The wildlife presenter, who found fame in the 1970s as a member of comic trio The Goodies, died on Saturday, aged 85.
The Goodies star Graeme Garden has remembered Bill Oddie as a bit of a “rebel”, who would “challenge the status quo”.
The wildlife presenter, who found fame in the 1970s as a member of comic trio The Goodies alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Garden, died on Saturday, aged 85, according to a statement by his agent.
Tributes have since poured in for Oddie, with the presenter remembered for his humour as well as passion for the natural world.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Front Row, Garden said: “We were very different personalities. I think Bill was much more of a rebel than I was, and was much tougher in many ways. We laughed at the same things. Anything that happened to the Goodies made us laugh.
“He was the one who would challenge the status quo.
“He was the one who wouldn’t wear a tie in the restaurants and he was the one who stood up for himself.”
He recalled how Oddie was a “great giggler” and that he would often start giggling in the middle of a scene, which Garden said was the “seal of approval”.
“This is a terribly sad time,” he added, “but as you probably gathered, I have so many very happy times to look back on and remember and to enjoy. Now we can look back at the memories and and we can rejoice in what what a wonderful chap he was.
“I had a lovely email from Bill’s daughter Kate, who said that her dad had died raging against and rugby tackling the dying of the light, while also being incredibly funny, which sounds like Bill.”
Oddie hosted a string of wildlife programmes for the BBC, including Birding With Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie Goes Wild and Autumnwatch.
He also was part of the original presenting line-up of Springwatch, alongside Kate Humble and Simon King – when the show launched in 2005.
Oddie spoke openly about suffering from crippling depression, and he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2009 after being dropped from Springwatch.
He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition where depressive periods alternate with manic activity.
Humble told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One: “No-one could tell a story like Bill or make me laugh like Bill or enthuse anyone, whoever they were, to go outside and get excited about a robin.
“He had that way of making the natural world everybody’s world and I think that’s what we all loved about him.
“He was one of the earliest, bravest people to say, ‘no this is something I have and something that I have to deal with and that my family has to deal with’.
“It was really tough for him, and I was witness to that – but he was always very honest and straightforward. In the end there was no-one who could make me laugh like he could.”
Oddie was a respected ornithologist who began birdwatching during his childhood in Birmingham, and went on to write a number of books on birds and other wildlife topics.
A statement from Oddie’s friend and agent David Foster announced the news of his death on Monday, and 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.
“As Bill’s agent I witnessed at 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.”
The BBC said: “We are saddened to hear the news about the death of Bill Oddie. Bill had a long association with the BBC and was a much-loved comedian, naturalist and broadcaster.
“His career spanned generations, from being a member of comedy trio The Goodies right through to embracing his passion for the natural world and establishing himself as one of the UK’s best known wildlife presenters.”
Oddie’s comic career began in the Cambridge Footlights, when he started writing for shows including That Was The Week That Was.
He went on to write and appear on numerous programmes including I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again, which featured many of his comic songs.
He first found fame as a member of The Goodies and the trio became household names in Australia and New Zealand, as the television comedy show attracted millions of viewers in its heyday.
His songs led The Goodies to several major chart hits, most notably The Funky Gibbon.
He was a council member of the RSPB, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and The Worldwide Fund for Nature. He was also president of The Northumberland Wildlife Trust and represented many other nature organisations.
