Television presenter and comedian Bill Oddie has died aged 85.
The conservationist, who appeared on several BBC shows including Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Birding with Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild, found fame as a member of the comedy trio, The Goodies, alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden.
Bill's agent, David Foster, paid tribute to Britain's "best-loved birder," in a statement announcing his death.
© TV Times/Future Publishing via G"It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder," he said.
"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 taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it," continued David.
© Getty Images"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.
"As Bill’s agent I witnessed close hand his intelligence and wit. He was my friend and it was an honour and a privilege to represent him for so many years. I will miss him terribly."
He concluded: "My thoughts and love are with Bill's wife, Laura, and his daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie, who have asked not to be contacted at this sad time. Please respect their wishes."
As tributes pour in, keep reading to find out more about Bill's family life.
Meet Bill's family
Bill married Laura Beaumont in 1983.
Bill first met Laura, a writer for children's television, when he was 35 at a TV Times Christmas party.
Laura has been a pillar of support for Bill throughout his mental health challenges.
© Getty Images"She has been a terrific support during my dark times and I'm immensely sad that large chunks of her life have been taken over by my bipolar illness," he told The Guardian in 2015. "When I was dropped from Springwatch and Autumnwatch in 2008, I sank into deep depression and attempted suicide twice. There must have been times when she wondered what she had done to deserve it. Self-help books tend to focus on the patient, but it's often the partner who has the toughest time. I'm so grateful she stuck by me."
The couple lived in lower Hampstead, close to Hampstead Heath. In 2017, Bill said of his home's proximity to the iconic North London green space: "I've got a great area of greenery I can be on in five seconds.
© Getty Images"It's a great escape area for me, because, like music and sport, wildlife has been one of the three ingredients which, frankly, have kept me going all my life in many ways," he told The Telegraph.
Before his relationship with Laura, Bill was married to jazz musician, Jean Hart. Bill, who described his first marriage as "full of love and adventure," said he and Jean's lives were "still very much connected".
"Jean also gets on brilliantly with Laura, my second wife," he said.
Bill's three daughters
Bill welcomed his daughter, Rosie, during his marriage to Laura.
Rosie is a musician. She gave up art college to focus on her music career, and released her first single with her band, Rosie Oddie and the Odd Squad, in 2007. She also uses the name Rosie Bones.
© Getty ImagesDuring his marriage to Jean, Bill welcomed two daughters: Kate, an actor, and Bonnie, a choreographer and dance teacher.
Kate has appeared in various TV series, including Casualty and Criminal Justice. After studying screen writing at the National Film and Television School, she wrote two plays in Channel 4's Coming Up series, Imprints and Little Bill Um. In 2011, she wrote and directed the short film, Shoot Me, starring Claire Skinner and Paul Andrew Williams.
Bill's life and career
Born in Rochdale, Lancashire and raised in Birmingham, Bill went on to study at the University of Cambridge. During his studies, he met Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, with whom he would form the comedy group The Goodies.
The trio starred in the TV show, The Goodies, for a decade between 1970 and 1980. The show was revived by ITV for a Christmas special in 1981 and a six-part series in 1982.
Alongside creating music with The Goodies, Bill also performed in the English National Opera production of The Mikado in the late 1980s.
© Getty ImagesBill appeared in a number of wildlife series for the BBC, and released several books about conservation and birdwatching.
Bill was diagnosed with clinical depression in 2001. He also had bipolar disorder.
In 2017, Bill said he thought the condition led to his leaving Springwatch. "A producer said: 'People are scared of you. You're abrasive,'" he told the Daily Mail.
"If I knew then what I know now, I’d have accepted that I was going through a manic phase."
