Bill Oddie dies: Goodies star and much-loved BBC wildlife presenter passes away aged 85

British wildlife presenter and Goodies star Bill Oddie has died at the age of 85..

The TV star, who found fame in the 1970s as a member of comic trio The Goodies alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, died on Saturday, he agent said.

He went on to host wildlife programs for the BBC, including Birding With Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie Goes Wild, Springwatch and Autumnwatch.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder,” a statement from his friend and agent David Foster said on Monday.

“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.

“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.”

Tributes flowed from both the UK entertainment industry as well as celebrity wildlife enthusiasts as news of Oddie’s passing spread.

Kate Humble, his former co-host on popular BBC show Springwatch told the British broadcaster: “No one could tell a story like Bill. No-one could make me laugh like Bill. No one could enthuse anyone, whoever they were, to go outside and get excited about a robin.

“He just had that way of just making the natural world everybody’s world, and I think that’s what we all loved about him.”

UK actor and birdwatcher Samuel West said Oddie’s show Birding With Bill Oddie had a major impact on him personally.

“Bill Oddie wore a great learning lightly, but he could never hide his enthusiasm,” Howard’s End star West posted on X.

“His captivated, always improvised narration made that show the platonic ideal of natural history for me, and introduced a whole generation to the fascination of birds.”

Nature author Stephen Moss paid tribute to his colleague online as well, saying that Oddie “did more than anyone to popularise birding”.

Born in the northern UK town of Rochdale, Oddie grew up in Birmingham and went on to study at Cambridge, where he honed his comedic talents with the university’s renowned Footlight troupe.

By the time of his graduation in the early 1960s he had already racked up writing credits on shows such as That Was The Week That Was and soon went on to script and act in other beloved UK comedy TV series, including I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again, At Last the 1947 Show and Doctor in The House.

He often joined other UK comedy legends on the rise such as Monty Python alumni John Cleese, Michael Palin and Terry Jones, while also developing a working relationship with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, who he would go on to form The Goodies with.

Often, he starred and wrote alongside other up-and-coming comedy names like Monty Python’s John Cleese, Michael Palin and Terry Jones, and his fellow future Goodies - Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden.

The British Film Institute described Oddie as “the hairy, cynical, anarchist member” of The Goodies. He was also behind several of the long-running show’s novelty songs, such as The Funky Gibbon, which reached No.4 on the UK charts in 1975.

It was during this time that Oddie, an avid birder, made his first moves into nature television, presenting several wildlife series for the BBC in the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Springwatch.