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| Bill Oddie to appear as special guest on Springwatch for its 10th Anniversary |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
 From http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-27293338 :
Springwatch: RSPB Minsmere to host Chris Packham BBC2 wildlife show
7 May 2014
Springwatch will be migrating to a new home on the Suffolk coast when the nature programme returns to BBC Two, it has been revealed.
RSPB Minsmere, one of the richest areas for wildlife in the UK with more than 5,600 species on site, will host the three-week series from 26 May.
Reserve manager Adam Rowlands said the site's rich biodiversity promised viewers a "jam-packed series".
Former presenter Bill Oddie will return to mark the show's 10th anniversary
Presented by Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games, Springwatch is watched by almost three million people a night and has become one of the UK's longest-running wildlife series.
Habitats at the 1,000 hectare (2,470 acre) reserve include sand dunes, saline lagoons, reedbeds and woodland.
"The RSPB has been giving nature a very special home on the Suffolk Coast since 1947, and we are delighted to be able to share it with BBC viewers in the coming weeks," said Mr Rowlands.
"The rich biodiversity of this glorious coastal location promises a jam-packed series of the popular TV show, providing a great opportunity for people to enjoy the iconic views and wildlife here in Suffolk."
'Thrilling and satisfying'
Wildlife specialists have been rigging cameras on the reserve's lagoon over the last few weeks in a series of specially-built hides, linked by corridors of high reed screens to shield the production team from view.
Cameras will be carefully positioned in and around the nests of avocets, terns, oystercatchers and lapwings, allowing constant, real-time updates as they keep watch for predators and strive to raise their young.
Night-vision cameras will also follow the reserve's resident badger family using the latest scientific techniques to study them and unearth the intimate details of their lives, both above and below ground.
Former presenter Bill Oddie returns as a special guest, looking back at the UK's wildlife and how it has fared over the past decade.
"Undoubtedly, one of the most thrilling and satisfying periods of my life was being part of the development of Wild in Your Garden, to Britain Goes Wild, and finally to Springwatch," said Mr Oddie.
"The shows were about wildlife, but the experience was about people. Springwatch was - and continues to be - the very definition of the joy of teamwork."
Springwatch returns to BBC Two at 20:00 BST on Monday to Thursday from 26 May to 12 June.
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Posted by lisa at 07/05/2014 21:39 GMT |
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| Bill Oddie to judge wildlife photography competition |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
The following article comes from http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/15/gallery-zsl-animal-photography-prize-2014-4263350/
Gallery: ZSL animal photography prize 2014
Wednesday 15 Jan 2014 9:01 am
A competition and prize fund established to seek out the world’s most incredible animal photography is back, as the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) today launches the ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2014.
Now in its third year, organisers are expecting a high calibre of entries from around the world for the wildlife photography competition, which will be judged by television presenter Kate Humble, and ornithologist Bill Oddie.
The ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2014 features six categories for adult and junior entrants, including Last Chance to See, putting the focus on endangered and threatened species and Size Matters for the little and large members of the animal kingdom.
With a £10k prize fund, the competition also puts winning photographers in with the chance of having their image displayed in a striking exhibition, which will be on display at ZSL London Zoo this autumn.
Aiming to inspire photographers of all abilities to explore the wonders of the animal kingdom, the competition closes on 1 April 2014. To enter the ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2014, visit www.zsl.org/photo-prize.
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Posted by lisa at 17/01/2014 17:31 GMT |
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| Bill Oddies talks about "pompous drummers and blasted leaf-blowers" |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
The following article is from The Independent and appears online at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/bill-oddie-the-birdwatching-broadcaster-talks-pompous-drummers-and-blasted-leafblowers-8788685.html
Bill Oddie: The bird-watching broadcaster talks pompous drummers and blasted leaf-blowers
Adam Jacques Author Biography
Sunday 01 September 2013
You can waste a lot of time looking for a specific bird While some bird-watchers have a bird-watching bucket list, I don't, as the most memorable and enjoyable days out can't be predicted. I'll never forget one day in New York in early May, standing at the top of the Empire State Building. I spotted what at first looked like moths, but became a flock of migrating birds, travelling past me, at the same height as I was.
Collecting things is standard schoolboy behaviour Some do stamps or cards, and I started collected bird eggs after I kicked a ball under a hedge by my house in Rochdale, and found the nest of a dunnock bird there. I gently removed the dunnock and spotted these pale-blue eggs underneath and took one. By the time I was nine I'd convinced my dad to buy me my first pair of binoculars.
I got sidetracked by comedy Bird-watching got put on hold when I joined the Footlights at Cambridge University, working with John Cleese and [comic actor and subsequent Goodies member] Tim Brooke-Taylor. We toured in America in the 1960s, doing parodies of songs. Cleese was obviously the star of the show. Though it was pointed out by him – bitterly, perhaps – that I was the one who got the rave reviews.
I remember when the BBC spent its money on programmes rather than bosses In those heady days of The Goodies [in the 1970s], the BBC had better budgets and we had the use of our own in-house studio and a band with real musicians, which was great.
My first time on 'top of the pops' felt surreal It was for a song we'd done as The Goodies called "The Inbetweenies", which got to number seven in the charts, in 1974. Of course it was obvious to us that it was a joke, though I felt sorry for other bands taking it all seriously, and there were some shockingly pompous musicians on there – particularly the drummers.
I was worried the natural-history world wouldn't take me seriously I thought producers would think, "Isn't he just one of those comedy people doing wildlife?" Fortunately, there were enough people in the birding world who knew me, which was how [BBC2 wildlife documentary] Birding with Bill Oddie came about.
I was shocked when my friends called me intimidating The manic side of bipolar nature [with which Oddie was diagnosed in 2009] can manifest itself as aggression and arrogance. On filming trips, I'd say to the crew, "Just do it like that!" When my workmates pointed it out, I realised, looking back, that I must have done it more than I realised – and I certainly regret it. People just think you're a bad-tempered bugger, rather than realising there's some chemical thing going on.
I hate leaf-blowers Even when leaves aren't falling off trees, people do it. This morning there was a bloody blower going up and down a stretch of pavement in front of a garden and it sounds like a bloody motorbike. I was thinking, "Argh! Why are you blowing leaves from one side to another?"
Ticks are second only to mosquitoes as carriers of nasty diseases I came home from a trip away once and my wife noticed a tick in a tuft of hair under my arm. It was a little creature, like a minuscule beetle and it terrified me as I'd just been reading an article about Lyme disease, which is caused by ticks.
Bill Oddie, 72, is a bird-watcher, TV presenter and wildlife expert. He is partnering with pet-treatment company FrontLine to highlight the risk from ticks and fleas (uk.frontline.com)
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Posted by lisa at 03/09/2013 19:10 GMT |
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| Bill doodle being auctioned for Cornwall Wildlife Trust charity |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Bill has donated a doodle to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust fundraiser auction. The auction, which ends December 2nd (UK time) can be found at http://tinyurl.com/btrcjgb
Bill's doodle (along with contributions from
other celebrities) can be seen on the Cornwall Wildlife Trust website at
http://tinyurl.com/d8zsg82 (full URL is
http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/aboutus/50th_anniversary/celebrity_doodles_alan_ayckborn_to_bill_oddie.htm)
Following is a story about the auction from:
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Celebrity-scribblings-sale-raise-cash-Westcountry/story-17425371-detail/story.html (there's another article on the BBC News website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-20450115).
Celebrity scribblings on sale to raise cash for Westcountry wildlife
Monday, November 26, 2012
Bill Oddie, Joanna Lumley and Michael Morpurgo are among a host of celebrities from the worlds of stage, screen, sport and science to have put pen to paper for Cornwall's leading conservation charity.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) invited actors, authors, comedians, painters and athletes to create "doodles" that could be sold in a fundraising auction online.
Appeal co-ordinator Dania Shaw said the organisation, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, had been overwhelmed by the response.
"We are thrilled to have received such a large number of doodles from such a diverse group of celebrities," she said. "Bidding in the auction on eBay is expected to be intense and we are hoping it will raise more than £5,000 for Cornwall's wildlife and wild places."
The charity has already received 28 doodles, including contributions from actors Emma Thompson, Richard E Grant and Sir Ben Kingsley, playwright Alan Ayckbourn, comedians Jo Brand and Frank Skinner, film director Michael Winner, Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, broadcaster Chris Tarrant, illustrator Michael Foreman and singer Daniel O'Donnell. So far, the highest bid – £200 – is for St Just artist Kurt Jackson's "doodle" of Cape Cornwall.
Conservationist, ornithologist and Goodies star Bill Oddie was the first to send his doodle. Entitled Never Mind The Pollacks, it is a drawing of whales singing a selection of songs, from "Whale Meat Again" to "Salmon-chanted Evening". As with all the doodles, the winning bidder for Bill's cartoon will receive an autograph verifying it as his original work.
Bestselling author Michael Morpurgo, whose books include Warhorse, Wreck Of The Zanzibar and Why The Whales Came, donated a crude drawing of an oyster catcher, accompanied by a passage explaining "now you see why I only doodle writing". And Alan Titchmarsh doodled a dolphin jumping over a penguin, with the accompanying caption: "Nothing in life is black and white – except us and zebras."
CWT trustee Keith Hambly-Staite said: "Our celebrity doodle auction offers a great way to get a piece of original art from celebrities and nationally recognised book illustrators, as well as supporting the work of an organisation that has been protecting Cornwall's wildlife on land and sea since 1962.
"The fun – and in some cases the fantasy – of the doodles reflects the work of the trust and all that can be enjoyed on wildlife adventures."
To bid for a signed doodle, visit www.cornwallwildlife trust.org.uk/doodle.
Bidding closes at 9am on Sunday, December 2.
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Posted by lisa at 26/11/2012 21:22 GMT |
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| "Bill Oddie translates bird tweets on Twitter" |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
From the "how appropriate" file - the following appears online at http://www.itv.com/news/2012-09-18/bill-oddie-translates-bird-tweets-on-twitter/
Bill Oddie translates bird tweets on Twitter
- last updated Tue 18 Sep 2012
Bill Oddie has given Twitter a more literal meaning today as he translated bird calls into tweets at ZSL London Zoo.
The naturalist and head bird-keeper Adrian Wallis interpreted the chirps of the aviary's tropical residents and summarised the results in 140 characters. The event was held to mark the beginning of the migration season for the bird world.
Oddie said trained ears can pick up differences that can alter the meaning of a bird call.
“Every bird has a bit of a vocabulary. They have seven different areas of sound, and they will all have meaning.
It might be a young bird asking for food, or a bird saying 'this is my territory.
– Bill Oddie
Tweets from Oddie, under the hashtag #BirdsThatTweet, included:
Very territorial call from the Scarlet Chested Sunbird - protecting it's nest #BirdsThatTweet http://t.co/vRlDrxVU
-From @BillOddie on Twitter:(about 8 hours ago)
The Shama is quite vain and enjoys washing itself and can often be seen cleaning its feathers #BirdsThatTweet
-From @BillOddie on Twitter:(about 8 hours ago)
That red billed toucan was calling for a girlfriend. Sounds to me like he is shouting for some company! #BirdsThatTweet
-From @BillOddie on Twitter:(about 7 hours ago)
Throughout the morning, @BillOddie, @zsllondonzoo and @TwitterUK shared bird-related facts, statistics, links and popular resources.
“I jumped at the chance to take part in this activity. What better way to bring Twitter to life for the bird-watching community than translating the tweets of birds.
We are trying to show people what they can do on Twitter when it comes to bird-watching, if people just get involved by using the hashtag #BirdsThatTweet a whole world of tweeting and twittering and ornithological information will be theirs.
We are using Twitter as an educational tool and an informational tool to get the information out there and get people to care about things.
It is a simple fact that every bird has a vocabulary and has several different sounds and they will all have a different meaning.
– Bill Oddie
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Posted by lisa at 18/09/2012 15:38 GMT |
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| Nintendo offering field trip with Bill Oddie (to Battersea Park Zoo, London, on |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
This information comes from http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/38435/nintendo-invites-you-to-another-dimension-with-bill-oddie-and-the-saturdays/
Nintendo invites you to Another Dimension with Bill Oddie and The Saturdays
Go on a 3D photography field trip with celebrities
Nintendo are holding a series of special events this summer in which you can learn more about photography. Called Another Dimension, these events include field trips with Bill Oddie and The Saturdays and a special pop-up installation created by acclaimed artist Graham Hudson.
Another Dimension complements Nintendo's 3D Photography exhibition which is currently underway in Europe as the photographs taken at the field trips will be exhibited alongside the best 3D photography work from the competition at Hudson's installation.
The field trips take in the themes of People, Places, Animals, Augmented Reality and Objects and attendees will learn how to take 3D photographs using Nintendo 3DS, which will then be entered into the 3D competition. A member of the Royal Photographic Society will also attend each field trip so that they may teach people about how to take high quality 3D photographs on their Nintendo 3DS.
These Another Dimension field trips are free and open to the public, but they will be filled on first-come, first served basis, so make sure you sign up at photocomp@nintendo.co.uk .
Here are the list of confirmed field trips:
Friday 1st June : Dress Up With The Saturdays (secret location)
Wednesday 13th June: Walk With Dinosaurs With Rick Edwards (Bristol Zoo)
Thursday 14th June: Street Art Walk With Pure Evil (East London)
Friday 15th June: A Trip To The Zoo With Bill Oddie (Battersea Park Zoo, London)
The best of the photographs created during the field trips will also be featured as part of Graham Hudson's giant installation at The Loading Bay Gallery at The Old Truman Brewery in London London from 6th - 8th July. Hudson will build a large-scale architectural sculpture created from scaffolding, to house the 3D images.
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Posted by lisa at 30/05/2012 16:41 GMT |
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| Bill at "Wild About the Wensum" 19 May / Bill to host new online children's show |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Bill will be appearing at the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust's environmental awareness day "Wild About the Wensum" tomorrow (Saturday, 19 May). At the event, he will launch his new online TV show aimed at children, 'Bill and Daisy's Wild World' whose goal will be to help bring families closer to animals, plants and insects.
Here are more details about the event from http://www.pensthorpe.com/events/index.php?eventId=206
Wild About the Wensum
Saturday, 19th May 2012
10:00am - 17:00pm
Hosted by Pensthorpe Conservation Trust
FREE ENTRY TO EVENT AND RESERVE £4.00 parking charge
Bill Oddie is Wild About the Wensum!
http://www.facebook.com/WildAboutTheWensum Keep up to date with proceedings on the events Face book page
This great environmental awareness event is back. Fun packed day with lots of things to see and do. Activities on the day are based around the Wensum Valley and especially our nominated species for this year - the dragonfly. Money raised on the day will be put towards creating habitats for this species along the valley.
Learn more about the environment we live in!
Download our 'How to make a Wensum Dragonfly' build one yourself and bring it along on the day to see if you can win a Child and Adult membership to Pensthorpe for a Year!
A popular environmental awareness day, 'Wild About the Wensum,' will launch with the support of Bill Oddie and his new puppet friend Daisy, whose aim is to get children to engage with nature.
The annual event taking place on 19th May 2012 gives visitors an inspiring insight into the rich wildlife and fauna that is found in the Wensum River Valley. Passionate about Pensthorpe, Bill Oddie will return to the Reserve to meet visitors and launch his new online TV show aimed at children, 'Bill and Daisy's Wild World' - which shares the event's values of bringing families closer to animals, plants and insects.
Bill Oddie said: 'Pensthorpe is one of my favourite places in Britain to see wildlife, wander through gardens, enjoy tame birds, learn about conservation, and to make TV programmes. I am proud to say that it was my suggestion that the BBC migrated from Devon to Norfolk for Springwatch and remained at Pensthorpe for a couple of years. It is owned and run by lovely people, and does great cakes and sandwiches'.
This year the Wild About the Wensum event focuses on Dragonflies and hopes to raise money towards renovation of Dragonfly ponds on a local Common. Activities on the day will include bird identification sessions with local experts, a human fruit machine, nature quizzes, archery, face painting, dragonfly crafts, a hog roast and BBQ.
Kirsty Willingham, the events organiser at Pensthorpe says: 'This day is full of enjoyment and education, so having Bill and Daisy on hand to learn and explore with our visitors will bring a fantastic new dimension to this annual event. It's also a great opportunity to celebrate the natural history and heritage of the Wensum Valley'.
Daisy, who is a four year old 'nature bug' said: 'I've heard so much about Pensthorpe but I have never been before. I can't wait to explore the grounds and enjoy all the fun at the Wild About the Wensum event'.
Admission to Pensthorpe and the event is free on the day, with a nominal £4 parking charge per vehicle to help make it financially sustainable and to encourage car sharing.
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Posted by lisa at 18/05/2012 16:47 GMT |
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| ask Bill Oddie a question |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Bill Oddie's Bird Food Recipes is offering another chance to ask Bill a question. Here are the details, from this website:
http://billoddiesbirdfood.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/its-time-to-askbilloddie-a-question-what-would-you-like-to-know-about-birds-nature-or-bill/
It's time to #AskBillOddie a question. What would you like to know about birds, nature or Bill? Get your question on the list before 5 o'clock, May 14, and he might be recording a personal reply to you via YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/billoddiesbirdfood
Do you have a question you'd like to ask Bill Oddie? Would you like to know more about migrant birds, or ask why Bill thinks the humble House Sparrow has declined rapidly since the 1970s?
Perhaps you'd like to know the best way to attract more birds? Or why what can be done to help Starlings recover from a 79% population decline? Maybe you'd like to know if it's wise to feed birds in summer? Which - of course - it is! Perhaps you have a more personal question for Bill - what was it like to be in the Goodies!? When's he next on tour? We can't guarantee they'll all get answered - but we'll do our best to get as many answered as we can.
In January Bill answered over 20 questions and - weather dependent - we'll try for the same amount in May. To get you in the spirit why not take a look at last year's questions at
http://billoddiesbirdfood.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/its-time-to-askbilloddie-a-question-get-yours-on-the-list-before-february-7/. The link next to the A: (answer) will whisk you away to YouTube where you'll see Bill's answer on the Bill Oddie's Bird Food Recipes YouTube Channel.
You haven't got long to put your thinking cap on though as we're filming on May 15.
Where to add your Ask Bill Oddie questions:
* On twitter - follow us @billsbirdfood and use #AskBillOddie to ask your question
* On facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Billsbirdfood
* On YouTube - post it at http://www.youtube.com/billoddiesbirdfood
* WordPress blog - http://billoddiesbirdfood.wordpress.com/ask-bill-oddie/
Don't forget to add your name as this will be a personal reply!
So whatever the question within reason, please, #AskBillOddie is now open in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
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Posted by lisa at 09/05/2012 18:01 GMT |
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| Bill Oddie hopes to return to Springwatch |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
The following article appears on the Mirror's website at http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/tv-film-news/bill-oddie-set-for-springwatch-return-770568
Springing back to Springwatch: 'Ousted' Bill Oddie in line for return to BBC show
By Mark Jefferies
24 Mar 2012 00:00
The 70-year-old claimed he left the BBC show due to an incident during filming and was not asked back by producers
Bill Oddie is set to return to TV’s Springwatch two years after quitting in mysterious circumstances.
The 70-year-old claimed he left the BBC show due to an incident during filming and was not asked back by producers.
But the wildlife expert could now be in the frame for a surprise return.
He said: “I am hoping that I might come back and do a few bits and pieces.
“I can’t pretend that I wouldn’t because it’s a programme I was there right from the start with and I was there for a long time.
“I am now thrust back – which I can’t say I enjoy doing – into the dreaded pitching and trying to sell yourself land.
"I have got plenty of ideas but you just sit around and wait and there’s an awful lot of that.”
Bill left Springwatch in January 2009, saying at the time: “It feels like the right time to take a breather and recharge my batteries.”
But two months ago he claimed his exit was down to something that happen-ed in filming on Brownsea Island in Dorset.
After several weeks, he spoke to his producer and asked what was going on. Giving no further details about the “incident”, he said: “I was called in, and was told, ‘We won’t be asking you to do Springwatch next year’.
"So that was the big shock. No one explained why... I started slipping into a depression that got worse and worse... now, of course, the BBC was splendidly off the hook.
“They could issue a statement saying they were terribly sorry Mr Oddie wasn’t well and that they wished me the best.
"This, of course, was the reason Mr Oddie wasn’t doing Springwatch. But it wasn’t.”
Speaking about the circumstances again at a screening for movie We Bought A Zoo in London this month, the Goodies star said: “It’s a long time ago and a failure of communications.
"I wasn’t well eventually – there was no question about that – and was in a situation where I couldn’t have given my best. Like a lot of big organisations perhaps they could have been more sympathetic.”
Birdwatcher Bill also claimed he was not surprised his former co-host Kate Humble has left the show.
Laughing, he said: “I hope she only finds that a humorous comment because I could get in to a lot of trouble here, but Kate nearly left every flipping year.
"Kate’s very versatile and there were lots of other things she wanted to do.”
A BBC spokesman said they had always been open to working with Bill again and hoped he would do things for the show in the future.
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Posted by lisa at 24/03/2012 02:11 GMT |
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| Telegraph article: Bill Oddie says he was frozen out of 'Springwatch’ by the BBC |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
This article appears in the Telegraph's online edition at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9121086/Springwatch-presenter-Bill-Oddie-BBC-investigated-me-after-mystery-incident.html
Springwatch presenter Bill Oddie: BBC investigated me after mystery 'incident’
Bill Oddie says he was frozen out of 'Springwatch’ by the BBC after a complaint was made about his behaviour during filming.
By Richard Eden
7:30AM GMT 04 Mar 2012
When Bill Oddie stepped down as a presenter of Springwatch, the BBC said his health problems were to blame. The 70-year-old former comedian now claims, however, that he was forced out of the popular wildlife programme after an investigation into his behaviour during the filming.
Oddie says the BBC carried out the inquiry after complaints were made about an “incident” that took place while he was shooting the programme on Brownsea Island, in Dorset.
He refuses to say what the incident was and swears that he does not know “to this day” whether the complaints were made by members of the public or the crew.
The naturalist, who had worked on the programme since it was launched in 2005, says he telephoned his producer and said: “It’s as if you’ve been told not to talk to me”. She replied: “We have.”
In 2008, he was called to a meeting, at which he was told that he would not be asked back to the programme. “That was the big shock,” he says. “No one explained why. After I was told I wouldn’t be asked back, I started slipping into a depression that got worse and worse.”
Oddie, who became a household name as a member of The Goodies comedy programme, says tabloid newspapers learnt that he was being treated in hospital.
“Some of the papers got hold of that, tracked down what hospital I was in," he tells The Lady magazine. "Now, of course, the BBC was splendidly off the hook. They could issue a statement saying they were terribly sorry Mr Oddie wasn’t well. This, of course, was the reason Mr Oddie wasn’t doing Springwatch. But it wasn’t.”
He made a guest appearance in the penultimate episode of the 2010 series of the programme. The BBC declines to comment on its investigation. “We would never comment on any personnel issue,” says a spokesman, who adds: “Bill’s health and wellbeing has always been an important consideration for us. He has since done several projects with the BBC. We are always open to working with him.”
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Posted by lisa at 04/03/2012 16:10 GMT |
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| Bill Oddie & Stephen Moss - Unplucked |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
This April Bill will be going on tour to talk about his natural history series. Here are details from his official website: http://www.billoddie.com/bill-oddie-tour-dates.htm
Bill Oddie & Stephen Moss - Unplucked
TV’s favourite wildlife man Bill Oddie takes to the stage with his producer Stephen Moss. Bill and Stephen will share memories and stories from 15 years of some of the most popular natural history series ever made! Illustrated by extracts, some of which were so memorable that they ranked amongst viewers most requested clips from Bill’s ludicrous attempt to swim with seals, to the breath-taking air display of a Starling roost (often copied, but never surpassed!). And of course, although the show is called Un-plucked, it includes all sorts of other wildlife, from Dormice to Whales. Fascinating for all the family!
Unplucked Tour Dates
* 23rd April
7.30pm The Regent Centre
Christchurch
Dorset BH23 1AS
Telephone: 01202 499199
Tickets: http://www.regentcentre.co.uk/
* 24th April
7.30pm The Capital
North Street, Horsham
West Sussex RH12 1RG
Telephone: 01403 750220
Tickets: https://tickets.thecapitolhorsham.com/
* 25th April
7.45pm The Brewhouse Theatre
Coal Orchard, Taunton
Somerset TA1 1JL
Telephone: 01823 283244
Tickets: http://www.thebrewhouse.net/main-house/1260/bill-oddie-un-plucked
* 26th April 7.30pm The Rhodes Arts Complex
Bishops Stortford
Hertfordshire CM23 3GJ
Telephone: 01279 651746
Tickets http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_south&query=detail&event=481982
* 27th April 8.00pm he Wyllyotts Theatre
Darkes Lane, Potters Bar
Hertfordshire EN6 2HN
Telephone: 01707 645 005
Tickets: http://www.hertsmereleisure.co.uk/wyllyotts+theatre/what%27s+on/2012/04/27/Bill+Oddie+%E2%80%93+Un-plucked
* 28th April
7.45pm The Gorden Craig Theatre
Lytton Way, Stevenage
Hertfordshire SG1 1LZ
Telephone: 01438 894901
Tickets: http://www.gordon-craig.co.uk/GordonCraigTheatreWhatsOnShowDetail.aspx?id=275&date=
* 29th April
7.30pm Medina Theatre
Fairlee Rd, Newport
Isle of Wight PO30 2DX
Telephone: 01983 527020
Tickets: https://www.iwight.com/theatrebooking/
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Posted by lisa at 12/01/2012 21:30 GMT |
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| two Bill articles (honouring NHS staff & opening exhibition) |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
1. The Camden New Journal website at http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2012/jan/bill-oddie-honours-nhs-staff-mental-health-heroes-receive-awards-work-st-pancras-hospi has a photo of Bill presenting mental health service awards to NHS staff at St Pancras Hospital
2. The RSPB website (http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/guildford/news/301290/) mentions the Bill opened an exhibition at the Watts Gallery:
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Bill Oddie at the Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey.
G F Watts, the celebrated Victorian artist, painted a picture of an angel weeping over the wings of slaughtered birds, to show his outrage at the destruction of birdlife for fashion, which was having a devastating effect on wildlife even threatening extinction of species such as the great crested grebe.
Bill Oddie and Roger Kerswell opened a special exhibition at the Watts Gallery which showcases this G.F. Watts painting called 'A Dedication: to Beauty and Innocence'. Watts dedicated the painting "To all those who love the beautiful and mourn over the senseless and cruel destruction of bird life and beauty". Watts completed this painting to show his support for the campaigners against the fashion for wearing feathers, who united to form the Society for the Protection of Birds in 1891. The picture has been adopted by HK Associates (UK) Limited, a consultancy owned by RSPB members Roger & Heather Kerswell.
The exhibition runs until 18th March 2012.
Mike Grimshaw, Group Leader, and local group members attended the opening of the exhibition at the Watts Gallery in support of the RSPB.
Details of the exhibition can be found at -
http://www.wattsgallery.org.uk/news
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Posted by lisa at 12/01/2012 19:56 GMT |
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| Bill lecture at Halesworth Arts Festival on 21 October 2011 |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Bill will be participating in the Halesworth Arts Festival on October 21st by presenting a talk about conservation and some of his favourite East Anglian wildlife haunts in a fundraising event for the World Land Trust, according to an article at http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/features/halesworth_festival_cuts_loose_1_1078643 .
Tickets cost £12.50 and can be purchased from http://www.halesworthartsfestival.org.uk/details.php?progid=32, which has these details about the event:
7:30pm Friday 21st October – Bill Oddie News of the Wild - Lecture
Bill Oddie has been at the forefront of comedy and conservation for more than 4 decades, reaching new audiences all the time with his special blend of humour, wit and knowledge
He is a regular Visitor to East Anglia, which provides some of his favourite birdwatching haunts, and has been a supporter of the World Land Trust, Halesworth’s international wildlife charity, for the past 2 decades.
Bill has also travelled to WLT project areas in remote parts of South America and Africa.
He will recount and entertain with stories and images of his wildlife adventures, which will include searching for elusive species in far flung places, to more gentle observations of wildlife closer to home
This is a World Land Trust charity event
www.worldlandtrust.org
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Posted by lisa at 05/10/2011 21:29 GMT |
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| Bill Oddie at the Great Gorilla run 2011 |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Here is an article from the Mail Online about Bill opening this year's Great Gorilla Run
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2041427/Absolutely-bananas-Gorillas-ape-charity-run-Londons-urban-jungle.html
Absolutely bananas: Gorillas go ape on barmy charity run through London's urban jungle - By Leon Watson
On your marks, get set, go-rilla! These wacky racers ran round the urban jungle today dressed like they were aping a wild animal.
As temperatures soared for September, more than 1,000 made it round the 4.3 mile (7km) central London course wearing furry gorilla costumes.
And as the mercury hit 23C, the sweaty runners cris-crossed the Thames going over Tower Bridge, back over London Bridge, then Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge.
They passed a series of London sights including the Tower of London, HMS Belfast and The Tate Modern.
The Great Gorilla Run was held by The Gorilla Organisation to highlight the plight of gorillas in the wild and is expected to raise £400,000 for the cause.
According to the NGO, there are only 720 mountain gorillas and the species is in danger of extinction.
The Gorilla Organisation helps provide community-based employment and education projects in Africa that aim to reduce pressure on areas of threatened gorilla habitat.
Its run is now in its eighth year.
After the race, Amanda Williams said on Twitter: 'Had a fab time at the Great Gorilla Run. Let's hope all the money raised from our monkeying around helps save some mountain gorillas.'
She added: 'My gorilla suit is actually steaming inside its plastic case! Nice.'
Another runner Brad Chuck said: 'Great Gorilla Run. Done! 56 mins and 1 second. What a giggle! But my word the heat was immense. Team gorilla next year anyone?'
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Posted by jeffers at 25/09/2011 01:26 GMT |
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| Bill participates in Global Wind Day |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
This article appears online at http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=20061&channel=0&title=UK+and+Ireland+gear+up+for+Global+Wind+Day+
UK and Ireland gear up for Global Wind Day
6 June 2011
A host of events are planned next week for Global Wind Day - an annual event marked in more than 70 countries across the world.
Events are held across the globe with community groups and business coming together to promote wind power
The event, which is always held on June 15 aims to promote the benefits of wind power while encouraging people to have fun.
In the UK and Ireland there are a number of events including a documentary screening by RenewableUK featuring TV presenter Bill Oddie looking at green projects around Britain.
The documentary will be shown for the first time at the launch with Mr Oddie introducing the film at the Curzon Cinema, in Soho, London.
In Ireland Bord Gáis Kilgarvan Wind Farm will hold an educational open day, with local school children invited to have a look and learn about the technology at the site.
Global Wind Energy Council chairman, Klaus Rave, said: "With wind, we can achieve a genuine energy revolution and on June 15, people on all continents celebrate the promises that wind power holds for our planet."
Luke Walsh
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Posted by lisa at 06/06/2011 16:18 GMT |
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| Bill's Saga Blog & Springwatch Easter Special (Mon, 25 April) |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Bill's written a blog for Saga (URL below). He's also scheduled to appear in the "Springwatch Easter Special" this Monday, 25 April, on BBC 2 at 8pm.
From http://www.saga.co.uk/homeandlifestyle/gardening/wildlife-watch/springwatch-the-inimitable-bill-oddie-talks-to-saga.asp :
Springwatch: Bill Oddie talks to Saga
With the Springwatch Easter Special being broadcast on BBC2 this Easter Monday, April 25 at 8pm, its inimitable presenter, the former Goodie, naturalist and twitcher extraordinaire Bill Oddie told Saga how the popular programme came into being, plus... Harry Hill, Kate Humble's plans for world domination, Chris Packham's model features, blogging, tweeting and anything else that came into his head:
"Well, well, I never thought I’d see the day. Maybe you never thought you'd see it either. Not if you were already tuning in to Springwatch in the olden times. Before it was even called Springwatch. It started as 'Wild In Your Garden', live from several gardens in Bristol. Next year it went nationwide and became Springwatch by any other name. In fact, the other name was 'Britain Goes Wild'. In the third season, it was finally officially christened Springwatch, which bothered me a bit at the time because it was broadcast in early June, which I rather pedantically pointed out is not spring, unless you live in the Arctic. On the other hand, I had to concede that Springwatch was a very snappy name, perfect for BBC 'branding', and ripe for imitation and parody. Harry Hill must be eternally grateful.
"Anyway, the thing is, back in the early years we were only just beginning to embrace digital technology. Or rather everyone was except me. It became something of a running gag that I didn't even own a computer, let alone know how it worked. I even claimed that my lips were physically incapable of saying 'www' 'forward slash' or even 'dot com'. I insisted that if there were to be any references to 'websites' Kate Humble would do them, which she gamely did, despite my attempts to distract her by waving leaflets or miming using an old fashioned telephone.
"Well, well, how times have changed since then. On Spring and Autumnwatch I have been replaced by a younger model. Actually, Chris Packham isn't a model - although he certainly has the looks - he is a fantastic naturalist, continuing I am happy to note a habit of courting controversy, of which I entirely approve, even if I don't always agree! Simon King has flapped off into cyberspace. I recommend you track him down. While Kate is off pursuing her plan to conquer the world and the entire BBC output. Spices, lambs, birds, animals. Why not combine the lot? 'How to Cook Wildlife - Live!' If Kate doesn't do it, I bet Harry Hill will.
"And what about me ? Well, frankly, even I don't know that. Tell you what, why not visit my website?
"What! Bill Oddie has a website!? Oh yes, and apparently I am on Facebook and Twitter. Except that I am not. Whoever is using my name, it's not me.
"Most recently – I’m getting to the point at last! - I have been recording a short item for the Springwatch Easter Special. Didn't know there was one? Nor me. But there must be, cos I'm on it, a bit. And - wait for it - what do you think I am doing? An item on computers of course! I am explaining how you can enhance your wildlife watching by using the internet! Not only do I recommend various websites you can visit, I also assure you that finding them, navigating round them, and following links to other related sites is really really easy. And to prove it, I am seen doing it myself! No camera tricks. No 'stand in' for the close ups. It is my hand on the mouse. Those are my very own fingers doing the clicking. It is also my voice assuring you that 'if I can do it ,anybody can.' And you know what? I am enjoying it. I think you will too.
"Meanwhile, it's a lovely April spring day In London and I absolutely refuse to stay stuck at my desk for a minute longer staring at a flipping screen. There is only one place I want to be - out!
"Wildlife on the telly, or on the computer, great, but you can't beat the real thing.
"It's been nice blogging. By the way, what is a 'blog'?"
Written by Bill Oddie.
Springwatch Easter Special is broadcast on BBC2, Easter Monday, April 25, at 8pm. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch
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Posted by lisa at 23/04/2011 02:37 GMT |
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| Bill Oddie article about RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
This article by Bill comes from the Guardian's website at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2011/jan/26/birders-rspb-big-garden-birdwatch (Note that webpage also includes links to page with Big Garden Birdwatch 2010 data & photographs)
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Fellow birders unite for the RSPB Big Garden BirdwatchWhether you consider yourself a birder, ornithologist, or simply a bird lover, the Big Garden Birdwatch needs you this weekend
Whether you consider yourself a birder, ornithologist, or simply a bird lover, the Big Garden Birdwatch needs you this weekend
The hobby that dare not speak its name. Well, that's how it used to be. By the time I was seven, I knew I was a birdwatcher. I didn't admit it until I was 10. The response of my peers was puzzlement and mockery. "Birdwatching!? How soppy! Why can't you go scrumping apples and pulling girls' pigtails like us normal schoolboys?"
Adults were just as indifferent, but men could rarely resist coming out with that most tedious of "bird jokes": "Oh yes. I'm a bit of a birdwatcher too! Two-legged kind, eh? Eh?" I endured that several hundred times, before I discovered the deserved riposte, which is: "All birds have two legs. Unless they've been in an accident and lost one, in which case it's very distasteful to laugh at disabled creatures."
The "I'm a bit of a birdwatcher too" quip, pathetically, is still going strong, but the joyous truth these days is that many people really are watching birds. "What, the feathered kind?" Yes. Indeed, things have changed so much since I was a lad that, instead of being an minority activity, birdwatching is one of the fastest growing leisure pursuits in the world. Well, that's what I read in the business section of an American Airlines magazine about five years ago. It has probably been overtaken since by ballroom dancing but nevertheless it is undeniable that birdwatchers are no longer alone. We are out – outdoors that is – and proud. No longer are little lads and lasses teased about their hobby. Parents encourage them and many join in.
Birdwatchers are not one harmonious band, but that is no bad thing. One of the delights of birds is that they can be enjoyed in so many ways. Some people draw and paint them. Others photograph and film them. Some record their songs. Others "twitch". "Twitcher" is not simply a synonym for "birdwatcher". In the same way that a sprinter is an athlete, but an athlete is not necessarily a sprinter, a twitcher is a birdwatcher, but a birdwatcher is not necessarily a twitcher. Twitching is the often rather frantic pursuit of rare birds. We've all been on an occasional twitch, but a serious, knowledgeable birdwatcher who is not obsessed with his or her "list" would prefer to be called "a birder". I am a birder.
I am not a "bird spotter", an expression that belongs in pre-war Boy Scout manuals and I-Spy books. Nor would I claim to be an "ornithologist", a title which implies scientific knowledge, a capacity for protracted study, an understanding of graphs, figures and statistics, and possibly a doctorate. Finally, at the opposite – but not bottom – end of the birdwatcher's league are people who put out bird food in their gardens, may not even be able to identify all the species, but simply enjoy having them there. Let's just call them "bird lovers".
Bird watchers, twitchers, ornithologists, birders, even bird spotters (if they are not extinct) and bird lovers – we need you all this weekend.
• Bill Oddie is a council member of the RSPB. This weekend is the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
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Posted by lisa at 26/01/2011 23:09 GMT |
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| Kate Humble talks about Bill Oddie leaving Springwatch |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Springwatch co-presenter Kate Humble is doing interviews to promote the new series of the show. Following are a few excerpts in which she speaks about Bill leaving the series.
From http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/drama/tv-news/interviews/kate-humble-dishes-the-dirt-on-springwatch/5815
Kate Humble dishes the dirt on Springwatch!
May 19, 2009
The beautiful Springwatch presenter Kate Humble discusses shark encounters, Bill Oddie and why we're going to have a good summer...
What’s it like doing the show without Bill Oddie this year?
"It's a little discombobulating if I'm honest. I worked with Bill for a very long time and he's incredibly inspirational. Yes he could be tricky and it was always unpredictable, but working with Bill was never boring!"
What will you miss about him?
"He is absolutely passionate about British wildlife and he is one of the best communicators I know on that subject. Bill set a standard that all of us want to keep and build on. He opened the door on the incredible wildlife of the nation and we would like to carry on getting people involved and enthused by it."
Did you ever consider leaving the show yourself?
"I thought about it very hard. The right person had to replace Bill and Chris [Packham] is definitely right. He comes from the same place as Bill and they have the same beliefs. We haven't worked together before, but when first met to be tested to see that we didn't look weird on the sofa together it felt very natural, so hopefully we'll do all right!"
From http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jHNE8wKTW-1pgOawN4hoX-sW4TcQ
Kate on Oddie leaving Springwatch
Kate Humble has admitted she wondered whether she could continue to present Springwatch when co-host Bill Oddie left.
But the 40-year-old said she decided she wanted to continue when she heard Chris Packham would be taking over, who she said was the "right person" for the role.
She said: "It's a little discombobulating if I am honest, I have worked with Bill for a very long time and he is an incredibly inspirational person to work with".
She went on: "Yes he could be tricky, it was always unpredictable, it was never boring working with Bill, but he is absolutely passionate about British wildlife and he is one of the best communicators I know on that subject, so when he made the decision not to come back, my feeling was 'oh can't I do it without him' and then he (Chris) came along and the answer is probably, no I can't do it without him but I don't have to try."
Chris said he feels like he is in "safe hands" coming on to the wildlife show.
Earlier this year Oddie announced he was leaving the show after four years.
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Posted by lisa at 19/05/2009 00:00 GMT |
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| according to The Mirror, Bill Oddie is leaving Springwatch |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
The following appears in the 30 Jan 2009 edition of The Mirror (at http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/01/30/bill-oddie-quits-springwatch-115875-21081620/):
Bill Oddie quits Springwatch
Exclusive by Nicola Methven 30/01/2009
Bill Oddie is spreading his wings and leaving the Springwatch nest after four years to “take a breather”.
The nation’s favourite TV twitcher will continue to front other natural history programmes for BBC2.
Fans will miss Oddie and co-host Kate Humble’s gentle bickering and bosses are looking for a replacement to work with her.
Candidates include the show’s roving reporter Simon King, wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan, Countryfile’s Ben Fogle and even ITV chat-show host Alan Titchmarsh.
Yesterday Oddie, 67, said: “I’m really going to miss working with Kate, Simon and the team but after an amazing four years of really intense work it feels like the right time to take a breather and recharge my batteries.” The new series will kick off in May with a special to celebrate the former Goodie’s most memorable moments from the shows.
The dedicated naturalist is planning new editions of Bill Oddie’s Top 10, in which he picks his favourite wildlife.
Springwatch launched in 2005 and became a hit thanks to the combination of bossy Oddie and exuberant Humble.
Live every weeknight for a month, it regularly attracted four million viewers.
Last night the Beeb’s natural history unit head Neil Nightingale said: “Bill’s style, in-depth expertise and unflinching dedication helped establish Springwatch and Autumnwatch as two of the nation’s favourite natural history programmes.”
BBC2 boss Janice Hadlow paid tribute to Oddie’s “amazing ornithological knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject”.
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Posted by lisa at 29/01/2009 12:00 GMT |
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| Telegraph "Autumnwatch" article |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
The following article appears in today's Telegraph; it is available online at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/10/30/nosplit/bvtvautumnwatch30.xml
Autumnwatch
Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 30/10/2008
Robert Collins spends the day with Bill Oddie and Kate Humble on the set of Autumnwatch
Bill Oddie is looking through his binoculars and using pornography as an analogy for his approach to nature. “Someone once described the difference between me and David Attenborough as being that if his programmes were Playboy centrefolds, mine were readers’ wives.” Oddie chuckles, gleeful at the comparison. “I’ve always tried to show people what they can see. David’s programmes show them what they’ll never see [in person].”
To prove his point, the home of the current series of Autumnwatch, BBC2’s live nature series on seasonal change that Oddie presents with his co-anchor Kate Humble, is Brownsea Island. Owned by the National Trust and run by the Dorset Wildlife Trust, the island is open to the public. It’s a small, secluded haven of wildlife, including Japanese sika deer, which frames one side of Poole harbour. Today there are some 500 visitors walking round it, tripping over the frolicking population of more than 200 red squirrels, whose survival on the island has been helped by the fact that no grey squirrel has ever set a pox-ridden paw here.
Bill Oddie and Kate Humble birdwatch on Dorset's Brownsea Island
Oddie and Humble are taking a rare quiet moment on the new series’s second day of live broadcast to sit in the National Trust’s hide and watch a flock of wading avocets who have come to winter in Brownsea’s lagoon. Humble enthusiastically endorses Oddie’s policy of nature for all. “The programme has put wildlife and people together,” she beams. “Wildlife doesn’t have to be shut away behind great gates or hedges. You can all go and enjoy this stuff.”
As he sits in the hut, Oddie’s eyes barely leave the island’s avian visitors. “Look at the lagoon: the spoonbills are back!” he exclaims. Humble clucks proudly: “The lovely thing about Bill is that he knows and loves this place.” Oddie’s love of the island, in fact, was instrumental in making it the new base of Autumnwatch, after two years broadcasting from Martin Mere in Lancashire (its sister programme Springwatch has been based in Devon and Norfolk). Sixty-seven-year-old Oddie first visited Brownsea Island when he was a teenager in the Fifties. “There’s something infectious about being with someone who can put things into context and say, ‘Well, you know, when I was a lad,’” says Humble, 41. To which Oddie wryly adds: “Yes. It makes you feel younger, Kate.”
Autumnwatch was watched by 3.8million viewers on the new series’s first night on Monday — a feat for a programme showing at the same time as EastEnders. With Humble and Oddie presenting from Brownsea, the show also shows live reports from Simon King, who has been following the Fallow deer rut at Petworth House in West Sussex this year, and wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan, who is currently embedded with a colony of grey seals on the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumbria. In Monday’s broadcast Buchanan’s transmission was lost — partly because, Buchanan’s transmitter, due to space constraints, is no bigger than a suitcase.
All around Brownsea Island, in the lead-up to transmission, the production crew of 60 dashes around, preparing a slate of pre-recorded shots for the evening’s broadcast. One of the show’s three wildlife cameramen films coal tits hovering in mid-air, using a slow-motion camera that can shoot at 1,000 frames per second. Another, Joe Charlesworth, refines the assault course that he has concocted to test the red squirrels’ intelligence. His latest addition: a tightrope fashioned from pink bungee cord. “Now we just need some squirrels,” he says. Nearly an hour later, the squirrels emerge from nearby woods and begin to test the course (see picture, left). None dare the high wire.
Stephen Moss, the show’s series producer, describes the appeal of broadcasting live as being about, “the uncertainty of what the animals are going to do.” That and the uncertainty of whether Buchanan’s transmission will reach them tonight. As they go on air, Buchanan’s tiny transmitter at last obliges. And, in the programme’s last moments, while items are reshuffled to allow the show to end precisely on time, King manages to capture a Fallow buck rutting with a doe at Petworth House. With perfect televisual timing, the process only takes a second.
Autumnwatch is on tonight on BBC2 at 8.00pm and next week, Mon-Thurs
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Posted by lisa at 30/10/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Autumnwatch and the Bournemouth Daily Echo |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Autumnwatch with Bill Oddie returns next Monday (27 October) from Brownsea Island. According to this article on its website, The Bournemouth Daily Echo is planning "lots of coverage - including an interview with Kate Humble and Bill Oddie in Saturday's weekend Magazine and exclusive video of Kate and Bill on Brownsea." We'll keep an eye on the website; if you get the newspaper let us know if you spot any articles (especially those that don't appear in the online edition).
Note that the newspaper is seeking images and videos that sum up autumn for you - visit the article at the link above for details on posting your photos/videos.
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Posted by lisa at 22/10/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Graeme in article in Doctor Who Magazine #401 |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine (Issue 401, which went on sale in the UK today) includes an article about the new series of Doctor Who radio adventures. The press release says the article includes an interview with the cast, including
Paul McGann, Sheridan Smith, Graeme Garden, Art Malik, Clare Buckfield and James Fleet.
Thanks for Sosia for pointing out that the first story in the series (the second series of Eighth Doctor audio adventures) starts this Sunday on BBC Radio 7. Graeme is in the second show in the series (Max Warp) while Tim appears in the sixth story (The Zygon Who Fell To Earth). Each story probably will be broken into multiple episodes; we'll have to watch for the start date of Tim's & Graeme's appearances.
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Posted by lisa at 15/10/2008 23:00 GMT |
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| Autumnwatch with Bill to return October 27th |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
According to an article in the Daily Echo at http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/display.var.2449883.0.brownbbc_island.php, Autumnwatch is set to return on October 27th (running Mondays through Thursdays for two weeks).
BrownBBC Island!
By Diana Henderson
Beautiful Brownsea Island is well known to be one of TV presenter Bill Oddie's favourite wildlife places.
And the rest of the nation will be able to share his joy in the Poole Harbour island when the BBC's popular Autumnwatch is based there next month.
Film crews will broadcast from the island for two weeks from October 27, from Monday to Thursday at 8pm and the island's opening season has been extended to allow people to visit during Autumnwatch.
Presenters Bill Oddie and Kate Humble will explore the wildlife of the National Trust island, famed for its delightful red squirrels and visiting winter waders and wildfowl.
More than 200 acres of the 550-acre Brownsea Island is a nature reserve, managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, and offers a wide variety of habitat.
Feathered friends include around 1,000 avocet, the UK's largest wintering flock.
* Brownsea is celebrating its most famous residents next weekend.
Activities and trails will help form part of Red Squirrel weekend on September 27-28, from 10.30am-3.30pm each day.
There will also be daily Red Squirrel guided walks, at 11.30am and 2pm, from September 22 to October 24.
A Fungi Foray, exploring the island's fungi, takes place on September 18 and October 4, starting at 11am.
The weekend of October 25-26 hosts a celebration of Brownsea's autumn trees, from 10.30am-3pm each day.
For Halloween, there are spooky trails around the island each day from October 27 to November 2, with a special Halloween Horrors day on October 31, from 10.30am-3pm.
For more information call 01202 707744 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea.
9:24am Saturday 20th September 2008
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Posted by lisa at 22/09/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Bill endorses Fair Island observatory fundraising project |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
As explained in the following articles, Bill is endorsing a fundraising appeal for a bird observatory on Fair Isle. (To read the second article use the "click here for more" link below.)
From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/7558413.stm :
Island in £4m bid for twitchers
A fundraising appeal has been launched for a new bird observatory on Fair Isle, one of the UK's most remote inhabited islands.
The National Trust, which owns the island, said the existing facility had attracted visitors for 60 years and was the lynchpin of its economy.
The Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust said it needed to raise £1.5m for the new building, which will open in 2010.
Shetland Islands Council has pledged more than a quarter of the £4m cost.
'Ornithological mecca'
Hundreds of bird watchers travel to the island off Shetland every year to observe migrating birds.
The bird observatory there is known to ornithologists around the world and is famous for its rare bird migrants and spectacular seabirds.
Bill Oddie, a regular visitor to the observatory, gave his backing to the fundraising campaign.
"Fair Isle is one of my favourite birding locations," he said.
"I first went as a schoolboy, a visit to my ornithological mecca - I've been back many times and seen some cracking rare birds.
"I encourage everyone to donate generously and help build the new observatory and I hope to be one of its first birding visitors."
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Posted by lisa at 14/08/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Bill presents Network Rail’s 2008 Environment Awards |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Bill was the presenter for the Network Rail’s 2008 Environment Awards. This Railnews article has a photo of Bill during the cermony.
A blog by a member of the BTCV Bedfordshire Weekday Conservation Team (WCT) includes a photo of Bill posing with the happy winners of the Network Rail Environment Award for Biodiversity Protection 2008 (you can click on the image to see a larger verion). On another website, a member of the team commented that Bill "gave a wonderfully amusing speech."
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Posted by lisa at 09/07/2008 00:30 GMT |
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| news items from Bill's 12 June interview on BBC WM (Birmingham) |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Here are a few news tidbits Bill mentioned during his interview yesterday morning on BBC WM:
- They will be doing Autumnwatch this year.
- The BBC has already green lighted Springwatch 2009.
- Bill claimed the fuss about his "smutty" remarks on Springwatch this year was the result of the Daily Mail making an issue out of only three such complaints on the BBC Message Boards (though once the story got picked up by other papers other complaints were posted).
- Bill said he's finally started writing his autobiography, which he's been putting off doing for some time. A listing for the book popped up on Amazon.co.uk a few months ago
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autobiography-Bill-Oddie/dp/0340951923/) with a September 2008 publication date.
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Posted by lisa at 13/06/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Bill to take part in CBeebies's Ecobabies |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
From the Coventry Telegraph's website (at
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/passtheremote/2008/06/cbeebies-goes-green-with-ecoba.html):
CBeebies Goes Green With Ecobabies
By Marion McMullen on Jun 9, 08 07:38 AM in Telly gossip
A YEAR-LONG green initiative called EcoBeebies will launch on the CBeebies channel on Friday.
EcoBeebies will introduce three to six-year-olds and their families to a range of environmental, conservation and wildlife related issues, with contributions from familiar faces including Springwatch presenter and conservationist Bill Oddie.
The launch day will be marked with a one-off special show called Easy Peasy EcoBeebies, followed a week later by a weekly nature programme called The Green Balloon Club, which will be broadcast every Friday afternoon for a year.
In addition, children can access EcoBeebies via an initiative called the Green Stars Club on the CBeebies website, enabling children to learn more about conservation and their environment with parents and carers online.
Michael Carrington, Controller, CBeebies said: "We want to encourage children to explore, conserve and appreciate the outdoors and nature with their parents, teachers and grandparents. Given the success of our junior versions of shows like Springwatch, we hope that EcoBeebies will inspire young children to get outside, be active and engage with conservation."
Children and carers can log on to bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/ecobeebies to learn about regeneration through the Green Stars Club, an online club where children will be encouraged to do their bit for the environment.
Each week on the show, a password will be given which enables children to enter the Green Balloon Club website. Children will be able to earn stars by completing tasks like growing their own food in a window box or garden, helping with recycling or spotting animals and birds.
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Posted by lisa at 11/06/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Springwatch Specials - Bill presents "Springwatch Gardens" on 17 June |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Next week BBC 2 will show four Springwatch Specials. According to http://www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch/features/specials.shtml - "For 2008, Springwatch has a week four! We've made a mini series of themed Springwatch Specials to run through the week after the live shows. Monday – Thursday 8pm, BBC TWO from Monday 16 June until Thursday 19 June".
Following are details about the special to be hosted by Bill next Tuesday. Info about the other specials are available at the link above; that page also has a short clip from Bill's special which is viewable from within the UK.
SPRINGWATCH GARDENS with Bill Oddie
8pm Tuesday 17 June, BBC TWO
Bill Oddie invites you into his very own garden to reveal wildlife stories of drama, passion and surprise. We Brits are a nation of animal and garden lovers and in our unassuming gardens rather ordinary creatures are doing extraordinary things... and all right under our noses.
Wood mice produce huge families of up to 36 babies a year, gentle ladybirds deal savagely with garden pests and sleepy hedgehogs live dangerously in compost heaps. Bill offers garden tips, simple things that we can do for nature and uncovers the lengths that some people, including himself, will go to lure wildlife into these little green nature reserves.
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Posted by lisa at 10/06/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Springwatch Gardens |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
Thanks to wackywales for posting the following in the forums:
Another member of the Springwatch family that'll be on the week after the main programme ends.
Springwatch Gardens
Bill Oddie invites the cameras into his own garden and reveals a selection of dramatic and surprising wildlife stories. He also offers tips on improving green spaces, shows simple ways to help the natural world and uncovers the lengths people go to to lure wildlife into their backyards
Tuesday 17th June at 20:00 on BBC 2
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Posted by lisa at 09/06/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Bill in "Bad Nature", BBC Radio 4 next Saturday |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
A news item that was posted in the forums by wackywales:
An upcoming radio show featuring Bill...
Bad Nature, Radio 4 Saturday (March 8th) 10.30am
"YOU'D think Sir David Attenborough would love all creatures, but actually he can't stand rats, after a nasty experience in India with a rat and an upset stomach. Bird-lover Bill Oddie shudders at the thought of cats and Julian Pettifer would like a world free of pigeons.
These are some of the contributors as Jo Brand delves into the darker side of wildlife's great and good, asking the celebrities of the natural world which animals they really have an aversion to.
Others joining in include Kate Humble, Steve Leonard, Michaela Strachan and Alan Titchmarsh.
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Posted by lisa at 01/03/2008 23:00 GMT |
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| Mail on Sunday article about Bill's garden |
more from same (Bill's Nature Shows) |
The following article appeared in the Mail on Sunday on February 10, 2008:
My Oddie plot is one for the birds ; In the garden: Plastic herons, gnomes and nick-nacks ... it's the garden of our most famous wildlife expert
by MARTYN COX
He is the UK's most famous wildlife expert, so you might imagine that Bill Oddie's garden would be a calm oasis, free of anything that might deter any shy birds from dropping in.
Well, you would be wrong - his tiny plot is full of brightly coloured nick-nacks.
Noisy wind chimes, beads, lanterns and mirror balls dangle from the branches of trees, while plastic herons, deer and owls keep watch over a gang of gnomes.
But rather than frighten creatures, it has the opposite effect and within just ten minutes of standing in his garden we've seen robins, blackbirds, wrens, great tits, pigeons and chaffinches.
'It proves you don't need a certain style, planted with all the right things, to attract wildlife,' says Bill, who can be seen on BBC2's Bill Oddie's Wild Side, which includes clips of wildlife recorded by him in his garden.
The 66-year-old moved into his home in Hampstead, North London, more than 20 years ago and shares his 30 ft by 20 ft garden with his scriptwriter wife Laura Beaumont, 54.
His collection of unusual objects started when the couple got hitched in 1983. 'Our wedding list consisted entirely of garden gnomes. And when we had a party here to celebrate, we had a never- ending stream of guests coming outside and putting them down over there,' says Bill, pointing to a part of the garden that he calls 'Gnomesville'.
Close to the gnomes is the 'Magical Tree', whose branches are used to display dangling trinkets, while at the back is the East Asian-inspired 'Vietnam' area, where stone Buddhas nestle among leafy shrubs.
Near the French doors that lead Our wedding list was garden gnomes from the house, several fake skulls sit on posts and a gnome with red paint dribbling from its mouth like blood has been placed under an acacia tree. 'It's my tribute to eccentric film director Tim Burton,' says Bill.
'I love playing in the garden. I'm not happy if I can't spend half an hour out here every day,' says the man who has fronted countless TV nature shows including Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Bill Oddie Goes Wild. So what makes his garden such a Mecca for birds? 'There's plenty of cover from plants, which makes them feel safe.
Probably the best you can grow is ivy, which climbs up my house and in the trees. As a habitat it's fantastic and last year a robin nested in it,' says Bill.
There are other ways you can make your garden more bird- friendly. Now is the best time to clean out existing nesting boxes or find a spot for a new one, as this is when birds start pairing up and settling down.
Bill makes sure his birds are well fed. His garden has a mealworm feeder - the larvae of the mealworm beetle are loved by many birds and can help fledglings survive the first few weeks of life. Don't forget to provide birds with water, too.
When you put out a bird bath, ground feeding station or hanging feeders, it is important to place them somewhere birds will feel safe - a spot that gives them clear visibility ' We have a feng shui fox of the garden, with some cover nearby should they become alarmed.
Viewers of Bill's new show will know it's not just birds that are attracted to his garden. 'We have a feng shui fox who likes to move everything around,' says Bill.
'His main fetish was the figure of Jesus that I've stood on a brick in a pond so it looks as though he is walking on water.
'Most mornings I would find that he had been taken out of the pond and once he'd been put on the lawn, next to a rubber crocodile.' Bill is even nonchalant about our most detested mammal - rats. 'I don't want them in the house, but outside they're not doing any harm,' he says.
And when we spot four grey baby rats and their parents looking for food at the back of the garden, Bill grabs his camcorder and films the action.
He tells me that on one occasion he did try to discourage the rats by putting out a stuffed cat near to where they forage.
'They didn't care and neither did a robin that landed on its head within seconds,' says Bill.
I get the impression he is actually quite glad they decided to stay.
The latest series of Bill Oddie's Wild Side is on BBC2 on Wednesdays at 8pm until March 12.
For more on wildlife gardening, check out the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' website, www.rspb.org.uk..
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Posted by lisa at 11/02/2008 00:00 GMT |
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News spottings for Bill Oddie in June:
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