Bill Oddie, the British comedian, television presenter and conservationist who moved from surreal comedy to become one of the country’s best-known wildlife broadcasters, has died aged 85.
His death was announced on Monday, July 27, 2026, by his agent and longtime friend, David Foster, who said Oddie died on Saturday, July 25.
Oddie first became a household name in the 1970s as a member of the comedy trio The Goodies, alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden.
The BBC series established the trio as major figures in British comedy, but Oddie later found a second calling in natural history broadcasting.
Through programmes including Birding With Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie Goes Wild, Springwatch and Autumnwatch, he became a familiar and influential voice in British wildlife television.
His work helped bring birdwatching and conservation to a mass audience, while his campaigning and advocacy encouraged greater public interest in protecting the natural environment.
In his tribute, Foster described Oddie as a broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist whose greatest contribution lay in his ability to inspire people to appreciate and protect the natural world.
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Foster also paid tribute to Oddie’s intelligence and wit, describing him as a friend whose contribution to conservation would endure.
Oddie was open about his struggles with mental health. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2009 after suffering severe depression and later revealed that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
In 2020, he disclosed that he had experienced a serious health crisis caused by lithium toxicity, describing the condition as almost fatal.
His death comes nearly two decades after that of Australian wildlife broadcaster and conservationist Steve Irwin, who died on September 4, 2006, aged 44, after a stingray barb pierced his chest while he was filming off Queensland.
Although their styles and careers were different, both Oddie and Irwin used television to bring wildlife closer to mass audiences and promote greater public interest in the natural world.
Oddie is survived by his wife, Laura, and daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie.
The family has requested privacy and asked that they not be contacted following his death.