Bill Oddie.net

01.04.04	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Spectated A cartoon from this week's Spectator, featuring Bill.
31.03.04	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Britain to go Wild From the BBC Press Office: Britain Goes Wild With Bill Oddie Viewers are invited to join in a celebration of great British wildlife as, from a picture-postcard farm in Devon, Bill Oddie and Kate Humble introduce a host of unforgettable animal characters live on air. The intimate dramas of these creatures unfold throughout the series. Blue tits, robins, badgers, nuthatches, barn owls, flycatchers, and swallows are all residents to be observed in their rural habitat. Complementing Bill and Kate's cast of characters is an assortment of creatures introduced live by Simon King. Travelling the length of Britain, Simon reveals the wonderful world of British wildlife, from the mighty Bass rock in the Firth of Forth, down to a secret location in central London. and from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust: BBC TWO invites you to join in a celebration of Great British wildlife. From 31 May, Bill Oddie, Simon King, and Kate Humble will present three weeks of live broadcasts exploring the great number of wildlife spectacles to be found all over the UK. During the course of the twelve programmes, Simon will travel the length of Britain to reveal the wonderful world of British wildlife. His travels begin in Scotland where the mighty Bass rock in the Firth of Forth plays host to a gigantic city of seabirds. 55,000 gannets and a family of puffins provide the drama in this wild location. Further down the country Simon will report from Fountains Abbey where red deer are nursing their newborn. Viewers may be treated to the rare sight of a stoat � one of Britain's most secretive creatures. To complete the series Simon will present live from a secret location in central London. Animal diaries will chart the lives of otters in Scotland and great crested grebes in London, Bill and Simon will go in search of the animals that mean the most to them, and some of Britain's most dedicated wildlife enthusiasts will feature in this, the biggest ever natural history event to be televised.
04.02.04	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
No Goodies, still Ananova recently carried the news that Bill is "bewildered why the BBC refuses to screen repeats of The Goodies". Meagstar also ran the story, calling Bill a "twitchy twitcher". Hmph!
02.02.04	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Stamp out closures! Bill's local paper, the Hampsetad & Highgate Express, has an article about his participation in a march to save his local post office, on Saturday 31 January.
22.01.04	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Keep your Wigg on! OK, who didn't tell us that Bill opened Wigg Island Community Park, near Runcorn, on 19 April 2002? Tsk!
28.12.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
More repeats Bill presents Ultimate Wild Night, billed as 'An evening of the public's favourite BBC TV wildlife moments, introduced by Bill Oddie from the Eden Project, Cornwall and the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, Devon. Animals in clips include elephants, crocodiles, meerkats, dolphins, foxes, badgers, owls, tigers and kangaroos.' at 6pm on New Year's day.
28.12.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
The Joy of Bill Bill made a surprise Christmas TV appearance on Boxing Day, as one of the guest celebrities in BBC2's 'The Joy of Gardening'. We're not sure if he also appeared in the second part, the next day. If you saw it, please drop us a line!
20.12.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Iceland rescheduled We now hear that Bill Oddie Goes Wild in Iceland has been rescheduled for Sunday January 11 at 5.20pm, on BBC2.
15.12.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
'Goes Wild' gone The second of Bill's 'Goes Wild' Programmes, about Iceland, was postponed yesterday (Sunday), due to extended news about the capture of you-know-who. We'll let you know the rescheduled broadcast time as soon as we can.
15.12.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
History Hunting again History Hunt is on again this week, every day, at 10am on BBC1. Venues are (Mon - Fri in order): Portsmouth, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Jersey and Glasgow.
11.12.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Australian readers look away now... Scottish, Welsh, Irish and French readers, too! There has been a fair amount of media coverage of Bill's appearance as a commentator for the BBC's coverage of the triumphal procession marking England's victory in the Rugby World cup; much of it expressing surprise at his involvement. The Grauniad pointed out that Bill "built his schedule around the World Cup so as not to miss an England match". The far- from bitter (!) Glasgow Herald referred to "the witterings of such legends as Jeremy Guscott, Martin Peters, Sue Barker, Sir Steve Redgrave and, ahem, Bill Oddie." Bizarrely, the Times described Bill as a "loner".
08.12.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Bill to swing on Mastermind Bill will appear on the second of three special editions of Mastermind, to be screened on BBC2 at 8.30pm on New Year's Eve. His specialist subject will be American jazz. His competitors will be Germaine Greer (Australian rainforests), Charlie Higson from The Fast Show (James Bond) and Julia Somerville (Winnie the Pooh stories and poems).
26.11.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Toot, toot! The BBC reports that Bill, a "talented oboe player", has leant his support to a campaign to encourage children to take up that and other less- fashionable wind instruments. (Both links have pictures of Bill, though the latter fails to mention him!) Look out for related concerts and documentaries on Classic FM during April and May 2004.
24.11.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Bill in the Willows II Bill's piece speaking on behalf of "Wind in the Willows", as part of the BBC's 'Big Read' campaign, will be screened on BBC on Saturday November 29, as part of a programme running from 7.30-9pm. The BBC have a page with a streaming Real Audio trailer on their website, with a very familiar- sounding bookworm!
16.11.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
More TV series announced A half- page article in the new (December 2003 - soon be Christmas!) issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine tells us that Bill Oddie Goes Wild will be screened on 7, 14 and 21 December, at 5.30pm. Bill spends eight days in each of three easily- accessible tourist destinations: California, Iceland and South Africa's southern tip. A separate item reveals that there will be a follow-up to Wild in Your Garden, to be called Britain Goes Wild, probably in late May 2004 (Bill's involvement is implied, but not specifically promised); plus a two- parter in 2005, called How to Watch Wildlife, in the style of Alan Titchmarsh's How To Be A Gardener.
31.10.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
We've started, so we'll finish Bill is to appear in a celebrity edition of Mastermind, according to the BBC.
21.10.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Old Big 'Ed II Bill's wife and two daughters attended the OBE ceremony at Buck House according to the Rochdale Observer.
20.10.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Picture this Bill compered the recent BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, at the Natural History Museum in London. See this report - from a Tasmanian newspaper.
19.10.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Bill in the Willows Bill will be speaking on behalf of "Wind in the Willows", as part of the BBC's 'Big Read' campaign.
16.10.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Old Big 'Ed Bill was at Buckingham Palace, today, to collect his OBE from Lizzy Mountbatten. There was an an article in The Scotsman (16 Oct 2003) which is repeated on the ITV news site of 16 Oct 2003, with a picture of them both.
01.10.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Oh deer... On 21 September, the Mail on Sunday's colour supplement, "Night and Day", carried two large paparazzi- style pictures (a full page) of Bill, taken on "a North London street". Carrying a large, tasteless plastic deer, a rather full HMV carrier bag (so that's who's buying all the Goodies DVDs!) and no bins, he looked, we thought, a little unglamorous. Leastways, alongside their pictures of "supermodels" Elizabeth Jagger and Caprice, that is.
16.09.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
'Blokes and Birds' reviewed Stephen Moss' new book, 'Blokes and Birds', which has a foreword by Bill, pictures of him and anecdotes about him, has been reviewed on the West Midland Bird Club website by yours truly.
11.09.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Oddie backs bid The Western Morning News (11 Sept 2003) reports: TV broadcaster and naturalist Bill Oddie has thrown his weight behind a campaign to save Crownhill Down, near Plymouth, from clay quarrying and waste tipping. Oddie, who became patron of the 120-year-old Dartmoor Preservation Association in May, has emphasised the importance of protecting this landscape. "I am concerned about the possible loss of Crownhill Down, threatened by massive quarrying proposals. This is lowland heath of the type we are so desperately trying to save."
10.09.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Bill gives his name to a dictionary... ...sort of.
22.08.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Bill's rent must be due... Bill has rejoined Birdwatching magazine, according to their new (September 2003) issue. He's part of a new advisory "panel of experts". Which begs the question - how have they managed up until now?
15.08.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Scilly Walk and more 'Goes Wild' The new (September 2003) BBC Wildlife magazine has a free "Wild Walks" supplement, including a double page spread, with Bill describing a walk on Bryher, one of the Scilly Isles. A footnote says "A three- part Bill Oddie Goes Wild In... is out in December".
11.08.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Deadringered! Bill was recently sent up, on BBC's "sketch show with impressionists", Dead Ringers. Apparently, his walk and movements were spot-on, but the bins were wrong...
11.08.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Blokes and Birds Amazon list a forthcoming book, "Blokes and Birds", by Stephen Moss, with photographs by Robin Chittenden and a foreword by Bill. It's a 96 page hardcover, due to be published on 1 September 2003 by New Holland; ISBN 1843304848. The blurb says "This is a humorous and eccentric look at 40 British and Irish "birders" and their escapades in the pursuit of their "art". It explores the personalities and the passions hidden behind the twitching beards, binoculars and birding paraphernalia. The book presents madcap tales of: trips taken over 1000 miles to birds that had flown; a bird landing on a doctor's dining table along with the roast beef; intrepid birders' battles with hail, mud, fences, light-houses and foreign militia; and more." Amazon also say that "Customers who bought books by Bill Oddie also bought books by [...] Terry Pratchett [and] Alan Titchmarsh". The mind boggles!
11.08.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
British Birdwatching Fair Bill will be at the British Birdwatching Fair this coming weekend (15-17 August 2003). He's listed in the programme as giving talks on Friday afternoon and Saturday lunchtime, about the Delta of the River Po, on Italy's Adriatic coast; chairing a panel game on all three days; signing books on Saturday morning - and chairing a quiz, presenting a gold watch and being filmed on Saturday afternoon!
08.08.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Bill Cooks in Glasgow No, not a food programme, but a story from the Glasgow Evening Times, with a pic of Bill in another, er, interesting hat, noting that he is filming there, during a heatwave.
30.07.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Win Bill! Bird seed purveyors Haith's have a competiton to win a day on a Wildlife Trust reserve, with Bill as your guide. The prize includes lunch, travel expenses and overnight stay (if required). All entry forms must be received by 30 November 2003.
29.07.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Ouse a pretty boy, then? Bill has given his backing to a controversial, lighthouse- style bird observatory in West Norfolk, reports the Lynn News.
18.07.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Bill Judges The winners of Nottinghamshire's third annual "Green Guardians" awards were announced at a gala dinner at Nottingham's Council House on 10 July. Winners, picked by local judges and celebrity environmentalists, including, Bill, claimed a �1,000 prize, reports the Nottingham Evening Post.
18.07.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Was Bill manipulated? Just when you though the news we bring you couldn't get any more obscure.... Bill's chiropractor has been found guilty of "unacceptable conduct", according to the Luton News.
14.07.03	Posted by: Jon Hicks
The rubbish people sell... It never ceases to amaze me the crap that people try and sell on ebay. A couple of weeks ago, the May copy of the Radio Times with Bill on the cover was being sold at a starting price of �2.99, with a 'Buy it now' option of �4.99! Now, there is an RSPB window sticker (the type everyone gets when they join) for auction - "the type likely to be found on the window of Bill Oddie's hide"!!!! Keep a look out for that half eaten cheese and tomato sandwich "the type that Bill Oddie might have eaten" coming your way soon...
04.07.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Take part in �History Hunt� An advert in today's "Metro" ( A free newspaper distributed in Birmingham) says: TAKE PART IN BILL ODDIE'S HISTORY HUNT Love History? Good at detective work? Contact the BBC to take part in this exciting new show. Historyhunt@bbc.co.uk / History Hunt, Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS 2LR
30.06.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Oddie in Italy The July 2003 issue of Bird Watching magazine had an article about a birding trip to Italy, on which one of the travellers was Bill. There were some quotes, plus a pic of him in a daft hat. The trip featured on an Italian local TV news item (Bill being known there) - so there's a clip for you to try and track down!
16.06.03	Posted by: Jon Hicks
White and Wild website There is now a website promoting White and Wild Milk, reported on earlier in the year. You can even watch the now famous "Bill urinated on by Cow' incident all over again, via the website - just click on the "Whats Bill laughing about" link!
14.06.03	Posted by: Jon Hicks
Officer of the British Empire Congratulations to Bill, who was named today in the new years hounours list. He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire). The official list reads: William Edgar Oddie. Writer, Actor and Broadcaster. For services to Wildlife Conservation. (London, NW3) 'Bout flippin' time!!
Officer of the British Empire Congratulations to Bill, who was named today in the new years hounours list. He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire). The official list reads: William Edgar Oddie. Writer, Actor and Broadcaster. For services to Wildlife Conservation. (London, NW3) 'Bout flippin' time!!
Officer of the British Empire Congratulations to Bill, who was named today in the new years hounours list. He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire). The official list reads: William Edgar Oddie. Writer, Actor and Broadcaster. For services to Wildlife Conservation. (London, NW3) 'Bout flippin' time!!
21.05.03	Posted by: Andy Mabbett
Oddie turns to History The BBC Announced today: Bill Oddie, one of the stars of the 1970s comedy series The Goodies, is to front a new history show for daytime BBC One. See also a report in the Guardian.

"I look like Liza Minelli under this lot you know!" - The Goodies (Scatty Safari)

Bill Oddie.net is an unofficial fan site only. Bill Oddie does not run or participate in this site.