TV presenter and conservationist Bill Oddie has died at the age of 85. His agent David Foster confirmed the death and paid tribute, calling Oddie his 'friend' and saying 'It was an honour and a privilege to represent him for so many years. I will miss him terribly.'
Final TV appearance and health update
Oddie stepped back from wildlife broadcasting in recent years. His last official TV appearance was in 2020 on the Channel 5 series Celebrity Britain by Barge: Then and Now. In September 2020, he posted on X/Twitter that he had been 'very ill most of this summer' and was suffering from 'Lithium toxicity. Almost fatal! I am still here but very confused about most things! But then aren't many of us. It fuddles my brain. Confusion. Will I return? I really dunno. I do hope so. Please wish me luck. XX.'
Career highlights
Oddie was best known for hosting the BBC's Springwatch from 2005 to 2008 alongside Kate Humble. During the six-part Channel 5 documentary, he shared a narrowboat with Pete Waterman and they navigated the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Scottish canals near Falkirk, and the Grand Union Canal across Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. They were joined by Jennie Bond and Anne Diamond, and learned about the role of Clydesdale horses and how pleasure boats began using the canal in the late 1800s.
