Bill Oddie



Bill Oddie (b. 1941) is an English comic actor, writer, author, and environmental activist who served as a staff writer on The Animal Show. Oddie is particularly known for his knowledge of birds.

Oddie began his TV career as a writer for the BBC series That Was the Week That Was and subsequently starred as Bill on the surreal sitcom The Goodies. His other acting credits include many voice roles on the cartoon series Bananaman and guest spots on Married... with Children (as Winston in the three England episodes) and The Detectives (typecast as an eccentric bird expert).

Concurrent with his acting and writing endeavors, Oddie has established himself as a noted ornithologist, authoring the books Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, Gone Birding, and Birdwatching with Bill Oddie, as well as presenting various bird-themed TV programs and other nature series. He served as host of Ask Oddie, an ecology series aimed at children. As a wildlife conservationist, Oddie has served as a council member of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and other organizations and represented the World Wildlife Fund, Friend of the Earth, and BirdLife International, among others. He currently serves as vice-president of the League Against Cruel Sports, which campaigns against pleasure hunting and other blood sports. In 2003, for his work as a conservationist, Oddie was awarded the Order of the British Empire.