Bill Oddie, the comedian and wildlife presenter, has died at the age of 85, his agent has announced. Oddie was one of the most recognisable figures in British television across several decades, a performer whose career spanned comedy and natural history, and news of his death has prompted an outpouring of affection for a man widely regarded as one of the country's best-loved birders.
Having come through the Cambridge Footlights, Oddie rose to national fame in the 1970s as one third of the comedy trio The Goodies, whose blend of surreal humour and slapstick made them hugely popular and established him as a household name. He also made his mark on the airwaves with some of the trio's iconic tracks and songs, and that early success as a comedian gave him a place in the affections of viewers that endured for decades.
It was wildlife programming, however, that later brought him into the homes of so many people around the country and around the world. Oddie fronted shows including Birding with Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie Goes Wild, Springwatch and Autumnwatch, turning his personal passion for the natural world into a second career that made him a familiar face to a new generation and helped popularise birdwatching and wildlife-watching in Britain.
It was that devotion to wildlife that led to him being described as the country's best-loved birder. Announcing his death, his agent and friend David Foster said it was with deep sadness that, as he put it, the country's best-loved birder had passed, remembering a multi-talented celebrity, wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist.
In his tribute, Foster stressed that it was never fame that Oddie valued; instead he encouraged people to respect and protect the environment, and he taught audiences the wonder of the natural world. He protested, lobbied and campaigned, leading the way in a manner that people of all ages and backgrounds responded to, and his agent described a massive contribution to conservation that would never be forgotten.
Tributes have begun to be paid following the news, reflecting the warmth with which he was held by the public over many years on screen. As remembrances continue, Oddie is being celebrated as a figure who combined humour with a genuine, lifelong commitment to the natural world, leaving behind a legacy that touched both entertainment and the appreciation of wildlife in Britain.