Bill Oddie's daughter Kate Hardie pays tribute to 'amazing' dad
Bill Oddie's death at the age of 85 was announced on Monday (27.07.26), and his daughter Kate Hardie took to Instagram on Tuesday (28.07.26) to pay tribute.
Kate Hardie has paid tribute to her "amazing" dad Bill Oddie, whose death at the age of 85 was announced on Monday (27.07.26).
The 58-year-old actress said it was a "total honour if not a little intimidating" to be the daughter of the wildlife presenter as she praised the comedian's talents.
Kate took to Instagram on Tuesday (28.07.26) and posted a sweet shot of herself and Bill in the countryside, with the lengthy caption: "Getting some follow requests and I suspect it’s about the old fellah with the beard who photo bombed me here!
"I only use Instagram to look at birds and am not into posting here. But I’m opening this portal up for a day ( will then bugger off again) to say - He was b***** amazing, he made no secret of his struggles and it’s been a complex thing having OBEOneBillOddie as a dad but also a total honour if not a little intimidating as he was talented in a way I still can’t fathom.
"If you don’t know his music - google it! It’s not just comedy songs he was musical to his very core with a vast knowledge and incredible self taught skill - if you don’t know his art - search it out he was an incredible artist - sketches and the most delicate brilliant paintings.
"If you don’t know his comedy rewatch some ( with the usual seventies caveat that some of it is a bit bloody dubious here and there regarding race gender etc).
"If you don’t know about his wildlife knowledge and advocacy work follow any UK wildlife profile right now and find out about it."
The Krays cast member added that she has suffered from similar mental health struggles to her dad, who spoke openly about living with clinical depression and bipolar disorder.
Kate said: "Thanks so much in advance for your care and wishes but if you don’t know about his fragile marbles and all he dealt with read some of dads interviews where he talks of them - I have had my own marble struggles and the crazy arse world of social media I found ( eventually!!) - apart from the bird photos - does little for them so I’ll be out of here again sharpish.
"Do ya self a favour and go and listen to him singing Ilklei Mah Ba Tat in a pitch perfect impression of Joe Cocker singing 'Help from my friends' and see where it leads you.
"Listen to the radio version of his Who Do You Think You Are and see where he came from. There is much joy and awe to be found in a Bill Oddie rabbit hole and I’ll miss him very very much. (sic)"
In a separate post, Kate posted a picture of Bill and her mom, jazz singer Jean Hart, his first wife, and in the caption, she thanked everyone who has paid tribute to the former Springwatch presenter.
Kate also admitted that she has "been so focused on trying to be with and to play my part in supporting dad at the end of his life I haven’t been able to reflect and truly relish all that life entailed".
The Mona Lisa alum went on: "It’s been deeply moving and just a bit overwhelming to see how much he is loved and how many different varieties of impact he had. His legacy is definitely something to behold!"
Kate told how the loss of both Bill and Jean is "hitting quite hard".
She said: "This picture is dad with his first wife Jean - mum to me and my sister Bon - an irreverent wildly talented unique pair of humans if ever there was - they’re both gone now.
"Anyone who has experienced both parents dying will know it’s a big one and it’s all hitting quite hard. I’m so proud of them both and also completely knackered.
"So thank you and over and out! (sic)"
Bill is survived by his second wife, visual artist Laura Beaumont, 70, and their 41-year-old daughter, musician Rosie - also known as Rosie Bones - as well as Kate, and choreographer Bonnie Oddie, whom he had with Jean.
Born in Rochdale, Lancashire, in July 1941, but raised in Birmingham, Bill shot to fame in the 1970s as a member of the comedy trio, The Goodies, alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor, who died in April 2020 at the age of 79, and Graeme Garden.
Bill went on to become a beloved wildlife presenter for the BBC, fronting shows such as Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Birding with Bill Oddie, and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.
Alongside his TV work, Bill was an accomplished songwriter and musician.
He co-wrote many of The Goodies' comic songs, including The Funky Gibbon and Black Pudding Bertha, both of which became chart hits and showcased his talent beyond sketch comedy.
In 2017, the TV ornithologist starred in The Real Marigold Hotel - based on the 2011 film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - and while filming the corporation's travel documentary series in Kochi, India, he almost died after drinking turpentine, which he mistook for water.
Bill told The Mirror: "I nearly killed myself after that painting thing.
"At the beginning of the evening one of the guys knocked on the door and put what I thought was a glass of water by my bed but it was turps, and I was drinking it. It could have killed me."
And in September 2020, the entertainer told fans he nearly died of "lithium toxicity" that summer.
Bill penned on Twitter - now called X: "Just so you know, I have 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 (sic)."
