragua some twenty years earlier.

Winstanley is the youngest daughter of Paul Winstanley, a writer and political activist who volunteered aboard the Greenpeace ship the Sirius, and artist Maureen Bocking (nee Wickes).

Michèle Winstanley's play 'Broken Water' was written about her experiences around motherhood. The script was shortlisted for the Verity Bargate Award and the Nick Darke Award. The production at Arcola Theatre was awarded an OffComm commendation.

Being aimed at teenagers, 'Going Out' contained a few mild profanities. Consequently it was first scheduled to be broadcast at 10pm on Channel 4. Following complaints a re-run the following year was given an earlier time slot.