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Britain’s ‘best-loved birder’ Bill Oddie has died aged 85.

The wildlife presenter, conservationist and comedian first found fame as a member of The Goodies, alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, and wrote for a succession of hit shows including That Was The Week That Was.

But he became while pursuing his passion for wildlife on television, as well as campaigning on green issues and raising awareness of mental health due to his own battles with depression and bipolar disorder. 

Oddie, who was born in Rochdale but raised in Birmingham, was beloved by generations of viewers, particularly for his work on Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Birding with Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.

The broadcaster’s last TV appearance was on Celebrity Britain by Barge in 2020, alongside Pete Waterman, Anne Diamond and Jennie Bond.

That year, he almost died after being poisoned by lithium, which he took to manage the mental health problems that led to a number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals, including after he was dropped from Springwatch by the BBC.

He said the BBC’s decision still pained him years on and meant he could no longer bear to watch the show he loved. 

His agent today paid tribute to his friend’s ‘intelligence and wit’ following his death. Oddie is survived by his wife Laura and his three daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie.

The last photo of the birder was posted on Instagram by his youngest daughter, Rosie, a musician, in a happy birthday post to her partner in September 2020.

A smiling Bill is shown raising a cup next to his wife and daughter.

Bill, pictured right in 1973, first found fame with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden as part of The Goodies

Bill Oddie and his wife, Laura in the garden of their Hampstead home. He had three daughters – two from his first marriage and a third from his marriage to Laura

Bill with Springwatch and Autumnwatch co-star Kate Humble. Mr Oddie rarely watched the programme due to the grief of being dropped from the BBC show in 2009

In a statement, 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 taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it.

‘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.

‘My thoughts and love are with Bill’s wife, Laura, and his daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie.’

A birdwatcher since childhood in Birmingham, Oddie was a respected ornithologist who became a popular broadcaster, renowned for his passion for nature and his gravelly yet gentle Brummie accent 

He was a council member of the RSPB, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and The Worldwide Fund for Nature. He was also president of The Northumberland Wildlife Trust and represented many other nature organisations.

In addition, he wrote a number of books on birds and other wildlife topics.

His comic career began in Cambridge Footlights, when he started writing for shows including That Was The Week That Was.

He went on to write and appear on numerous programmes including I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again, which featured many of his comic songs.

He first found fame as a member of The Goodies and the trio earned household name status in Australia and New Zealand, as the television comedy show attracted millions of viewers in its heyday.

His songs led the Goodies to several major chart hits, most notably The Funky Gibbon.

He continued to work with his fellow Goodies on programmes including Bananaman, before turning his attention to nature shows.

Bill Oddie pictured in his ‘Man of the Year’ portrait in 1964

The Goodies pictured together in 1981

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Mr Oddie’s breakthrough came in comedy but he moved into wildlife TV, he’s great passion 

Mr Oddie said in 2020 he was ‘knocking on Heaven’s door’ for almost a year after getting lithium poisoning

In 1966, Oddie married Jeanne Hart and they had two daughters, Bonnie and Kate. They later divorced.

In 1983, Oddie married Laura Beaumont-Giles. They had a daughter, Rosie.

Bill struggled with mental health issues throughout his life.

Oddie spoke openly about suffering from crippling depression, and he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2009 after being dropped from the BBC show Springwatch, of which he was one of the original presenters.

He was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition where depressive periods alternate with manic activity.

Speaking in 2014, he said he still felt a lingering sadness that his days on Springwatch were cut short, and he rarely watched the programme.

He said: ‘I very much miss it, but when I do see it, it brings back many happy memories and I like to think I contributed to its success.

‘It’s still so well loved and helps encourage people to enjoy the natural world. That’s all to the good because I fear so many people wear earphones for their phones and music players that increasingly they miss out on everyday joys like birdsong.

‘My plea to people would be to ‘go naked’ occasionally – take off those earpieces so you hear nature and, of course, birdsong. You may not realise how precious it is until it’s gone.’

In 2020 he almost died after being poisoned by lithium he took to treat his bipolar and stabilise his mood.

In September that year he said he had been ‘very ill most of this summer. Lithium toxicity. Almost fatal! I am still here but very confused about most things! But then aren’t many of us. IT fuddles my brain. Confusion. Will I return? I Really dunno. I do hope so. Please wish me luck. XX.’

He had tried to take his own life twice and said that his depression was genetic, passed down on his mother’s side.

The crippling depression which saw him admitted to psychiatric hospital in 2009 – after he was dropped from Springwatch – abated in recent years, he said.

In 2014 he said he was afflicted with another problem – particularly difficult for a birder – he was going deaf. His eyesight also became poor in his fifties.

‘I first noticed it when I was out on Hampstead Heath bird watching.

‘I was stood with a friend who said a meadow pipit was going over – it makes a soft ‘seep’ sound – but I couldn’t hear it. 

‘My friend said the call was quite loud and I suddenly realised that my hearing had gone. I hadn’t suspected it at all before then but I went home and tested it by playing other high pitched bird call recordings and I couldn’t hear them either.’

His comic career began in Cambridge Footlights, when he started writing for shows including That Was The Week That Was

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Describing his mental health he said: ‘I’ve been fortunate enough that I’ve been absolutely fine for years now and have had a good stretch.

‘I’m still on medication – lithium for the bipolar and an antidepressant which I have been on for about 10 years. It is the lithium that made the difference. Once you take something like that basically you stick with it unless you absolutely don’t need it anymore. That’s the same whether it’s psychological or physical; nobody wants to be on medication but if you know it helps and is keeping you going, why give it up?

‘I’ve got friends determined to come off whatever medication they’re on who keep causing themselves problems as they relapse – that sort of purism can be very destructive.

He added: ‘It’s undeniable that being outdoors and having an interest in the outdoors is good for mental health in general.

‘There’s no doubt that being involved with nature is good for you.’

Blackpool is among a swathe of northern areas with the lowest life expectancy in England, a new report has revealed.

A damning analysis by health think-tank The King’s Fund found men in the seaside town can expect to live for just 73.7 years on average – almost a decade less than those living in Hart, Hampshire, the area with the highest life expectancy.

Women in Blackpool fare little better, with a life expectancy of just 79.1 years – significantly below the national average and the lowest anywhere in England. 

The report has exposed a stark North-South divide, highlighted by its finding that Londoners on average live for around three years longer than those in the North East.

While life expectancy has reached record highs nationally – with men expected to live to around 80 and women to almost 84 in England – the gains were largely seen in the South. 

And in what has been described as ‘a mark of shame’, the report claims northern areas have seen little improvement.

Among the lowest, Blackpool is joined by Kingston upon Hull and Middlesbrough, where men are only expected to live until 75.5 years. Manchester follows just behind with 75.6 years, while in Lincoln the average is 75.9 years.

The Daily Mail’s tables show the regions with the highest and lowest life expectancy, according to the report.

Women in Blackpool are expected to live longer than men, reaching a life expectancy of 79.1, but this is still around eight years fewer than women in Hart and Kensington and Chelsea, where female life expectancy is among the highest in England.

Veena Raleigh, senior fellow at The King’s Fund, said: ‘That people in our northern and deprived communities have seen little or no improvement in longevity over a decade, in contrast to the health gains in their southern and more well-off counterparts, is a mark of shame for an affluent country. 

‘Addressing this inequity in the nation’s health is not just a matter of social justice, it would reduce pressures on the NHS and the high economic costs of ill health.’

Blackpool’s position is perhaps unsurprising given a series of recent reports – separate to The King’s Fund’s analysis – highlighting the town’s poor health. 

One, published last May, revealed that Blackpool was the ‘takeaway capital’ of the North West, boasting 25 fast-food shops per 10,000 people.

Another report uncovered that Blackpool had four times the average number of drug deaths, and nearly double the rate of smoking deaths.

It was also found to have the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths and serious mental health conditions in England. 

Locations like Liverpool and Burnley, which have higher levels of deprivation, also featured among the lowest life expectancies in the King’s Fund’s analysis.

This was in stark contrast to wealthy places in the South, such as Kensington and Chelsea – a hotspot for the rich and famous – where women live at an average of 87.1 years.

The report found people in the North East were more likely to be overweight or obese, have high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes than Londoners.

They were also more likely to die prematurely from cancer and heart disease, while rates of suicide, drug deaths and alcohol-related deaths were also higher. 

Overall, healthy life expectancy – the number of years a person can expect to live in good health – fell by around two-and-a-half years in England.

However, people in affluent areas lived on average for six to seven years longer in good health than those in the most deprived regions.

Life expectancy as a whole in Britain was found to be the lowest of all comparable high-income countries, other than Germany and the US.

The report argues that London’s strong economy, higher wages and better job opportunities have helped people live longer and healthier lives. 

By contrast, they say many northern communities are still living with the effects of industrial decline, having spent decades dealing with the fallout of factory and industry closures.

They claim this has led to higher levels of poverty, unemployment and poorer living conditions, which have contributed to worse health and shorter lives.

Ms Raleigh added: ‘Improving population health and reducing entrenched health inequalities have never been more urgent and yet also more challenging, given the economic constraints facing the country.

‘It will require concerted, bold, cross-governmental action to reduce largely preventable illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes associated with poor diet, drinking and smoking, and tackle the wider determinants driving persistent poor health, especially among northern and deprived communities.

‘One of the three “radical shifts” in the Government’s ten-year health plan is from sickness to prevention. 

‘One year on, and the modest moves on this front fall well short of the bold action needed to improve public health, reduce inequalities and increase people’s lives and the years they spend in good health.’ 

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘Someone’s postcode should never dictate how long they live, and this government is determined to tackle the stark inequalities that still exist across Britain. 

‘We’re already taking action, from allocating GP funding more fairly to delivering pioneering neighbourhood health centres in the areas that need them most.

‘But we will now go further in devolving power to local communities, putting decision-making into the hands of those who know their areas best, and driving lasting change across the country.’

Fast fashion is inexpensive, so when clothes become worn or damaged, replacing them often seems easier than repairing them.

Clothes are often worn just seven to ten times before they are thrown away. And 92 million tonnes of textile waste is burnt or ends up in landfill every year.

Repairing clothes can be one of the most significant ways to reduce their environmental impact. Extending a garment’s life by just nine more months can reduce its carbon, water and waste footprints by up to 20%.

But people can be put off repairing their clothes due to cost, lack of sewing skills, equipment and time.

Historically, repair has been associated with wartime necessity and domestic drudgery – such as darning socks. Wearing repaired clothing has historically been viewed as a sign of financial hardship, so people tried to make their repairs as invisible as possible to avoid stigma.

Increased uptake in repair is still often linked to economic pressures, but public attitudes to repair are changing.

Today, we are not just embracing hidden repairs – some people are actively showing them off through visible mending.

Visible mending involves repairing worn patches, tears and holes in clothes using techniques and materials that are deliberately noticeable – such as colourful stitching, embroidery and decorative patches – so that the repair is highlighted rather than hidden.

Visible repair has been linked to the centuries-old Japanese repair technique kintsugi – where broken pottery is fixed using a lacquered resin and decorated with gold. This emphasises damage as an important part of an object’s history. It has inspired the non-commercial fashion brand, Golden Joinery, to invite people to visibly mend holes and rips in their clothing with golden thread.

Visible mending has also been inspired by sashiko, a 400-year-old Japanese folk embroidery. Its repeated running stitches were traditionally used to strengthen work clothing but are now used to add decorative geometric patterns to clothing and home textiles repairs. This adds beauty to something damaged.

Although visible mending was once seen as a quiet, grassroots resistance movement to fast fashion, its popularity is growing rapidly.

Alongside a host of books published on the topic, the movement has grown quickly on social media with users tagging and showing off their repairs. The hashtag #VisibleMending has more than 56 million views on TikTok.

Plus, clothing haul videos, in which people show off their latest fast-fashion purchases, are being contested by mended haul videos where clothing repairs are shown off instead.

Embracing visible repair

Some retailers are also promoting visible repair.

Second Cashmere, a sustainable cashmere brand in Glasgow, sells recycled cashmere and restored knitwear to give clothes headed to landfill a second life. They help customers extend the lives of their cashmere by selling mending kits and provide a repair service where customers can have their items repaired invisibly or visibly.

The outdoor clothing brand Patagonia also offers a product repair service.

Patagonia inspires their customers to adopt a DIY approach to their own repairs at home – offering repair kits, replacement trims, spare parts plus repair guides and video tutorials. Their worn wear programme encourages customers to embrace the marks of repair as an important part of a garment’s story. Customers are invited to show off their patched up and repaired items with pride.

Researchers have argued that brand repair initiatives such as these are beneficial because they can turn passive consumers into active participants in the life of their products. Plus they can reduce replacement rates and increase consumer confidence in the brand’s support for sustainability.

Decorative stitching is often seen as a symbolic demonstration of sustainability values and resistance to disposable fast fashion. It’s also an expression of personal character and creativity. Visible repair demonstrates how repair is shifting from a cultural stigma that must be hidden to something that’s celebrated.

Funeral details for former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe are still being finalised, as Buckfast Abbey confirmed it is working closely with her family on arrangements

Funeral arrangements for former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe are still being finalised following her passing in July. Her death has become a matter of national significance, given her prominent political legacy and the harrowing circumstances surrounding it.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told last week that Widdecombe died after being struck 21 times on the head with a hammer. A provisional cause of death was recorded as a “blunt force injury to the head”, the court was informed.

Joshua Kerry, from Rotherham, was detained on suspicion of murder on July 11. He was subsequently re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, though no charge relating to this offence has been brought against him.

A provisional trial date has been set for June 8, 2027, reports Chronicle Live.

Widdecombe’s family has pressed ahead with funeral preparations, working closely with Buckfast Abbey, where she was a devoted regular worshipper. Fr Abbot and the Monastic Community of Buckfast have issued a statement confirming they “continue to hold Ann Widdecombe, her family and loved ones in our prayers during this difficult time”

Following her death, Buckfast Abbey, nestled on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, released a statement in which Fr Abbot and the Monastic Community expressed they were “deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ann Widdecombe in such tragic and disturbing circumstances”. Ann was a regular fixture at the Abbey Church, faithfully attending Sunday Solemn Mass alongside Holy Week and Easter celebrations.

The statement went on: “Many in our worshipping community knew her as a kind and warm character. She will be missed and fondly remembered.

“Ann was a woman of profound faith, a faith which found expression in the public forum of politics. Ann was unafraid to express her unwavering convictions, formed through her Roman Catholic faith.

“She had a sharp intellect and was a dedicated public servant. Fr Abbot and the Monastic Community extend their heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.”

In a communiqué released on Sunday, 26th July, Fr Abbot confirmed the church was liaising “closely with the family regarding funeral arrangements” and would share further details “in due course, when appropriate”.

Fr Abbot and the Monastic Community expressed that they were “grateful for the many messages of sympathy and support that have been received.”

Buckfast Abbey houses a community of Roman Catholic Benedictine monks who follow the ancient Rule of St Benedict. The location holds considerable historical significance, with the original abbey established in 1018 AD by King Cnut.

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