Bill Oddie OBE |
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Oddie in February 2007
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Born |
William Edgar Oddie 7 July 1941 Rochdale, Lancashire, England |
Occupation | Actor, writer, composer, musician, comedian, artist, ornithologist, conservationist, television presenter |
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Website | billoddie |
William Edgar "Bill" Oddie, OBE (born 7 July 1941) is an English writer, composer, musician, comedian, artist, ornithologist, conservationist, television presenter and actor. He became famous as one of The Goodies.
A birdwatcher since his childhood in Quinton, Birmingham, Oddie has established a reputation as an ornithologist, conservationist, and television presenter on wildlife issues. Some of his books are illustrated with his own paintings and drawings. His wildlife programmes for the BBC include: Springwatch/Autumnwatch, How to Watch Wildlife, Wild In Your Garden, Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.
Oddie's father was assistant chief accountant at the Midlands Electricity Board. His mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia and, during most of his youth, lived in a hospital. He was educated at Lapal Primary School, Halesowen Grammar School (now The Earls High School, Halesowen) and King Edward's School, Birmingham, an all-boys independent school, where he captained the school's rugby union team. He then studied English Literature at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge.