Bill Oddie Unplucked

by Bill Oddie (Contributor)

When Bill Oddie was growing up one of his favourite books was a collection of essays called The Bird-Lover's Bedside Book. His new book, Bill Oddie Unplucked, is just that sort of book. It contains 50 of Bill's essays, magazines articles and blogs, designed to be read in any order you want, with each tale short enough to allow you to dip into something new every time you pick up the book, whether you choose to read it in bed, on the way to work, during your lunch break, in the doctor's waiting room, or on the loo. Representing some of the very best of his writing and general musings of the last twenty years, Bill Oddie Unplucked is generously illustrated with Bill's own whimsical if artistically primitive drawings. Inside these pages you'll find tales of Bill trespassing in a nunnery, being terrified by a Tiger, wading in sewage, paddling with dinosaurs, slagging off the government, and nearly drowning in both Costa Rica and the Seychelles. There are, of course, some stories about birds.

Genres: Nonfiction, Natural History, Birds, Nature, Wildlife, Humor

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2015

About the author

William "Bill" Edgar Oddie OBE was an English author, actor, comedian, artist, naturalist and musician, who became famous as one of The Goodies. A birdwatcher since childhood, Oddie had established a reputation for himself as an ornithologist, conservationist and television presenter on wildlife issues. Some of his books are illustrated with his own paintings and drawings.

Oddie studied English Literature at Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge, where he appeared in several Cambridge University Footlights Club productions. One of these, a revue called A Clump of Plinths, was so successful at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that it was renamed Cambridge Circus and transferred to the West End in London, then New Zealand and Broadway in September 1964. Meanwhile, still at Cambridge, Oddie wrote scripts for TV's That Was The Week That Was.

His first television appearance was in Bernard Braden's On The Braden Beat in 1964. Subsequently, he was a key member of the performers in the BBC radio series I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (ISIRTA; 1965), where many of his musical compositions were featured. Some were released on the album Distinctly Oddie (Polydor, 1967). He was possibly one of the first performers to parody a rock song, arranging the traditional Yorkshire folk song "On Ilkla Moor Baht'at" in the style of Joe Cocker's hit rendition of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" (released on John Peel's Dandelion Records in 1970 and featured in Peel's special box of most-treasured singles).

On television Oddie was co-writer and performer in the comedy series Twice a Fortnight with Graeme Garden, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Jonathan Lynn. Later, he was co-writer and performer in the comedy series Broaden Your Mind with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, for which Oddie became a cast member for the second series. Oddie, Brooke-Taylor and Garden then co-wrote and appeared in their television comedy series The Goodies. The Goodies also released records, including "Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me"/"The In-Betweenies", "Funky Gibbon", and "Black Pudding Bertha", which were hit singles in 1974-75. They reformed, briefly, in 2005, for a successful 13-date tour of Australia. Oddie, Brooke-Taylor and Garden voiced characters on the 1983 animated children's programme Bananaman. He had occasionally appeared on the BBC Radio 4 panel game I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, on which Garden and Brooke-Taylor are regular panellists.

Reviews

[Paul]

My earliest memories of Bill Oddie is of a vertically challenged hairy bloke in the Goodies doing a variety of daft things and riding a trandem with Tim and Graeme. He has also been an avid birder and wildlife nut for decades too, presenting Springwatch and being involved with various NGOs to highlight and promote their causes. This book is a collection of the original text of his various articles and columns that he has written for a variety of magazines and websites.

He starts with an apology though. He was dropped from Springwatch, after having presented it for a while. It turns out that he was bipolar, and suffer the dramatic mood swings that this illness brings. After a period in hospital and a large dose of the correct drugs he is back to his normal chirpy self. The collection of articles in this book show him at his belligerent and grumpy best. His articles are to the point, occasionally fairly blunt, but this is softened but wit and humour, often at his own expense, but also life in general. A pretty good read overall, light-hearted and informative.

[Harry]

If you aren't British then you may as well stop reading this now because Bill Oddie is a British institution and probably not transferable to other places. Funky Gibbon anyone?

If you are not British then please read this this book anyway because this man has so much to say about nothing to do with being a British institution. He speaks for Everyman. Not just Gibbons or giant cats.

Look out of your kitchen window and what do you see? Go on, have a look. Then do or don't read this book. It's about looking, not about what you may see; just looking.

Go on have a look.

[Jayne Hood]

An amusing and informative collection . It is very enjoyable

[David]

Enjoyed the personal insights and sketches as much as the stories. Nice. Loved the Goodies

[Prachi Chitnis]

Every bird watcher, anywhere in the world, will relate to the tales in this book. It gives the apt description of this crazy breed, who have to answer raised eyebrows and jokes about this hobby.

[Cora]

Loved this book, the topics, his humour.

[Jason Towers]

Collection of gentle, lightweight columns etc by a national treasure. Lots of characterful drawings by the author.

[Nigel McCarter]

Good entertainment, the perfect dipping book for difficult times, irrespective of whether you are a keen birdwatcher or dabbler ... pun intended.

[Trepkos]

Interesting insights into the mind of Bill.

[Hilary May]

Random anecdotes, a spot of ranting and some interesting birding titbits. Found an enjoyable read but have to admit only two weeks later I’ve already forgotten a lot!

[Jennifer]

Bill Oddie has enhanced the life of the nation and certainly mine. 'Celebrity' 'endorsement' of an activity mainly only produces a fleeting upsurge of interest but the former Goodies comedian bringing forth his genuine birdwatching passion into broadcasting has drawn people in to something which is all round good for them.

Yet I'm not sure he'd be described as a National Treasure and this collection probably demonstrates why. He is a prickly character who has difficulty letting go of things. Indeed one might say that the strapline for the book is "Please let me back on Springwatch" (despite the fact that he *has*(unmentioned) been back on Springwatch since his departure as a main presenter which was linked with (moot about the order) his worsening mental health difficulties) There is more than one good piece in the book though on how hard it is for those in broadcasting to let go of ideas about people and the way in which mental health difficulties are not viewed as something you can be treated for, recover from, be in remission from and essential be completely normal, rather unlike more glamorous and sympathetically seen ailments. But overall it does make it a somewhat uncomfortable read.

However, he's been doing lots of interesting things and he writes about ordinary things in an unforced but entertaining way... I particularly enjoyed his blogging work here. He blends real knowledgeability of and passion for some aspects of wildlife (ie serious birding) and his frustration over his exploitative robins and bewilderment about what happened to his tadpoles.

[Lesley Williams]

Brilliant book. Bill Oddie's voice comes through as you read it. The book itself is reminiscent of an early bird watches book, which my dad used to have on his shelf. Small and brown. Loved it! Thank you, Bill.

[Stuart]

'to point out to a rather attractive air hostess. I have even erected my tripod and let her look...'

'meet us, don't eat us'

[Tracey]

I love the gentle humour and the honesty in this book. I miss seeing Bill on our TV screens as I love his passion and enthusiasm for the natural world.