Editing Bill Oddie

{{Short description|English conservationist, entertainer and ornithologist (born 1941)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox person
 | name             = Bill Oddie
 | honorific_suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]
 | image            = Bill Oddie (383148953).jpg
 | caption          = Oddie in 2007
 | image_size       = 
 | birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1941|07|07|df=yes}}
 | birth_place      = [[Rochdale]], [[Lancashire]], England
 | occupation       = {{hlist|Actor|artist|comedian|conservationist|musician|[[ornithology|ornithologist]]|songwriter|television presenter|writer}}
 | party            = [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]]
 | years_active     = 1963–present
 | spouse           = {{Unbulleted list
| {{marriage|Jeanne M Hart|1966|end=divorced}}<ref name="Index entry">{{Cite web|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=j7KAqDfvNZHl9118lUduFA&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=10 November 2022|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref>
| {{marriage|Laura Beaumont|1983}}<ref name="Index entry"/>
}}
 | children         = 3, including [[Kate Hardie]]
 | website          = {{URL|billoddie.com}}
 | module           = {{listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Bill Oddie on Jimmy Savile.flac|title=Bill Oddie's voice|type=speech|description=Oddie on his past familiarity with [[Jimmy Savile]]<br>First published 19 October 2012}}
}}

'''William Edgar Oddie''' (born 7 July 1941)<ref>{{cite book |title=From Fringe to Flying Circus: Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960–1980 |first=Roger |last=Wilmut |publisher=Eyre Metheun |location=London |page=35 |isbn=0-413-46950-6|year=1980 }}</ref> is an English actor, artist, birder, comedian, conservationist, musician, songwriter, television presenter and writer. He was a member of comedy trio [[The Goodies]].

A [[Birdwatching|birder]] since his childhood in [[Quinton, Birmingham]],<ref name="quinton">{{cite book |title=One Flew into the Cuckoo's Egg |last=Oddie |first=William |year=2009 |publisher=Hodder Paperbacks |isbn=978-0-340-95194-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0iaA1kW7hOUC&pg=PT33 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> Oddie has established a reputation as a naturalist, conservationist, and television presenter on wildlife issues. Some of his books are illustrated with his own paintings and drawings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A32619233 |title=Bill Oddie OBE&nbsp;– Comedian and Naturalist |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref> His wildlife programmes for the [[BBC]] include ''[[Springwatch]]'' and ''Autumnwatch'', ''[[Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife|How to Watch Wildlife]]'', ''Wild in Your Garden'', ''[[Birding with Bill Oddie]]'', ''[[Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie]]'' and ''[[Bill Oddie Goes Wild]]''.

==Early life==
Oddie was born on 7 July 1941 in [[Rochdale]], [[Lancashire]], but moved to [[Birmingham]] at a young age. He was raised by his father, Harry Oddie, and grandmother, Emily. His father was assistant chief accountant at the Midlands Electricity Board.<ref>Interview ''The Sunday Times'' Money p14, 29 March 2015</ref> His mother, Lilian, was diagnosed with [[schizophrenia]] and, during most of his youth, was hospitalised at the [[Barnsley Hall Hospital]] psychiatric facility.<ref> ''[[The One Show]]'', 13 February 2012</ref> He was educated at Lapal Primary School, Halesowen Grammar School (now [[The Earls High School]], [[Halesowen]]) and [[King Edward's School, Birmingham]], an all-boys [[Direct grant grammar school|direct grant school]], where he captained the school's [[rugby union]] team.<ref>{{Cite news |title=My Rugby Passion: Bill Oddie |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/3015590/My-Rugby-Passion-Bill-Oddie.html |date=26 October 2001 |access-date=23 August 2023 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> He then studied [[English literature]] at [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]].

==Career==
===Comedy===
While at Cambridge University Oddie appeared in several [[Footlights]] Club productions. One of these, a [[revue]] called ''A Clump of Plinths'', was so successful at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] that it was renamed ''[[Cambridge Footlights Revue|Cambridge Circus]]'' and transferred to the West End in London, then New Zealand and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in September 1964. Meanwhile, still at Cambridge, Oddie wrote scripts for and appeared briefly in TV's ''[[That Was the Week That Was]]''.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.dfmanagement.tv/Bill_Oddie.html |title=Bill Oddie |publisher=David Foster Management |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930055058/http://www.dfmanagement.tv/Bill_Oddie.html |archive-date=30 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He appeared in [[Bernard Braden]]'s television series ''On The Braden Beat'' in 1964. Subsequently, he was a key member of the performers in the [[BBC]] radio series ''[[I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again]]'', where many of his musical compositions were featured. Some were released on the album ''Distinctly Oddie'' (Polydor, 1967). He was one of the first performers to parody a rock song, arranging the traditional [[Yorkshire]] folk song "[[On Ilkla Moor Baht'at]]" in the style of [[Joe Cocker]]'s hit rendition of [[the Beatles]]' "[[With a Little Help from My Friends]]" (released on [[John Peel]]'s [[Dandelion Records]] in 1970 and featured in Peel's special box of most-treasured singles), and singing "[[Andy Pandy]]" in the style of a brassy soul number such as [[Wilson Pickett]] or [[Geno Washington]] might perform. In many shows he would do short impressions of [[Hughie Green]].

On television Oddie was co-writer and performer in the comedy series ''[[Twice a Fortnight]]'' with [[Graeme Garden]], [[Terry Jones]], [[Michael Palin]] and [[Jonathan Lynn]]. Later he was co-writer and performer in the comedy series ''[[Broaden Your Mind]]'' with [[Tim Brooke-Taylor]] and Graeme Garden, for which he became a cast member for the second series.

Oddie, Brooke-Taylor and Garden then co-wrote and appeared in their television comedy series ''[[The Goodies (TV series)|The Goodies]]'' (1970–1982). The Goodies also released records, including "Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me"/"The In-Betweenies", "[[The Funky Gibbon]]" (co-written by Oddie with [[Dave MacRae]]) and "Black Pudding Bertha", which were hit singles in 1974–75. They reformed, briefly, in 2005 for a successful 13-date tour of Australia.

Oddie, Brooke-Taylor and Garden voiced characters on the 1983 animated children's programme ''[[Bananaman (TV series)|Bananaman]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.80scartoons.co.uk/bananaman2.php |title="Bananaman" – 80s Cartoons |publisher=80scartoons.co.uk |date=4 February 2012 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116115519/http://80scartoons.co.uk/bananaman2.php |archive-date=16 November 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/b/banaman.htm |title=Bananaman – International Hero |publisher=Internationalhero.co.uk |access-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111065906/http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/b/banaman.htm|archive-date=11 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnnorrisbrown.com/classic-nick/bananaman/index.htm |title="Bananaman" – Classic Nick Online |publisher=Johnnorrisbrown.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227163103/http://johnnorrisbrown.com/classic-nick/bananaman/index.htm |archive-date=27 December 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

In the Amnesty International show ''[[A Poke in the Eye (With a Sharp Stick)]]'', Oddie, Brooke-Taylor and Garden sang their hit song "Funky Gibbon". They also appeared on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' with the song. Together with Garden (who is a qualified medical doctor), Oddie co-wrote many episodes of the television comedy series ''[[Doctor in the House (TV series)|Doctor in the House]]'', including most of the first season and all of the second season. He has occasionally appeared on the BBC Radio 4 panel game ''[[I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue]]'', on which Garden is and Brooke-Taylor was a regular panellist. In 1982 Garden and Oddie wrote, but did not perform in, a six-part science-fiction sitcom called ''[[Astronauts (television)|Astronauts]]'' for [[Central Independent Television|Central]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. The show was set in an international [[space station]] in the near future.<ref>{{British Comedy Guide|sitcom|sitcoms/astronauts.shtml|Astronauts}}</ref>

===Natural history===
Oddie's first published work was an article about the birdlife of Birmingham's [[Bartley Reservoir]] in the [[West Midland Bird Club]]'s 1962 Annual Report.<ref name="Oddie-1963">{{Cite journal|last=Oddie|first=W.E.|date=July 1963|title=Birds in the Bartley Reservoir Area, 1931–1962 (Part I)|journal=The West Midland Bird Report, 1962|publisher=[[West Midland Bird Club]]|location=Birmingham|volume=29|url=http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/archive/bartley-62.htm|access-date=13 February 2010|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514235149/http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/archive/bartley-62.htm |archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> (He is first credited in the 1956 report, in which reports of his bird observations are tagged with his initials "WEO".<ref name="NWS">{{Cite episode |title=Bill Oddie – Bird Watcher |station = ITV Central | date=30 July 1985 |series=Nature Watch }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=July 1957|journal=The West Midland Bird Report, 1956|publisher=[[West Midland Bird Club]]| location=Birmingham|volume=23|url=http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/archive/reports1950s#R1956|access-date=4 January 2013 | title=Annual Report, 1950s|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602102919/http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/archive/reports1950s#R1956 |archive-date=2 June 2013}}</ref>) He has since written a number of books about birds and birdwatching as well as articles for many specialist publications including ''[[British Birds (magazine)|British Birds]]'', ''Birdwatching Magazine'' and ''[[Birdwatch (magazine)|Birdwatch]]''.

He discussed bird-song recordings with Derek Jones in an August 1973 [[BBC Radio 4]] programme called ''Sounds Natural''.<ref name="SN">''[[Radio Times]]'' entry for {{Cite episode | series= Sounds Natural | network = [[BBC Radio]]  | station = [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]] | date = 13 August 1973 }}</ref>

In the autumn of 1976, Oddie was involved in the successful identification of Britain's first-ever record of [[Pallas's reed bunting]] on [[Fair Isle]], Shetland.<ref name="pallas">{{cite book |title=First for Britain and Ireland 1600–1999 |first=Philip |last=Palmer |publisher=Arlequin Press |location=Chelmsford |year=2000 |isbn=1-900159-41-4 |page=263}}</ref>

One of Oddie's first forays into the world of television natural history was as a guest on ''[[Animal Magic (TV series)|Animal Magic]]'' in December 1977.<ref name="AM">''Radio Times'' entry for {{Cite episode | series = [[Animal Magic (TV series)|Animal Magic]] | network = [[BBC Television]]  | station = [[BBC One]] | date = 13 December 1977 }}</ref> Another early natural-history radio appearance was in October, as the guest on Radio 4's ''Through My Window'', discussing the birds of [[Hampstead Heath]].<ref name="TMW">''Radio Times'' entry for {{Cite episode | series = Through My Window | network = [[BBC Radio]]  | station = [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]] | date = 11 October 1978 }}</ref>

On 30 July 1985, he was the subject of a 50-minute ''Nature Watch Special: Bill Oddie&nbsp;– Bird Watcher'', in which he was interviewed by [[Julian Pettifer]]<ref name="Choice">{{Cite news|url=http://web6.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/359/357/47201865w16/purl=rc1_TTDA_0_CS486772990&dyn=21!nxt_4_0_CS486772990?sw_aep=bclib|title=Choice (Today's Television Programmes)|last=Lawson|first=Mark|date=30 July 1985|work=[[The Times]] |location=UK |page=29|access-date=12 November 2008}}</ref> at places where he had spent time birding, including Bartley Reservoir, the [[Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve]] at [[Upton Warren]], [[RSPB Titchwell Marsh]] and [[Blakeney Point]].<ref name="NWS" />

Oddie has since hosted a number of successful nature programmes for the BBC, many produced by [[Stephen Moss]], including:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1166900/credits.html |title=Bill Oddie: Film & TV Credits |publisher=screenonline.org.uk |access-date=12 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229001757/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1166900/credits.html |archive-date=29 December 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=35em}}
*''The Great Bird Race'' (1983; Channel 4)
*''The Great Kenyan Bird Safari'' (BBC)
*''Favourite Walks'': "A Bird Walk" (1985; BBC; filmed on [[Fair Isle]])
*''Worldwise'': "The Bird Business" (1985; Channel 4)
*''Oddie in Paradise'' (1985; BBC)
*''Wild Weekends'' (TV AM)
*''Flight to Eilat'' (Channel 4)
*''Bird in the Nest'' (two series, 1994 and 1995)
*''[[Birding with Bill Oddie]]'' (three series, 1997, 1998 and 2000)
*''[[Bill Oddie Goes Wild]]'' (three series, 2001, 2002 and 2003)
*''[[Wild in Your Garden]]'' (2003)
*''[[Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie|Britain Goes Wild]]'' (2004)
*''Bill Oddie in Tiger Country'' (2004)
*''[[Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife]]'' (two series, 2005 and 2006; also on DVD)
*''[[Seven Natural Wonders]]'' (London edition) (2005)
*''[[The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs]]'' (2005; also on DVD)
*''[[Springwatch]]'' (2005–2008)
*''[[Autumnwatch]]'' (2006–2008)
*''[[Bill Oddie Back in the USA]]'' (2007)
*''Bill Oddie's Top Ten Birds'' (2007; BBC Four)
*''100 Years of Wildlife'' (2007)
*''[[Bill Oddie's Wild Side]]'' (2008)
*''[[Bill Oddie's Top 10]]'' (2008)
{{div col end}}

The first broadcast, in 2004, of ''Britain Goes Wild'' set a record for its timeslot of 8&nbsp;pm on [[BBC Two]] of 3.4&nbsp;million viewers, one million more than the [[Channel 4]] programme showing at that time. ''Britain Goes Wild'', renamed ''Springwatch'' the following year, became a wildlife broadcasting phenomenon, attracting over 4&nbsp;million viewers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brook |first1=Stephen |title=Springwatch bows out with 4m |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jun/17/overnights |access-date=28 October 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=17 June 2005 |language=en}}</ref>

He became president of the [[West Midland Bird Club]] in 1999,<ref name="WMBC-chrono">{{cite web|url=http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/club/chrono#C1990s|title=West Midland Bird Club: Chronology|publisher=West Midland Bird Club|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420121931/http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/club/chrono#C1990s |archive-date=20 April 2010}}</ref> having been vice-president since 1991,<ref name="WMBC-chrono" /> and is a former member of the council of the [[RSPB]]. Oddie is also a President of the [[League Against Cruel Sports]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.league.org.uk/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=League Against Cruel Sports |access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref> and a vice-president of the [[BTCV|British Trust for Conservation Volunteers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/whoweare#ppvp |title=BTCV – Who we are |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418164423/http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/whoweare#ppvp |archive-date=18 April 2010 }}</ref> He practised as a [[Bird ringing|bird ringer]] but allowed his licence to lapse.<ref name="NWS" />

In 2003, Oddie set up a [[marathon|half-marathon]] to raise money for various wildlife charities in his birth town of [[Rochdale]].<ref name="towntalk">{{cite web|url=http://www.rochdale.towntalk.co.uk/local/famous-people/d/600/bill-oddie/ |title=Bill Oddie of Rochdale |publisher=TownTalk |access-date=17 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501135043/http://www.rochdale.towntalk.co.uk/local/famous-people/d/600/bill-oddie/ |archive-date=1 May 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

In 2011, Oddie featured as an investigator in ''Snares Uncovered: killers in the countryside''.<ref name="onekind">{{cite web|url=http://www.onekind.org/take_action/campaigns/snare_free/snares_uncovered/ |title=Snares Uncovered |work=onekind.org |access-date=15 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116050652/http://www.onekind.org/take_action/campaigns/snare_free/snares_uncovered |archive-date=16 January 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The film was an exposé of snaring in Scotland and was commissioned by the animal protection charity [[OneKind]].

===Music===
Oddie wrote original music at [[The University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] for the [[Footlights]] and later wrote comic songs for ''[[I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again]]''. He also wrote a number of comic songs for [[The Goodies]], most of which he also performed.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Oddie released a number of singles and at least one album. One of the former, issued in 1970 on [[John Peel]]'s [[Dandelion Records]] label (Catalogue No: 4786), was "[[On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=222302|title=Bill Oddie On Ilkla Moor Baht'at UK Promo 7" vinyl single (7-inch record) (222302)|website=Eil.com|access-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607102921/https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=222302|archive-date=7 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> performed in the style of [[Joe Cocker]]'s "[[With a Little Help from My Friends]]". The B-side, "Harry Krishna", featured the [[Hare Krishna (mantra)|Hare Krishna]] chant, substituting the names of contemporary famous people called Harry, including [[Harry Secombe]], [[Harry Worth (actor, born 1917)|Harry Worth]], [[Harry Lauder]] and [[Harry Corbett]], as well as [[pun]]s such as "Harry [Hurry] along now" and "Harrystotle [Aristotle]" and ending with "Harry-ly [I really] must go now". Both tracks appear on the compilation CD ''Life Too, Has Surface Noise: The Complete Dandelion Records Singles Collection 1969–1972'' (2007). In 1966 he was credited as the vocalist with [[Spencer's Washboard Kings]] on "[[Five Feet Two]]" (Rayrick LCR1001a). The vocalist on the B-side of this 45rpm single, "[[If You Knew Susie]]", was Jean Hart, Oddie's future wife.<ref>Rayrick LCR1001a/b</ref>

He played the drums and saxophone and appeared as Cousin Kevin in a production of [[The Who]]'s rock opera ''[[Tommy (London Symphony Orchestra album)|Tommy]]'' by [[London Symphonic Orchestra]] and [[English Chamber Choir]] at the [[Rainbow Theatre]], [[Finsbury Park (district)|Finsbury Park]], London, on 13 and 14 December 1973. He has also contributed vocals to a [[Rick Wakeman]] album, ''[[Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record|Criminal Record]]''.

He recorded a single, "Superspike", with [[John Cleese]] and a group of UK athletes, billed the "Superspike Squad", to fund the latter's attendance at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] in Montreal. He co-produced the record with Stephen Shane.<ref>Bradley's BRAD 7606, released 20 February 1976. A side: Superspike (Part 1), B side: Superspike (Part 2). {{YouTube|5z5h2mDNNwg|Superspike}}</ref>

In 1986 Oddie took part in the [[English National Opera]] production of the [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] [[comic opera]] ''[[The Mikado]]'', in which he appeared in the role of the Lord High Executioner, taking over the role from [[Eric Idle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theartsdesk.com/opera/200-miller-mikados-eno |title=200 Miller Mikados at ENO |first=David |last=Nice |date=6 December 2015 |website=theartsdesk.com |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref> During the early 1990s Oddie was a DJ for London-based [[jazz]] radio station [[102.2 Jazz FM]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Goddard |first=Grant |title=Jazz Radio Listings |journal=News: Jazz Radio Listings: July & August 1992}}</ref>

In 2007, Oddie appeared on the BBC series ''[[Play It Again (TV series)|Play It Again]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/playitagain/programmes/series1/billoddie |title=Play It Again: Bill Oddie grapples with the electric guitar |publisher=BBC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505175939/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/playitagain/programmes/series1/billoddie/ |archive-date=5 May 2007 |access-date=17 January 2010 }}</ref> In the episode he attempts to realise his dream of becoming a [[rock guitarist]]. Initially teacher [[Bridget Mermikides]] tries to teach him using traditional methods but he rebels: instead he turns to old friends [[Albert Lee]], [[Dave Davies]] (of [[The Kinks]]) and [[Mark Knopfler]] for advice and strikes out on his own. He succeeds in the target of playing lead guitar for his daughter Rosie's band at her 21st birthday party and even manages to impress his erstwhile teacher.

In November 2010, he agreed, along with fellow members of [[The Goodies]], to rerelease their 1970s hit "The Funky Gibbon" to raise funds for the [[International Primate Protection League]]'s Save the Gibbon appeal.

===Other television and voice work===
Oddie appeared as the hapless window cleaner in the [[Eric Sykes]]' comedy story ''[[The Plank (1967 film)|The Plank]]'' in 1967. He also presented the live children's Saturday morning entertainment show ''[[Saturday Banana]]'' ([[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]/[[Southern Television]]) during the late 1970s. In the late 1980s he was a presenter of the BBC TV show ''[[Fax (TV show)|Fax]]'' (a show about 'facts').

In 1981, he appeared as a [[Telethon#New Zealand|Telethon]] celebrity in New Zealand, hosted by [[TV One (New Zealand)|TV1]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/profiles/637257/An-Oddie-but-a-Goodie|title=An Oddie, but a Goodie|date=20 September 2008|newspaper=Sunday Star Times|access-date=5 February 2014}}</ref> He voices [[Asterix]] in the UK dub of the 1989 animated film ''[[Asterix and the Big Fight (film)|Asterix and the Big Fight]]'' (an animated adaptation of the books ''[[Asterix and the Big Fight]]'' and ''[[Asterix and the Soothsayer]]'', novelized as ''Operation Getafix'').

In 1992, he was a guest star in the US comedy television series ''[[Married... with Children]]'' for a three-part episode set in England.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/m/marriedwithchild_1299002005.shtml "Married...With Children."] – BBC Guide to Comedy (Retrieved on: 30 July 2007)</ref>

He voiced the chimney sweep in the 1996 film ''[[The Wind in the Willows (1995 film)#Sequel|The Willows in Winter]]''.

In 1997 and 1998, he appeared on the [[Channel 4]] archaeological programme ''[[Time Team]]'', as the team excavated a Roman villa site in [[Turkdean]], Gloucestershire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/turkdean-gloucestershire/umc.cmc.12mqd7x3iodudw0th6aenmak7?showId=umc.cmc.d1upu07vlpgn1c9oo7z1peft|title=Turkdean, Gloucestershire – Classic Time Team (Season 5, Episode 4)|date=24 January 1998|website=Tv.apple|access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref>

He was the compère of a daytime BBC gameshow ''[[History Hunt]]'' (in 2003); and has appeared in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' audio drama ''[[Doctor Who and the Pirates]]''. In 2004, he appeared on the first ever episode of the BBC series ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', in which he looked into his ancestry: he was visibly moved by its revelations. In 2005, he took part in ''[[Rolf on Art]] – the big event at Trafalgar Square'' and in September that year was also a celebrity guest along with [[Lynda Bellingham]] on the [[ITV1]] programme ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire]]''. He also gave opinions on 100 greatest cartoons on Channel 4 that year, talking about ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'' and cartoon incidents such as the "Asses of Fire skit" in ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448977/fullcredits|title=100 Greatest Cartoons (2005)|publisher=IMDb}}</ref>

In 2006, Oddie appeared in the BBC show ''[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article2636212.ece |title=Bill Oddie: The twitcher |newspaper=The Independent |date=19 March 2014 |first=Ed |last=Caesar |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702010828/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article2636212.ece |archive-date=2 July 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and also appeared on the topical quiz show ''[[8 out of 10 Cats]]''. He was also the voice behind many [[B&Q]] adverts throughout 2006/2007. On 25 May 2007, Oddie made a [[cameo appearance]] on [[Ronni Ancona]]'s new comedy [[sketch show]], ''[[Ronni Ancona & Co]]''.

Also in 2007, three artists each painted a portrait of Oddie, as part of the BBC programme ''[[Star Portraits with Rolf Harris]]''. One of the artists, [[Mark Roscoe]], later revealed a dislike of Oddie, claiming to have included hidden insults in his work.<ref name="Merrill">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/the-art-of-revenge-how-obscure-messages-reveal-painters-true-feelings-at-a-stroke-10092019.html|title=The art of revenge: How obscure messages reveal painters' true feelings at a stroke|last=Merrill|first=Jamie|date=6 March 2015|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref>

He hosted the [[genealogy]]-based series ''[[My Famous Family]]'', broadcast on [[UKTV History]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Television, memory, and nostalgia|last=Holdsworth|first=Amy|date=2011|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|others=Palgrave Connect (Online service)|isbn=9781349319237|location=Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire|oclc=759166279}}</ref> In 2008, Oddie was a guest on [[Jamie Oliver]]'s television special ''Jamie's Fowl Dinners'', talking about free-range chickens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/tv-season/jamies-fowl-dinners/id624455344|title=Jamie's Fowl Dinners on iTunes|date=11 January 2008 |publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=6 November 2017}}</ref>

He also appeared on ''[[Would I Lie to You? (British game show)|Would I Lie To You?]]'' in 2011, where he revealed that he was saved from drowning by [[Freddy Marks|Freddy]] from popular children's series ''[[Rainbow (TV series)|Rainbow]]'' and ''[[Rod, Jane and Freddy]]'' while on holiday in the [[Seychelles]].

[[File:Bill Oddie Live (Perth June 27 2013).jpg|thumb|Oddie performing at the Astor Theatre in [[Perth, Western Australia]], 2013]]
In February 2015, Oddie appeared in ''[[The Keith Lemon Sketch Show]]'' as the narrator of the sketch ''[[Ed Sheeran]] Watch''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/keith_lemon_sketch_show/episodes/1/2/|title=The Keith Lemon Sketch Show Series 1, Episode 2|website=British Comedy Guide|access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref>

He appeared as a contestant on a celebrity edition of ''[[Fifteen to One]]'' in August 2015<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efd9db7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504180552/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efd9db7 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 May 2019 |title=Bill Oddie |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> and the following month he appeared on ''[[Through the Keyhole]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/through_the_keyhole/episodes/3/3/ |title=Through The Keyhole |publisher=British Comedy Guide |access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>

He has appeared three times on the programme ''[[Pointless|Pointless Celebrities]]'', the most recent appearance being in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05twkyd |title=Pointless Celebrities: Outdoors |publisher=BBC |access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>

In 2017, he appeared in three episodes of ''[[The Real Marigold Hotel]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bill-oddie-real-marigold-hotel-12600470 |title=Drinking poison 'nearly killed' Bill Oddie as he filmed the Real Marigold Hotel |date=15 February 2017 |first=James |last=Rodger |publisher=Birmingham Live |access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>

In 2018, he featured on the programme ''The Two Ronnies: In Their Own Words''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/two_ronnies_in_their_own_words/cast_crew/ |title=The Two Ronnies: In Their Own Words |work=British Comedy Guide |access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> In 2019, he appeared on the show ''[[The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_inbetweeners_fwends_reunited/cast_crew/|title=The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited Cast and Crew Credits|website=British Comedy Guide|access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref>

In 2020, Oddie appeared in the documentary ''Celebrity Britain by Barge: Then & Now''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.channel5.com/show/britain-by-barge-then-now |title=Celebrity Britain by Barge: Then & Now |website=Channel5.com|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>

===2013 Australian tour===
Oddie undertook an Australian tour during June 2013 in all of the mainland states capital cities – [[Brisbane]], [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], [[Adelaide]] and [[Perth]] – in a series of one-off shows, ''An Oldie but a Goodie''. A video message from Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden was shown during the performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billoddietour.com.au/shows.html |title=An Oldie but a Goodie |publisher=Billoddietour.com.au |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611071254/http://www.billoddietour.com.au/shows.html |archive-date=11 June 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Oddie made personal appearances on both ''[[The Project (Australian TV program)|The Project]]'' and ''[[Adam Hills Tonight]]'' TV shows during the tour; he also filmed a guest-programming spot for the ABC-TV's all-night music video show ''[[Rage (TV program)|Rage]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rage/archive/s3805188.htm |title=Guests & Specials: Bill Oddie from the Goodies |publisher=ABC |date=20 July 2013 |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828163004/http://www.abc.net.au/rage/archive/s3805188.htm |archive-date=28 August 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Family===
In 1966, Oddie married Jeanne Hart,<ref>Hampstead marriage register 1967 Oct–-Dec vol. 5b p1372</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/27/bill-oddie-my-family-values |title=Bill Oddie: My family values |first=Angela |last=Wintle |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 March 2015 |access-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710063947/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/27/bill-oddie-my-family-values |archive-date=10 July 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and from this marriage he has two daughters, one of whom is the actress [[Kate Hardie]].<ref name="Bill Oddie: My family values">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=27 March 2015|title=Bill Oddie: My family values|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/27/bill-oddie-my-family-values|access-date=5 February 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The couple later divorced.

In 1983, Oddie married Laura Beaumont-Giles.<ref name="Bill Oddie: My family values"/> The couple have worked on a variety of projects for children, including film scripts, drama and comedy series, puppet shows and books. They have a daughter, Rosie, born in October 1985,<ref name="Bill Oddie: My family values"/> and live in [[Hampstead]], North London. Rosie Oddie is a musician, also using the name [[Rosie Bones]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bands in Transit |url=http://bandsintransit.com/artists/view/57/BIGkids |access-date=18 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820073310/http://bandsintransit.com/artists/view/57/BIGkids |archive-date=20 August 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Mental health===
Oddie had experienced [[Dysthymia|depression]] for most of his life before being diagnosed with [[Major depressive disorder|clinical depression]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1885499,00.html |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=26 April 2010 |title=I couldn't move. I was catatonic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827131105/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0%2C%2C1885499%2C00.html |archive-date=27 August 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In March 2009 he was reportedly admitted to Capio Nightingale [[psychiatric hospital]] in [[Marylebone]] for treatment. His then agent, David Foster, said: "Bill gets these bouts every two or three years where he gets down for about two weeks and recovers. He sometimes goes into hospital or takes a break or has a change of scenery to recharge his batteries."<ref>{{Cite news|work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4973166/TV-presenter-Bill-Oddie-admitted-to-hospital-with-clinical-depression.html |title=TV presenter Bill Oddie admitted to hospital with clinical depression |date=11 March 2009 |location=London |first=Oliver |last=Gregory |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314042117/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4973166/TV-presenter-Bill-Oddie-admitted-to-hospital-with-clinical-depression.html |archive-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In January 2010 Oddie spoke to the media, revealing that he had two separate stays in different hospitals, only being discharged "in time for Christmas". He said that he was dealing with depression and [[bipolar disorder]], describing the period as "probably the worst 12 months of my life". Oddie stated that he was planning to meet BBC executives to discuss his return to television work.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8448164.stm |title=Bill Oddie speaks about his depression battle |work=BBC News |date=8 January 2010 |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114062357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8448164.stm |archive-date=14 January 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

His illness meant that Oddie did not appear in the 2009 and 2010 series of ''Springwatch'', although he made a guest appearance in the penultimate episode of the latter. He subsequently said he was [[Dismissal (employment)|dismissed]] from ''Springwatch'' and that this had caused the depressive illness.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/bill-oddie-reveals-his-depression-after-springwatch-departure-w7w33lf8zph|title=Bill Oddie reveals his depression after Springwatch departure|first=James|last=Jackson|access-date=16 December 2022|website=[[The Times]]}}</ref>

Oddie presented the [[BBC Radio 4]] Appeal programme on 10 August 2014 on behalf of the charity Bipolar UK. He revealed that as a consequence of his bipolar disorder he had attempted suicide during one of his depressive episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04d0x5m |title=Radio 4 Appeal |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=10 August 2014 |access-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813004142/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04d0x5m |archive-date=13 August 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> On the UK TV programme ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'' he attributed his depression and bipolar disorder as an adult to his minimal and painful relationship with his mother.<ref name="WDYTYA">{{Cite episode |title=Bill Oddie  |series=Who Do You Think You Are? |series-link=Who Do You Think You Are? (UK TV series) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074skd |access-date= 27 December 2007 |network=[[BBC Television]] |date=27 December 2007 |series-no=1 |number=10 }}</ref>

===Political views===
Oddie supports the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Oddie |first1=Bill |title=Green Party now ahead of Lib Dems. Now all we have to do is overtake UKIP, Labour and the other lot. This is a party political tweet |url=https://twitter.com/BillOddie/status/524630988505509888 |access-date=26 October 2014 |publisher=Twitter |date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028153235/https://twitter.com/BillOddie/status/524630988505509888 |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=April 2020}} In October 2014, on the BBC's ''[[Sunday Morning Live (BBC)|Sunday Morning Live]]'', he stated that he wanted a limit on the number of children that British families can have, saying that he was "very often ashamed" to be British, calling them "a terrible race".<ref>{{cite news|last=Alexander |first=Ella |title=Bill Oddie suggests that large British families should be 'contained' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/bill-oddie-suggests-that-large-british-families-should-be-contained-9804704.html |access-date=26 October 2014 |work=The Independent |date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024162227/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/bill-oddie-suggests-that-large-british-families-should-be-contained-9804704.html |archive-date=24 October 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fifield |first=Nicola |title=Bill Oddie says large British families need to be 'contained' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11172446/Bill-Oddie-says-large-British-families-need-to-be-contained.html |access-date=26 October 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020233936/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11172446/Bill-Oddie-says-large-British-families-need-to-be-contained.html |archive-date=20 October 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

==Honours==
In 2002, Oddie became the third person to decline to appear on ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' but changed his mind a few hours later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TS2-gHNJz6s|title=Bill Oddie – This is Your Life (2002) With Tim Brooke Taylor, Graeme Garden.|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2001/12/06/1451/this_is_your_life_snub|title=This Is Your Life snub : News 2001 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|first=Steve|last=Bennett|website=Chortle.co.uk|access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref> On 16 October 2003 Oddie was made an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] for his service to wildlife conservation in a ceremony at [[Buckingham Palace]]. He wore a camouflage shirt and crumpled jacket to receive his medal. In June 2004 Oddie and [[Johnny Morris (television presenter)|Johnny Morris]] were jointly profiled in the first of a three-part [[BBC Two]] series ''[[The Way We Went Wild]]'', about television wildlife presenters. In May 2005 he received the [[British Naturalists' Association]]'s [[British Naturalists' Association#Peter Scott Memorial Award|Peter Scott Memorial Award]], from BNA president [[David Bellamy]], "in recognition of his great contribution to our understanding of natural history and conservation."<ref name="peterscottaward">{{cite news|url=http://prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=144823 |title=Bill Oddie to receive Peter Scott Memorial Award |publisher=PR Newswire Europe Ltd. |date=26 April 2005 |access-date=15 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428004149/http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=144823 |archive-date=28 April 2006 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name="bna">{{cite web|url=http://www.bna-naturalists.org/peter.htm#psm |title=The Peter Scott Memorial Award |publisher=British Naturalists' Association |access-date=15 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501211901/http://www.bna-naturalists.org/peter.htm |archive-date=1 May 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> He is a recipient of the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds#RSPB Medal|RSPB Medal]].<ref name="Birdwatch-medal">{{cite web|url=http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?c=11&cate=__7806 |title=Independent journalist wins RSPB medal |publisher=Birdwatch |access-date=10 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402195200/http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?c=11&cate=__7806 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

On 30 June 2009, he was proposed for inclusion in the [[Birmingham Walk of Stars]], with the public invited to vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkofstars.net/?cat=1 |title=Vote for Stars |date=30 June 2009 |access-date=25 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502175609/http://www.walkofstars.net/?cat=1 |archive-date=2 May 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

==Bibliography==
(incomplete list)
*''Bill Oddie Unplucked: Columns, Blogs and Musings'' {{ISBN|978-1-4729-1531-3}} (Bloomsbury, 2015)
*''Bill Oddie's Introduction to Birdwatching'' (Subbuteo Books, 2002)
*''Bill Oddie's Colouring Guide to Birds'' (Piccolo, 1991)
*''Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book''
*''Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book'' (paperback with additional material)
*''Bill Oddie's Gone Birding''
*''The Big Bird Race'' (with [[David Tomlinson (journalist)|David Tomlinson]]; Collins, 1983)
*''Follow That Bird!''
*''[[Gripping Yarns]]'' (Christopher Helm, 2000)
*''Bird in the Nest''
*''Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife''
*''One Flew into the Cuckoos Egg'' (Autobiography)
Bill Oddie also co-wrote the Springwatch & Autumnwatch book with [[Kate Humble]] and [[Simon King (television)|Simon King]].

Co-written with the other members of [[The Goodies]]:
*''[[The Goodies File]]''
*''The Goodies Book of Criminal Records''
*''The Goodies Disaster Movie''

Co-written with Laura Beaumont:
*''The Toilet Book (or 11 & ½ minutes a day and how not to waste them)'' ([[Methuen Publishing|Methuen]], 1984, {{ISBN|978-0-413-56910-3}})

===Contributions===
*''Confessions of a Scilly Birdman'', David Hunt; [[Croom Helm]], 1985. {{ISBN|0-7099-3724-5}} (foreword and postscript)
*''Birds in the Yorkshire Museum'', Michael Denton; [[North Yorkshire County Council]], 1995. {{ISBN|0-905807-10-3}} (foreword)
*''Bird Brain of Britain'', Charles Gallimore & [[Tim Appleton]]; [[Christopher Helm Publishers|Christopher Helm]], 2004. {{ISBN|0-7136-7036-3}} (foreword)
*''Blokes and Birds'', Stephen Moss; [[New Holland Publishers]]. {{ISBN|1-84330-484-8}} (foreword)
*''The New Birds of the West Midlands'', Graham and Janet Harrison ([[West Midland Bird Club]], 2005) {{ISBN|0-9507881-2-0}} (foreword<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/biblio/NBotWM.htm |title=The New Birds of the West Midlands |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123234058/http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/bibliography/NBotWM |archive-date=23 January 2009 |url-status=unfit |access-date=8 June 2005 }}</ref>)

==Discography==
{{see also|The Goodies discography|ISIRTA songs}}

===Albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Label
! Cat No.
|-
| 1967
| ''Distinctly Oddie''
| Polydor
| 582 007
|}

===Singles===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! A-side
! B-side
! Label
! Cat. No.
|-
| 1964
| Nothing Better To Do
| Traffic Island
| rowspan="3"| Parlophone
| R 5153
|-
| 1965
| The Knitting Song
| Ain't Got Rhythm
| R 5346
|-
| 1966
| I Can't Get Through
| Because She Is My Love
| R 5433
|-
| 1969
| Jimmy Young
| Irish Get Out
| Decca
| F 12903
|-
| 1970
| On Ilkla Moor Baht'at
| Harry Krishna
| Dandelion <br/> Epic
| 4786 <br/> S EPC 3793|-
|-
| 1976
| Superspike (Part 1)
| Superspike (Part 2)
| Bradley's
| BRAD 7606
|}

==In popular culture==
In the fictional world of comedy character [[Alan Partridge]], Oddie is an unseen presence in Alan's life, buying him dressing gowns for Christmas and being part of a radicalised [[RSPB]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Coogan|first=Steve|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y4eFAAAAIAAJ&q=bill+oddie+and+Alan+Partridge|title=Alan Partridge: Every Ruddy Word : All the Scripts – from Radio to TV and Back|date=2003|publisher=Michael Joseph|isbn=978-0-7181-4678-8|pages=412|language=en}}</ref> He has also been referenced, often humorously, by the hosts of ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew |last=Laughlin |date=15 December 2011 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a356182/bill-oddie-slams-bbcs-handling-of-jeremy-clarkson-controversy/ |title=Bill Oddie slams BBC's handling of Jeremy Clarkson controversy |website=Digital Spy}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{Cite book | last = Wilmut | first = Roger | year = 1980 | title = From Fringe to Flying Circus&nbsp;— Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960–1980 | publisher=Eyre Methuen | location = London | isbn = 0-413-46950-6}}
*{{Cite book | last = Hewison | first = Robert | author-link = Robert Hewison | year = 1983 | title = Footlights!&nbsp;— A Hundred Years of Cambridge Comedy | publisher=Methuen | location = London | isbn = 0-413-51150-2}}

==External links==
{{External links|date=December 2022}}
*{{Official website|http://www.billoddie.com}}
*{{IMDb name|0643919}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{Screenonline name|1166900}}
*{{British Comedy Guide|people|bill_oddie}}
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/wdytya_s1_celeb_gallery_01.shtml Bill Oddie's family history at the BBC website for the programme ''Who Do You Think You Are?'']
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/programmes/tv/bill_oddie Bill Oddie Goes Wild] – on BBC's Science and Nature website
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050501051049/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/04/28/ftoddie28.xml In-depth interview, ''The Telegraph'', 28 April 2005]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050830023048/http://gigrin.co.uk/bill-oddie.html Gigrin Farm chapter from ''Gripping Yarns'']
*[http://www.uktv.co.uk/?uktv=standarditem.index&aID=528034 Oddie on UKTV]

{{The Goodies}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

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