Family and friends of Bill Oddie have gathered in Hampstead Heath to scatter the late comedian and ornithologist's ashes in a wildlife-themed celebration.
The beloved broadcaster was laid to rest at his favourite spot in London, fulfilling his final wish of being buried at the place where he would sit for hours listening to birdsong.
Mr Oddie's ashes were carried into the park on a makeshift bird's nest, as dove decorations hung from washing lines up above.
Taxidermist Simon Wilson, who attended the gathering, described it as a special send-off for the star. "Today I was honoured to be invited to a very special send-off for Bill Oddie on Hampstead Heath, London," Mr Wilson said. "A wonderful day surrounded by some amazing people, all coming together to celebrate Bill’s extraordinary life, his humour, his work and, of course, his lifelong love of wildlife and music. So many stories, memories and familiar faces a fitting celebration of a truly unique man. A real honour and privilege to have been there."
Funeral plans and final wishes
Mr Oddie died aged 85 last month, but he had long planned the exact details of his own funeral.
Speaking to journalist Rob McGibbon in 2012 for the Daily Mail, Mr Oddie outlined his non-religious preferences. "I'm an atheist, so I will have a humanist funeral," he said. "I want to come in to Nothing Compares 2 U by Prince and disappear to Cocktails For Two by Spike Jones."
He added that his ashes should be scattered on Hampstead Heath because he loved the area so much, noting that his nearby home was his most treasured possession because every room was full of memories.
Looking ahead to his eventual passing, Mr Oddie said he wanted to be remembered as someone "who told the truth" and "made good television programmes that touched people."
Tributes from family and fellow presenters
Following his death, tributes poured in from family members, colleagues and broadcasting institutions. His daughter, actress Kate Hardie, praised her father's extraordinary artistic talents in a lengthy Instagram post after creating an account specifically to share her thoughts.
Ms Hardie, 58, who uses a surname blending her mother's name with Oddie's, wrote that her father was "bloody amazing" and talented in ways she still could not fathom. She highlighted his self-taught musical skills, delicate paintings and sketches, comedy, and passionate wildlife advocacy.
Reflecting on their shared mental health struggles, Ms Hardie urged readers to learn about his "fragile marbles" through his past interviews, admitting that she had faced similar challenges herself. She noted that she had been focused on supporting her father at the end of his life, adding: "His legacy is definitely something to behold!"
Wildlife presenter Chris Packham also paid tribute to his former co-host, describing him as "a renegade polymath with binoculars and a beard" who was "invariably funny and occasionally furious."
Mr Packham recalled a trip to a damp Dutch park where they spotted a black woodpecker together. He remembered Mr Oddie gazing intently at the bird before turning to him with a massive grin of "beautiful childlike bliss", adding: "Sadly, we’ve not only lost a goodie, we’ve lost one of the besties."
David Foster, Mr Oddie's long-time agent, described him as a multi-talented celebrity who valued environmental protection far above fame. Mr Foster noted that representing him was an honour and sent his thoughts to Mr Oddie's wife Laura and daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie.
The BBC also issued a statement expressing sadness at his passing, highlighting his long association with the corporation across comedy and nature programming and offering condolences to his family and friends.
From comedy stardom to nature television
Born in Rochdale and raised in Birmingham, Mr Oddie first developed his passion for nature as a birdwatcher in childhood. He launched his entertainment career while studying at Cambridge University as a member of the Cambridge Footlights.
He went on to write jokes and music for hit broadcasts, including David Frost's satirical BBC television show That Was The Week That Was, as well as writing and performing on BBC Radio's I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again.
Mr Oddie achieved nationwide fame as a member of the hit comedy trio The Goodies alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden. The trio earned household name status in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, drawing millions of viewers at the height of their fame in the 1970s.
Beyond television comedy, the group scored major music chart hits with comic songs written by Mr Oddie, most notably The Funky Gibbon. He later worked with his fellow Goodies on the animated children's television series Bananaman before shifting his focus to wildlife broadcasting.
Wildlife advocacy and health battles
As a respected ornithologist with a gravelly yet gentle Brummie accent, Mr Oddie won over a new generation of viewers presenting BBC nature flagship shows including Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Birding With Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.
He served as a council member for major conservation bodies including the RSPB, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature, while also serving as president of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust and writing several books on wildlife.
Throughout his life, Mr Oddie campaigned on environmental causes while speaking openly about his own severe mental health struggles. He revealed that his depression was genetic, inherited from his mother's side of the family, and disclosed that he had attempted to take his own life twice.
After being replaced on Springwatch and Autumnwatch by Chris Packham in 2008, Mr Oddie was deeply pained by the decision and admitted he could no longer watch the show. The distress, combined with memories of his mother being institutionalised during his youth, led him to remark: "I've lost my family twice."
He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2009 and subsequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Though he continued to feel sadness over his departure, he expressed pride in contributing to the show's success and urged people to remove their earphones to listen to birdsong in nature.
In 2014, Mr Oddie revealed he was facing hearing loss and failing eyesight, which began in his 50s. He first realized his hearing was impaired while birdwatching on Hampstead Heath when he failed to hear the soft call of a passing meadow pipit.
In 2020, Mr Oddie survived a near-fatal case of lithium poisoning from medication used to treat his mental health, stating he had been "knocking on Heaven's door" for almost a year.
The last known photograph of the presenter was shared on Instagram in September 2020 by his daughter Rosie, showing him smiling beside his wife Laura and Rosie. His final television appearance was in 2020 on Channel 5's Celebrity Britain By Barge, appearing alongside Pete Waterman, Anne Diamond and Jennie Bond.
Mr Oddie is survived by his second wife, Laura Beaumont-Giles, their musician daughter Rosie, and two daughters from his first marriage to late jazz singer Jean Hart: Bonnie, a choreographer, and Kate, an actress who starred in The Krays and Mona Lisa.
