Bill Oddie, the multi-talented entertainer who found fame as a member of the comic trio The Goodies before becoming a beloved wildlife presenter, has died at the age of 85. His friend and agent David Foster confirmed the news.
Early Life and Comedy Career
Born on July 7, 1941, in Lancashire to Harry and Lilian, Oddie was raised in Birmingham by his father and grandmother, Emily. He has spoken about his mother's schizophrenia and her treatment in a psychiatric facility. He studied English literature at Cambridge University in the 1960s, where he began acting and appearing in Footlights Club productions. One of his shows, later renamed Cambridge Circus, was performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and later transferred to the West End and Broadway.
During university, Oddie started writing TV scripts, working on the BBC's satirical comedy That Was The Week That Was, where he also made a brief appearance. He featured on the radio comedy I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, contributing many musical compositions. He became a recognisable face in the late 1960s with appearances on The Braden Beat, Twice A Fortnight (as performer and co-writer), and Broaden Your Mind.
The Goodies and Musical Success
Oddie became a household name in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand in the 1970s after co-founding The Goodies with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden. The BBC television comedy show attracted millions of viewers and featured surreal moments, including the famous episode 'Kitten Kong', where a kitten grew into a giant after being given a growth formula. The show ran from 1970 to 1982 and featured Oddie's novelty songs The Funky Gibbon and The Inbetweenies, both of which reached the UK top 10 singles chart. Oddie continued working with his fellow Goodies on programmes like the animated series Bananaman. Tim Brooke-Taylor died in 2020.
Conservation and Wildlife Presenting
An avid birdwatcher since childhood, Oddie's first published work on birding appeared in the West Midland Bird Club's 1962 Annual Report, focusing on birdlife at Birmingham's Bartley Reservoir. He went on to write several books about birds and birdwatching. In 1976, he helped identify Britain's first recorded Pallas's reed bunting on Fair Isle, Shetland.
He first appeared on natural history radio and TV programmes in the 1970s, and in 1985 was the subject of a Nature Watch special. He hosted many BBC natural history programmes, including Birding With Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild. In May and June 2004, he presented Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie alongside Kate Humble and Simon King, drawing 3.4 million viewers for its 8pm timeslot on BBC Two. The series returned the following year as Springwatch, which Oddie hosted until 2008, cementing his reputation as one of Britain's best-loved wildlife presenters.
Personal Struggles and Later Life
Oddie spoke openly about suffering from depression and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2009 after being dropped from the show. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. An active conservationist, he served on councils for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature. He also appeared on shows such as Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, and Would I Lie To You? In 2003, he was made an OBE for his services to wildlife conservation. Described as 'the country's best-loved birder', Oddie passed away on Saturday at the age of 85.
