Bill Oddie OBE Dies at 85: Comedian, Musician, and Wildlife Legend Remembered

Bill Oddie, OBE, has died at the age of 85. He was known as a comedian, musician, and one of Britain’s most loved wildlife presenters.

Who Was Bill Oddie

William Edgar Oddie was born on 7 July 1941 in Rochdale, Lancashire. He grew up in Birmingham and later studied English Literature at Pembroke College, Cambridge. During his time at Cambridge, he joined the Footlights comedy club. This is where he met Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, his future partners in The Goodies. (Wikipedia)

How Bill Oddie Died

Oddie died on Saturday, 25 July 2026, at the age of 85. His agent, David Foster, confirmed the news in a public statement. He said Oddie was the country’s best loved birder and a multi talented celebrity who worked as a wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, and musician. Foster added that Oddie never valued fame. Instead, he encouraged people to respect and protect nature. (ITV News)

Foster also shared that Oddie’s wife, Laura, and his daughters Bonnie, Kate, and Rosie have asked for privacy during this time. He said it was an honour to represent Oddie for so many years and that he would miss him deeply. (Deadline)

Early Comedy Career and The Goodies

Oddie began his entertainment career with the Cambridge Footlights. One of the group’s revues became so popular that it was staged in the West End and later on Broadway in 1964. Around this time, he also wrote for the BBC comedy show That Was The Week That Was. He later co-wrote and performed in other comedy series, including Twice a Fortnight and Broaden Your Mind, working alongside names such as Michael Palin and Terry Jones. (Wikipedia)

Oddie found national fame in the 1970s as one third of The Goodies, alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden. The trio became known for their comedy sketches and songs, including the hit single “Funky Gibbon” in 1975. The Goodies aired 76 episodes across nine series between 1970 and 1982. (List of The Goodies episodes – Wikipedia)

Oddie also wrote and performed in other comedy shows, such as I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again, which featured many of his comic songs. Tim Brooke-Taylor, his Goodies co-star, died in April 2020 after contracting COVID-19. Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie remained the two surviving members of the group until Oddie’s death. (ITV News)

A Lifelong Passion for Birds and Wildlife

Oddie’s interest in birdwatching began in his childhood in Birmingham. His first published bird research appeared in the West Midland Bird Club’s 1962 annual report. He went on to write for specialist wildlife publications throughout his life. (That Eric Alper)

He later became one of the BBC’s most recognised wildlife broadcasters. His programmes included Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild, Bill Oddie’s How to Watch Wildlife, and Bill Oddie Goes Wild. Britain Goes Wild first aired in 2004 and drew 3.4 million viewers. The show was later renamed Springwatch, and it grew into one of British television’s most watched nature programmes, drawing more than 4 million viewers. (That Eric Alper)

Oddie also held several leadership roles in conservation groups. He served as president of the West Midland Bird Club, sat on the council of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and held roles with the League Against Cruel Sports and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. In 1997, he received the RSPB Medal, the society’s most prestigious conservation award. (RSPB Medal – Wikipedia)

His OBE Honour

Bill Oddie was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in October 2003. He received this honour for his services to wildlife conservation, recognising decades of work in raising public awareness about birds and nature protection across Britain. (ITV Signed Stories)

Tributes From Colleagues

Naturalist and television presenter Chris Packham described Oddie as an utter joy to be with. He said Oddie was invariably funny and occasionally furious, and that he loved birds while disliking those who caused them harm. Packham called him delightfully unpredictable, sparky, smart, and at times a bit spiky. (ITV News)

Kate Humble, who co-hosted Springwatch with Oddie, also paid tribute. She remembered him as someone who made nature accessible to everyone and said no one could tell a story or make her laugh the way he did. (The Celeb Post)

Bill Oddie: Key Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	William Edgar Oddie
Born	7 July 1941, Rochdale, Lancashire
Died	25 July 2026, age 85
Education	Pembroke College, Cambridge
Comedy group	The Goodies
Known TV shows	Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Britain Goes Wild, Birding with Bill Oddie
Honour	OBE, awarded 2003, for wildlife conservation
Conservation roles	RSPB council member, West Midland Bird Club presiden

FAQ: Bill Oddie, OBE, Dies at 85

Q: Who was Bill Oddie?

William Edgar Oddie, OBE, was an English comedian, actor, musician, and wildlife broadcaster, born on July 7, 1941, in Rochdale, Lancashire. He rose to fame as a member of the comedy trio The Goodies alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, before becoming one of Britain’s best-loved birdwatchers and nature presenters.

Q: When did Bill Oddie die?

Bill Oddie died on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the age of 85. His death was confirmed publicly by his agent on Monday, July 27, 2026.

Q: What was the cause of Bill Oddie’s death?

As of the announcement, his agent’s statement did not disclose a specific cause of death.

Q: What TV shows was Bill Oddie known for?

Beyond The Goodies, Oddie hosted several BBC wildlife programs, including Birding with Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie Goes Wild, Springwatch, and Autumnwatch.

Q: What did people say about Bill Oddie after his death?

His agent, David Foster, called him “the country’s best-loved birder.” Naturalist Chris Packham paid tribute, describing Oddie as an “utter joy to be with” and saying, “Sadly we’ve not only lost a goodie, we’ve lost one of the besties.”