Bill Oddie, the comedian who became one of British television's most familiar wildlife presenters, has died at the age of 85. His agent, David Foster, confirmed the death in a statement to BBC News on Monday Variety. Foster called him "the country's best-loved birder."

Born on July 7, 1941, in Rochdale, Lancashire, Oddie moved to Birmingham as a child and was raised by his father and grandmother. He studied English literature at Cambridge University, where he performed in several productions with the Footlights, the university's celebrated sketch comedy troupe whose alumni include many of Britain's best-known comics.

Oddie's broadcasting career began in the late 1960s as a key member of the BBC radio programme "I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again," a sketch show that also starred Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden. The three would reunite for the television series that made Oddie a household name.

"The Goodies," a surreal comedy series following three friends who take on odd jobs with chaotic results, ran on the BBC from 1970 to 1982. Oddie starred alongside Brooke-Taylor and Garden and wrote all the music for the show, including co-writing its theme song. The series became a ratings hit and a fixture of British schedules for more than a decade.

From the mid-1980s, Oddie shifted his on-screen focus to wildlife. He hosted "Birding With Bill Oddie" (1997–1998, 2000) and "Bill Oddie Goes Wild" (2001–2003), building a second career as a passionate and accessible nature presenter. His most prominent role in the genre came as host of "Springwatch" from 2005 to 2008 and "Autumnwatch" from 2006 to 2008 — BBC programmes that tracked seasonal changes in British wildlife and drew large audiences to a format that had previously been the preserve of specialist documentaries.

Oddie was appointed an OBE — Officer of the Order of the British Empire, a honour recognising public service — in 2003, for services to wildlife conservation.

In 2020, Oddie spoke publicly about a serious health episode linked to his treatment for bipolar disorder. He described his experience with lithium toxicity, a dangerous build-up of the medication in his bloodstream, as "almost fatal" BBC News.

Oddie is survived by his wife, Laura, and daughters Bonnie, Kate, and Rosie.