Kate Humble is quite dreadful without him on Autumnwatch - and the guys with her make it like Blue Peter on Speed.

I think cutting it down to one night a week was a dreadful idea. It's now no different to other "let's look back over the past week" nature show, and no longer has the feeling of being there. Bill Oddie brough life and character to the show. Chris Packham has zero personality. I thought that, if anyone had to fill in for Bill, it should be Johnny Kingdom. He's a bit Devonish, but he's got some life about him.

Here's a clip of Johnny Kingdom for those who've never seen him.

Bill Oddie suffers from depression and i believe he may be currently "recharging" in a hospital somewhere as he has been known to do in the past. I agree that the programme is awful with the current presenters, especially the horrendous Chris Packham. Hopefully Bill will be back for Springwatch and greetings and good wishes can be sent via his website.


www.billoddie.com/Contact.html

I used to watch both Springwatch and Autumnwatch regular, but haven't bothered this time. Not because there's no Bill Oddie but because, like Emma said, one night a week makes it just like any other wildlife show. I don't see the point. Although, having said that, if Bill Oddie was still doing it I might have given it a go. The current team are just too deadpan.

the other 2 ex-Goodies are in Oz at the moment-they said he was ill.

Oddie has suffered from depression for most of his life, being clinically diagnosed in 2001, and this may explain his reputation for truculent behaviour behind the scenes.[11]
On 11 March 2009, it was reported that Bill Oddie had been admitted to Capio Nightingale psychiatric hospital to deal with his depression. His agent David Foster said: 'Bill gets these bouts every two or three years where he gets down for about two weeks and recovers. He sometimes goes into hospital or takes a break or has a change of scenery to recharge his batteries'.

From Wickipedia

Bill Oddie is a legend. Have loved his work ever since the GOODIES and his music was very good as well.

I hope he recovers soon so that we can enjoy these programmes again - they are not the same without him.

that's very sad. I have a TV producer friend who is bi-polar and every now and then goes off his medication because he says the pills stuff up his creative drive...irons it evenly and he gets lost for ideas.

The mind works against you sometimes.