British television personality Bill Oddie, best known for starring in the comedy series The Goodies and presenting popular wildlife programmes, has died at the age of 85, his agent announced on Monday.
“Bill was a multi-talented celebrity, wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist”, his agent, David Foster, said in a statement.
“Yet it was never fame that he valued. Instead, he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment. He taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it”, Foster said, describing Oddie as “the country’s best-loved birder”.
Born in Birmingham, Oddie rose to prominence as one-third of The Goodies, alongside Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor. The comedy series ran from 1970 to 1982 and became a staple of British television.
The trio first met while studying at the University of Cambridge, where they joined the Footlights Club. Among their contemporaries were comedians John Cleese and Eric Idle, who later helped create Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Beyond comedy, Oddie was also a successful songwriter. Several songs from The Goodies became UK chart hits, including The Funky Gibbon, which reached the charts in 1975.
A lifelong birdwatcher and conservationist, Oddie became one of Britain’s most recognisable wildlife presenters, fronting a range of programmes for the BBC and Channel 4, including the popular nature series Springwatch. His passion for wildlife made him a respected voice on environmental issues.
He also campaigned vigorously against the government-backed cull of badgers, introduced to curb the spread of tuberculosis among cattle. Speaking to AFP in 2013 while joining a patrol to protect the animals, Oddie described the policy as “one of the most controversial, unreasonable, damaging, unnecessary conflicts I’ve ever known”.
Oddie spoke openly about his struggles with depression after leaving Springwatch in 2008. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and became an advocate for greater understanding of mental health.
Throughout his career, he encouraged people to reconnect with nature.
“My plea to people would be to ‘go with all the senses in’ occasionally, take off those earpieces so you hear nature and, of course, birdsong. You may not realise how precious it is until it’s gone”, he told the Daily Telegraph.
Remembered for his humour, warmth and tireless conservation work, Oddie leaves behind a legacy that extended far beyond television, inspiring generations to appreciate and protect the natural world.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
