Rochdale-born TV presenter, comedian and former Goodie Bill Oddie has died at the age of 85, his agent has confirmed.
Oddie became a household name in the 1970s as part of wacky TV comedy trio The Goodies, alongside fellow funny men Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden (pictured with Oddie Centre), before concentrating on his love of wildlife, as one of the original hosts of BBC TV’s Springwatch and many other shows about birdwatching, wildlife and nature.
In a statement, Oddie’s agent David Foster said: “It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder.
“Bill was a multi-talented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued. Instead he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment.”
Foster continued: “He taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it.
“He led the way and people of all ages and backgrounds responded to his call. And such a massive contribution to conservation will never be forgotten.
“As Bill’s agent I witnessed close hand his intelligence and wit. He was my friend and it was an honour and a privilege to represent him for so many years. I will miss him terribly.
“My thoughts and love are with Bill’s wife, Laura, and his daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie, who have asked not to be contacted at this sad time. Please respect their wishes.”
Oddie was born on 7 July 1941 in Rochdale, Lancashire, but moved to Birmingham as a child where he was raised by his father and grandmother after his mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia and, during most of his youth, hospitalised at the Barnsley Hall Hospital psychiatric facility. Following his schooling in Birmingham he studied English literature at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he appeared in several Footlights Club productions.
One of these, a revue called A Clump of Plinths, was so successful at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that it was renamed Cambridge Circus and transferred to the West End in London, then to New Zealand, and to Broadway in September 1964. While still at Cambridge, Oddie wrote scripts for and appeared briefly in TV’s That Was the Week That Was.
Following graduation, Oddie became a co-writer and performer in the comedy series Twice a Fortnight with Graeme Garden, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Jonathan Lynn, then a co-writer and performer in the comedy series Broaden Your Mind with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, for which he became a cast member for the second series.
Oddie’s big break came when he and fellow Cambridge alumni Brooke-Taylor and Garden co-wrote and appeared in their television comedy series The Goodies (1970–1982), initially screened on BBC Two, then switching to BBC One due to its success, and finally moving to ITV for one last series in 1981-82. The Goodies also released records, including Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me/The In-Betweenies, The Funky Gibbon (co-written by Oddie with Dave MacRae) and Black Pudding Bertha, which were hit singles in 1974–75. They reformed, briefly, in 2005 for a successful 13-date tour of Australia.
Image courtesy BBC
