Beloved TV presenter and conservationist Bill Oddie died aged 85 and his final television appearance came in 2020 on Channel 5's Celebrity Britain by Barge: Then and Now10:52, 28 Jul 2026Legendary presenter Bill Oddie made his final television appearance six years ago.‌In 2020, he appeared in Channel 5's six-part documentary series Celebrity Britain by Barge: Then and Now.‌During the show, Bill, who's death was announced on Monday (July 28) shared a narrowboat with Pete Waterman, and together they explored some of Britain's most iconic inland waterways, including the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Scottish canals near Falkirk, and the Grand Union Canal across Oxfordshire and Warwickshire.‌They were also joined on their journey by Jennie Bond and Anne Diamond, as the group discovered the joys of Britain's canal network.Throughout the trip, the group learned about the historic role Clydesdale horses played on the waterways, as well as how pleasure boats began to use the canals in the late 1800s, transporting people out of the city to the countryside on day trips.Just months after the series aired, in September 2020, Bill revealed the extent of his health struggles, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he had been "very ill"He penned at the time: "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." He added: "It fuddles my brain. Confusion. Will I return? I really dunno. I do hope so. Please wish me luck. XX."‌According to the NHS, lithium is prescribed to treat mood disorders such as mania and bipolar disorder. Bill's death was confirmed by his agent, David Foster, who led tributes and remembered the TV star as his "friend," adding: "It was an honour and a privilege to represent him for so many years. I will miss him terribly."Among the many famous faces to pay tribute was Chris Packham, who replaced Bill as the face of BBC Springwatch in 2009. The naturalist, 65, shared a picture of himself alongside Bill alongside a lengthy and emotional message, describing him as "delightfully unpredictable" and "an utter joy to be with."‌Packham wrote: "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."‌Packham also recalled a particularly special birdwatching moment the pair shared together: "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."He added: "Sadly we've not only lost a Goodie, we've lost one of the besties." Bill first found fame in the 1970s as part of the much-loved comedy trio The Goodies, before forging a hugely successful second career as a wildlife broadcaster with series including Birding with Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife, Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Wild in Your Garden.Monty Python star Eric Idle, who first met Bill while attending Cambridge University, also paid tribute, writing on X: "I'm very sad Bill Oddie has gone. He was sick for some time and I wrote to him. 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. He was a very fine songwriter and I learned a lot from him. I miss him."‌Director and filmmaker Edgar Wright also hailed Bill as a "comedy hero," saying The Goodies was "hugely influential" on him. He wrote: "Although he later became equally famous as the BBC's resident ornithologist, he had been a comedy hero of mine since my earliest days of watching television. I loved Bill's anarchic energy, musical brilliance and willingness to do absolutely anything for a laugh. Farewell to a true Goodie. RIP."The Young Ones actor Adrian Edmondson also remembered Bill as a "lovely bloke," recalling how the wildlife presenter once wrote to the cast unprompted when they began making their sitcom, wishing them well and "warning us against interference from higher up." Edmondson added: "He didn't know anyone in the cast personally. It just came out of the blue. Lovely thing to do."Article continues belowBill is survived by his wife, Laura, and three daughters - Rosie, from his marriage to Laura, and Kate and Bonnie from his first marriage to jazz musician Jean Hart.