Bill Oddie

William Edgar Oddie, a well-known comedian and naturalist, began life on July 7, 1941, near Rochdale, Lancashire. Following his early years, he moved to Birmingham. His father, Harry Oddie, held the position of assistant chief accountant, while his mother, Lilian, faced significant health challenges, being diagnosed with schizophrenia and spending much of Oddie’s youth hospitalized. He received his education at Lapal Primary School, Halesowen Grammar School, and King Edward's School in Birmingham, where he demonstrated athletic ability as captain of the rugby union team. His academic pursuits led him to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he studied English literature and graduated in 1963.

Oddie’s early career involved a strong connection with comedy. He participated in Footlights productions at Cambridge University and contributed to a revue called 'A Clump of Plinths,' which evolved into 'Cambridge Circus' and enjoyed performances in London's West End, New Zealand, and Broadway. From 1964 to 1973, he was a cast member of the BBC radio series 'I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again,' even composing and performing the theme tune as Angus Prune. He put out an album, 'Distinctly Oddie,' in 1967. He used humor by copying songs like 'On Ilkla Moor Baht'at' and 'Andy Pandy.' His fame grew when he joined The Goodies from 1970 to 1982, a comedy group known for funny situations, silly actions, and fast film effects. The Goodies achieved considerable success, including hit singles such as 'Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me/The In-Betweenies,' 'The Funky Gibbon' (which reached number four in the UK charts in 1971), and 'Black Pudding Bertha,' and even won the Silver Rose at Montreux TV Festival in 1972 for the episode 'Kitten Kong'.

From the mid-1970s onwards, Oddie transitioned into a career as a naturalist and television presenter. He wrote articles for publications like British Birds, Birdwatching Magazine, and Birdwatch, beginning with an article about Bartley Reservoir's birdlife in 1962. His work in this field included presenting BBC wildlife programmes such as 'Springwatch', 'Autumnwatch', 'How to Watch Wildlife', 'Wild in Your Garden', 'Birding with Bill Oddie', 'Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie', and ‘Bill Oddie Goes Wild.’ He also hosted shows like 'The Great Bird Race,' 'The Great Kenyan Bird Safari,’ and ‘Oddie in Paradise.' His book 'Little Black Bird Book' (1980) became a bestseller, employing a humorous style. He starred in the 1985 BBC Nature Watch special, 'Bill Oddie - Bird Watcher,' and continued to present shows like 'Birding with Bill Oddie' and 'Bill Oddie Goes Wild' into the early 2000s. The Goodies toured Australia in 2005. William Edgar Oddie died on July 25, 2026.