TV naturalist Chris Packham has paid tribute to Bill Oddie, describing him as an 'utter joy to be with' after the wildlife presenter and former Goodies star died aged 85.
Packham, 65, replaced Oddie as the face of BBC's Springwatch in 2009. Oddie first found fame in the 1970s as a member of the comic trio The Goodies before building a successful career presenting nature shows for the BBC.
Packham's Emotional Message
Packham shared a picture of Oddie on social media alongside a lengthy message, calling him a 'renegade polymath with binoculars and a beard'. He wrote: 'Bill was invariably funny and occasionally furious.'
'He loved birds and loathed those who harmed them. He was delightfully unpredictable, sparky, smart and at times a bit spiky.'
Packham highlighted Oddie's genuine passion for birdwatching, recalling a moment in a Dutch park: 'He gazed at it intently, sighed, put down his bins, turned to me and just smiled. A massive grin. No words, just a beautiful childlike bliss. That says all you need to know about Bill Oddie.'
Tributes from Eric Idle and Others
Monty Python star Eric Idle, who met Oddie at Cambridge University, wrote on X: 'I'm very sad Bill Oddie has gone. He was sick for some time and I wrote to him.' Idle recalled Oddie auditioning him in 1963 and watching England win the World Cup together in 1966. 'He was a very fine songwriter and I learned a lot from him. I miss him.'
British animal trainer and TV presenter Victoria Stilwell shared an old photo, writing: 'Not only did you make a generation of children and adults laugh on television, you made us appreciate and love the natural world… Thank you Bill. Fly free. We will miss you.'
Charity Leaders Remember His Activism
Oddie was a former vice president of the RSPCA. Chief executive Jo Rowland said the charity is 'deeply saddened' and that Oddie's 'tireless commitment to British wildlife will define so much of his extraordinary life'. She described his broadcasting as 'groundbreaking' and said 'nature has lost one of its best friends, fiercest champions and most iconic defenders'.
Emma Slawinski, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, where Oddie was a patron and then president, said: 'Bill was a lovely man who cared passionately about animals and wanted to end cruel blood sports… He will be sorely missed but he has left behind a legacy in terms of everything he has done for wildlife in this country.'
