Despite Bill being a passionate West Brom fan, he and Eric ended up having season tickets at Chelsea together.

‘I’m very sad Bill Oddie has gone. He was sick for some time,’ Mr Idle tweeted today.

‘He auditioned me for The Pembroke Revue in 1963, and I stepped into his roles for The Edinburgh Festival when the Cambridge Footlights went to the West End. We watched England win the World Cup together at Wembley in ‘66.’

Wildlife presenter, conservationist and comedian, Bill Oddie first found fame as a member of comedy trio The Goodies, alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, and wrote jokes and music for a succession of hit shows including satirical TV show That Was The Week That Was.

Eric Idle said: ‘He was a very fine songwriter and I learned a lot from him… I miss him.’

Later in his life, Mr Oddie found fame with a new generation of fans with his wildlife work on television, while campaigning on green issues and raising awareness of mental health because of his own battles with depression and bipolar disorder.

Four years ago, he updated in fans on his mental health in his last social media post: ‘In case you’re wondering. Or if you’re not. The past few years have been a bit grim. For me, I mean. Illnesses. Couldn’t work. Not wanted anyway!? Tech blind. Lost enthusiasm. “But I am still here”.’

Oddie, who was born in Rochdale but raised in Birmingham, was beloved by viewers, particularly for his work on BBC nature programmes Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Birding With Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.

His BBC colleague Chris Packham said: ‘He was delightfully unpredictable, sparky, smart and at times a bit spiky. He didn’t just pick up his binoculars on telly, he went birding whenever he could. So he was genuine and that’s why we loved him. Sadly, we’ve not only lost a goodie, we’ve lost one of the besties.’

The last photo of Britain’s ‘best-loved birder’ was posted on Instagram by his youngest child, Rosie, in a happy birthday post to her partner in September 2020. A smiling Bill is shown raising a cup next to his wife Laura and daughter.

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 replaced on Springwatch by Mr Packham in 2008.

Being dropped from the show pained him so much he could no longer bear to watch the show he loved. He said the BBC’s decision, combined with his mother’s breakdown and institutionalisation when he was a toddler, meant: ‘I’ve lost my family twice.’

Bill Oddie with his wife Laura and daughter Rosie in the last known picture of him in 2020

His BBC colleague Chris Packham said: ‘He was delightfully unpredictable, sparky, smart and at times a bit spiky. He didn’t just pick up his binoculars on telly, he went birding whenever he could’

The Goodies, from left, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie, pictured in 1973, at the height of their fame

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

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

His agent today paid tribute to his friend’s ‘intelligence and wit’ following his death. The RSPCA said in a tribute to their former vice president that nature has lost one of its ‘best friends’.

Chris Packham said: ‘A renegade polymath with binoculars and a beard, Bill was invariably funny and occasionally furious.

‘He loved birds and loathed those who harmed them . He was delightfully unpredictable, sparky, smart and at times a bit spiky. Critically he really knew his stuff , and his passion was true – he didn’t just pick up his binoculars on telly, he went birding whenever he could.

‘So he was genuine and that’s why we loved him , he never needed a script , and took scant interest in any he was given. He didn’t like rules and often neglected to play by them . This may have frustrated the serious and the worthy but it always amused his audience – he was an utter joy to be with.

‘I recall finding a Black Woodpecker in a damp Dutch park with him once , he gazed at it intently , sighed , put down his bins , turned to me and just smiled . A massive grin . No words , just a beautiful childlike bliss . That says all you need to know about Bill Oddie . Sadly we’ve not only lost a goodie , we’ve lost one of the besties .

Oddie is survived by his wife Laura and his three daughters, Bonnie, a choreographer, Kate, an actress, and Rosie, a musician.

Bonnie and Kate are daughters from Bill’s first marriage to jazz singer Jean Hart. Kate starred in The Krays alongside Gary and Martin Kemp and in Mona Lisa with Bob Hoskins. She uses the surname Hardie, a blend of her mother’s surname and Oddie.

His agent 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.’

The BBC said: ‘We are saddened to hear the news about the death of Bill Oddie. Bill had a long association with the BBC and was a much-loved comedian, naturalist and broadcaster.

‘His career spanned generations, from being a member of comedy trio The Goodies right through to embracing his passion for the natural world and establishing himself as one of the UK’s best known wildlife presenters.

‘Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.’

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

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,’ he said.

‘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

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.’