TV presenter and comedian Bill Oddie has died at the age of 85, the BBC reported on July 27.
Oddie found fame in the 1970s as part of the eccentric comedy trio The Goodies. He grew up in Birmingham, before attending Cambridge University, where he was a member of the illustrious Footlights comedy troupe.
He went on to write for satirical TV shows like That Was The Week That Was, I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, and Doctor in The House. He also worked with then up-and-comers like Monty Python's John Cleese, Michael Palin and Terry Jones.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, Oddie released a number of singles and an album. During his musical career, he appeared in a stage version of The Who's Tommy, recorded with Rick Wakeman, and released a song with John Cleese. The Goodies also had major chart hits, most notably with the 1975 track "The Funky Gibbon".
He then moved into the world of wildlife TV and conservationism, hosting numerous shows about nature and birdwatching. In 2003, Oddie was made an OBE for services to wildlife conservation.
In a statement, his agent David Foster said: "It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country's best-loved birder.
"Bill was a multi-talented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued. Instead, he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment."
"He led the way and people of all ages and backgrounds responded to his call. And such a massive contribution to conservation will never be forgotten," the statement continued. His agent also praised his friends' "intelligence and wit," before saying how much he would miss the late funnyman.
Paying tribute after his death, Bill Oddie's former Springwatch co-host Kate Humble told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "No-one could tell a story like Bill. No-one could make me laugh like Bill. No-one could enthuse anyone, whoever they were, to go outside and get excited about a robin.
Actor and birdwatcher Samuel West also paid tribute on social media, writing: "His captivated, always improvised narration made that show the platonic ideal of natural history for me, and introduced a whole generation to the fascination of birds."
Jo Rowland, chief executive of the charity, the RSPCA, said: "Nature has lost one of its best friends, fiercest champions and most iconic defenders. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the countless people he inspired to spend time birdwatching, to cherish nature, and to build a kinder world for animals."
Oddie is survived by his wife, Laura, and his three daughters, Rosie, from his marriage to Laura, and Kate and Bonnie from his first marriage to the jazz musician Jean Hart.
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