Farewell to legendary broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician , Goodies wild man and wildlife conservationist Bill Oddie who has passed away at 85.
David Foster, Bill Oddie's agent, paid tribute to the "intelligence and wit" of “Britain’s “best-loved birder”. In a statement, he 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.
“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."
Born William Edgar Oddie near Rochdale, Lancashire on 7 July 1941. His ancestors on both sides were mill workers. However, his father Harry had made good, moved to Birmingham and worked as an accountant at the Midlands Electricity Board.
The comedian later said his father's work ethic greatly influenced his approach to his own career. But Bill saw little of his mother Lillian during his childhood. She had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent much of her time in hospital. Oddie later discovered that her depression had followed the premature deaths of his two older siblings.
As a child, he became interested in bird watching - a record of one of his first observations was even preserved in a West Midlands Bird Club publication in 1956. After leaving King Edward's School, where he was an enthusiastic rugby player, he went to Pembroke College, Cambridge to read English. There he became involved with the Footlights Club, which numbered Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor among its members.
Oddie wrote for and appeared in the famous 1964 review, A Clump of Plinths, which, having taken the Edinburgh Festival by storm, travelled to London's West End as well as New Zealand and the United States.
While still at Cambridge, Oddie wrote material for David Frost's satirical BBC TV show That Was the Week That Was. He fondly recalled a poem he wrote for fellow comedian Lance Percival in the style of The Ballad of Eskimo Nell about Camberley Kate who seduced dustbin men in Kent.
Having left university, he went on to join the cast of the BBC radio show I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, which featured many of the Footlights performers. He was also developing as a composer, writing many of the show's songs, some of which appeared on an album Distinctly Oddie in 1967.
While some of the old Footlights team went off to form Monty Python, Oddie - together with Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor - created The Goodies who were such a massive part of my childhood . still fondly remember for proving that pure, unpretentious silliness could be every bit as inventive and enduring as the Pythons' more celebrated surrealism.
Where Monty Python offered the grown-ups philosophical sketches and highbrow absurdity, The Goodies served up slapstick chaos, visual gags, and cheerful anarchy that felt like a Saturday-morning cartoon come to life - complete with catchphrases, ridiculous costumes, and plots that escalated into glorious nonsense within minutes. I loved their madcap, anarchist , zany style who filled my childhood with so much laughter. .
It featured three characters on their "trandem" who pedalled about offering themselves for hire with the tagline "We Do Anything, Anywhere, Anytime".
This spawned a series of comical situations, much slapstick and the use of fairly primitive special effects, mainly sped-up film. One of the memorable episodes was Kitten Kong, in which a giant feline toppled the Post Office Tower. A version of this episode won the Silver Rose at Montreux TV Festival in 1972.
Oddie composed a number of comic songs for the series, often parodies of contemporary pop music. The most successful, Funky Gibbon, reached number four in the UK charts in 1975 and the trio performed it on Top of the Pops. Forty years later, the track was re-released and the profits given to a campaign to preserve the primate's habitat.
A reminder that one of Bill Oddie’s proudest achievements was that a fan died of laughter watching the following sketch by The Goodies. Alex Mitchell, a brickie from King’s Lynn, according to his wife died in his chair after 25 minutes of uproarious laughter at the TV Goodies in 1975. Oddie cherished the feat for the rest of his life.
Oddie's life however was plagued by bouts of acute depression which caused repeated admissions to psychiatric hospitals - where Oddie suffered from severe lithium poisoning as a result of his treatment.
He would appear in and voiced many advertising campaigns over the years, from Thomson Directory and B&Q, to Fox’s Glacier Mints and Kellogg’s. Oddie later commented that these advertising gigs were among the most financially rewarding parts of his career.
But it was with The Goodies that he found his greatest fame. The series combined situation comedy along with spoof ads, for products such as Dreaded Wheat, Gloscalp Dandruff Control and .
Later, Oddie returned to his childhood passion for birdwatching, becoming one of the UK’s most influential naturalists, hosting multiple BBC nature programmes over many decades and writing books such as “Bill Oddie’s Little Black Bird Book,” “Birdwatching with Bill Oddie” and “Follow That Bird.” He also became a powerful advocate for wildlife he campaigned against the ivory trade,warning that poachers kill thousands of elephants a year. a supporter of a ban on trophy hunting imports. He joined anti-cull actions alongside hunt sabs.
Once he wore a Newcastle United top to a patrol, hoping to be mistook for a badger! Always finding a moment for humour. He could be outspoken and silly which is a good thing .
A Goodie Egg on being British who once said : “I love that I walk down the road and here’s an Indian shop and there’s another Indian stationers there and this one's run by someone from Iran and there’s a West Indian who runs that bit and we’ve got the Romanian builders next door."
But Oddie had always been prone to bouts of depression and h.e was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder - which he occasionally blamed on his remote relationship with his mother. Oddie parted company with Springwatch in 2008. The star told the Daily Mirror in 2018, external: "I never had a proper explanation. "I was called in and told: 'We won't be asking you to make any more programmes.'"
Oddie added: "Unfortunately, my bipolar element had come into it and I could be very tetchy." The Mirror reported that the BBC did not know at the time he had a conditon, but later issued a statement saying: "We wish Mr Oddie a speedy recovery."
Bill Oddie suffered severe lithium poisoning as a result of his mental health treatment "At the time I was flabbergasted, " he said in a 2015 interview, external with the Independent. "But a year later, I was diagnosed as bipolar. I thought back. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have accepted that I was going through a manic phase." T
The audience missed him. Before he left, the show had averaged 3.19 million. After he left, that figure fell to 2.55 million.
Oddie later revealed his condition caused him to try and take his own life. In 2020, he announced that he had been severely ill as a result of lithium poisoning: a treatment aimed at stabilising his moods. He later posted on social media that "the past few years have been grim for me. "Lost enthusiasm, but I am still here."
His outside interests included music. He once did a spell as a radio DJ playing jazz and his house contained his collection of thousands of CDs. Oddie was also a passionate supporter of the Green Party and gave his time, and fame, to bolster wildlife charities such as the RSPB.
He is survived by his wife, Laura, and daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie. Truly a sad loss. Bill inspired generations to notice, cherish, and protect the animals around them.
A unigue and very special individual. Much respect for a life well lived. From being open about his mental health struggles to his a passionate defence of animals and nature. Hope he is somewhere making the spirits or souls laugh uncontrollably.
Bill and the other Goodies leave a lasting comedy legacy that will be watched for years and years to come. Rest in peace. Funky Gibbon!. Fly high amongst your beloved wild birds 💚
