Bill Oddie dies at 85: Goodies and Springwatch star
TV presenter and comedian Bill Oddie has died aged 85, his agent said. Famous for The Goodies and as an original Springwatch host, he later popularised birdwatching for millions. Reading FC supporters and nature fans are among those mourning a witty conservationist who made wildlife feel like everybody's world.
Key Takeaways
- Bill Oddie died at 85; agent David Foster announced the news.
- He starred in 1970s comedy The Goodies with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden.
- He co-hosted early BBC Springwatch series and inspired new birdwatchers.
- He was appointed OBE in 2003 for wildlife conservation services.
- Tributes came from Kate Humble, Chris Packham, Eric Idle and conservation groups.
Foster called Oddie "the country's best-loved birder" and a multi-talented wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Fame was never what he valued most, Foster said. Instead, Oddie urged people to respect and protect the environment.
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Who was Bill Oddie and why does his death matter?
Oddie became a household name in the 1970s in The Goodies, whose slapstick comedy and madcap songs entertained millions for 12 years. He was known as the hairy, cynical, anarchist member of the trio, and wrote novelty hits including The Funky Gibbon and The Inbetweenies, both UK top-10 singles.
He later turned fully to wildlife and ornithology in BBC series such as Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie, and Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife. He co-presented the first four Springwatch series from 2005 with Kate Humble, plus Autumnwatch spin-offs, before being dropped later that decade.
According to the BBC, Oddie was made an OBE in 2003 for services to wildlife conservation. Naturalist Stephen Moss said he "did more than anyone to popularise birding."
What tributes have colleagues and fans paid?
Humble told BBC Radio 4 that no one could tell a story or make her laugh like Oddie, or get people excited about a robin. "He just had that way of just making the natural world everybody's world," she said. She also praised his openness about mental health struggles, calling him one of the earliest, bravest celebrities to speak publicly about depression and bipolar disorder.
Chris Packham, who succeeded him on Springwatch, wrote that viewers had lost "one of the besties": a "renegade polymath with binoculars and a beard" who was funny, occasionally furious, and genuinely passionate about birds. Python star Eric Idle remembered watching England win the 1966 World Cup with Oddie and called him a fine songwriter.
The RSPCA's Jo Rowland said nature had lost one of its best friends and fiercest champions. Reading FC recalled Oddie as a guest of honour at many matches and a much-loved club figure whose chant lives on among Royals supporters.
How did comedy and conservation shape his life?
Born near Rochdale and raised in Birmingham, Oddie studied at Cambridge and joined the Footlights. He wrote for That Was The Week That Was and worked with future Monty Python stars before The Goodies launched in 1970.
He married children's TV writer Laura Beaumont; they have a daughter, Rosie. With first wife Jean Hart he had daughters Bonnie and Kate. After leaving Springwatch he described a devastating period linked to depression and bipolar disorder, later discussing his illness publicly.
Oddie's agent said his contribution to conservation "will never be forgotten." From Goodies gags to Springwatch live broadcasts, he leaves a dual legacy of laughter and a lasting push for people to step outside and care for birds and habitats.