Bill Oddie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Oddie OBE
Oddie in 2007
Born	(1941-07-07) 7 July 1941 (age 83) Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Occupation	Actor artist comedian conservationist musician ornithologist songwriter television presenter writer
Years active	1963–present
Political party	Green
Spouse(s)	Jeanne M Hart ​ ​ (m. 1966, divorced)​ Laura Beaumont ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	3, including Kate Hardie

William Edgar Oddie (born 7 July 1941) is an English actor, artist, comedian, and musician. He is also a well-known conservationist and bird expert. He was part of the famous comedy group called The Goodies.

Bill Oddie has loved birds since he was a child. He has become very well known for his work helping wildlife and presenting nature shows on TV. He even illustrates some of his books with his own drawings and paintings. His popular wildlife TV shows for the BBC include Springwatch, Autumnwatch, How to Watch Wildlife, and Britain Goes Wild.

Early life and education

Bill Oddie was born on 7 July 1941 in Rochdale, England. When he was young, his family moved to Birmingham. He went to Lapal Primary School and Halesowen Grammar School. He also attended King Edward's School, Birmingham, where he was the captain of the school's rugby union team. After school, he studied English at Pembroke College, Cambridge University.

Career highlights

Comedy and acting

While at Cambridge University, Bill Oddie performed in many shows with the Footlights Club. One of these shows, called A Clump of Plinths, was so popular that it went to London's West End and even to Broadway in New York!

Bill Oddie was a key performer in the BBC radio show I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again. He wrote many funny songs for the show. He was also one of the first people to make a funny version of a rock song.

On TV, Bill Oddie helped write and perform in comedy shows like Twice a Fortnight and Broaden Your Mind.

The most famous show he co-wrote and starred in was The Goodies (1970–1982). He worked with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden. The Goodies also released hit songs like "The Funky Gibbon". In 2005, they even went on a successful tour in Australia.

Bill Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor, and Graeme Garden also lent their voices to characters in the 1983 animated children's show Bananaman. Bill Oddie has also appeared in other TV shows like The Plank and Married... with Children. He was also the voice of Asterix in the 1989 animated film Asterix and the Big Fight.

Natural history and conservation

Bill Oddie's first published writing was about birds at Bartley Reservoir in Birmingham in 1962. Since then, he has written many books and articles about birds and birdwatching.

He has hosted many popular nature shows for the BBC. These include:

• Birding with Bill Oddie (three series)
• Bill Oddie Goes Wild (three series)
• Wild in Your Garden
• Britain Goes Wild (which later became Springwatch)
• Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife (two series)
• Springwatch (2005–2008)
• Autumnwatch (2006–2008)

Britain Goes Wild, which was later renamed Springwatch, became a huge hit. It attracted millions of viewers who loved watching wildlife on TV.

Bill Oddie became the president of the West Midland Bird Club in 1999. He is also a former member of the council for the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). He is also a president of the League Against Cruel Sports and a vice-president of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

In 2003, Bill Oddie started a half-marathon race in his hometown of Rochdale. This race helped raise money for different wildlife charities.

Music career

Bill Oddie wrote original music for the Footlights Club at Cambridge University. He also wrote many funny songs for I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again and for The Goodies.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, he released several songs and an album called Distinctly Oddie. One of his songs, "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at", was a funny version of a traditional folk song.

He can play the drums and saxophone. He even played drums in a special performance of The Who's rock opera Tommy in 1973.

In 2007, Bill Oddie was on a BBC show called Play It Again. In this show, he tried to learn to play the electric guitar. He even got advice from famous guitarists like Dave Davies from The Kinks and Mark Knopfler. He achieved his goal of playing lead guitar for his daughter Rosie's band!

In 2010, Bill Oddie and the other members of The Goodies re-released their hit song "The Funky Gibbon". This was done to raise money for the International Primate Protection League's Save the Gibbon appeal.

Other TV appearances

Bill Oddie has appeared on many other TV shows. He presented the children's Saturday morning show Saturday Banana in the late 1970s. He was also a presenter for the BBC TV show Fax, which was about facts.

In 1997 and 1998, he appeared on the Channel 4 archaeology show Time Team. He was also the host of a BBC game show called History Hunt in 2003.

In 2004, he was on the first episode of the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are?. On this show, he explored his family history. He has also been a guest on quiz shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks, 8 out of 10 Cats, and Would I Lie to You?.

He has appeared three times on the show Pointless Celebrities. In 2017, he was in three episodes of The Real Marigold Hotel.

Australian tour

In June 2013, Bill Oddie went on a tour in Australia. He performed a series of shows called An Oldie but a Goodie in major cities like Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. During his shows, a video message from his Goodies friends, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, was played.

Personal life

Family

In 1966, Bill Oddie married Jeanne Hart. They had two daughters, including the actress Kate Hardie. They later divorced.

In 1983, Bill Oddie married Laura Beaumont-Giles. They have worked together on many projects for children, including books and TV shows. They have a daughter named Rosie, who was born in 1985. Rosie Oddie is also a musician.

Mental health

Bill Oddie has spoken openly about his experiences with depression. He has shared his story to help others understand mental health. He presented a BBC Radio 4 Appeal programme for the charity Bipolar UK, which supports people affected by bipolar disorder.

Political views

Bill Oddie supports the Green Party.

Awards and recognition

In 2003, Bill Oddie was given an OBE award for his important work in wildlife conservation. He received this honor at Buckingham Palace.

In 2005, he received the Peter Scott Memorial Award. This award recognized his great contributions to understanding nature and conservation. He has also received the RSPB Medal from the RSPB.

In 2009, he was nominated for the Birmingham Walk of Stars, where the public could vote for his inclusion.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Images for kids

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  Oddie performing in Perth, Australia, 2013