BREAKING NEWS: GMB halted for tragic de@th news as Richard Madeley breaks silence
The veteran presenter paid tribute live on air.
GMB ground to a halt to issue some heartbreaking de@th news (Image: ITV)
Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley has broken his silence following the tragic news of Bill Oddie’s de@th. On Monday (July 27), it was announced that the legendary wildlife presenter had passed away at the age of 85. His agent, David Foster, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement, which read: “It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder.
“Bill was a multi-talented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued.” On Tuesday morning (July 28), guest hosts Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway returned to the airwaves to discuss the biggest stories hitting the headlines.
Bill Oddie has sadly d!ed at the age of 85 (Image: James Gourley/Shutterstock)
It didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to the popular comedy star, with the 70-year-old broadcaster quick to share what it was really like to interview the TV veteran. He confessed: “He was spikey, you really had to get your boxing gloves out when you interviewed him. You couldn’t say the wrong thing.”
It didn’t take long before the naturist’s famous friends and loyal legion of fans took to social media to share their loving memories and sympathies online. Monty Python star Eric Idle released a devastating statement online, admitting “I miss him” online.
He wrote: “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. He came to France and is in my book. We even had Chelsea season tickets together. I miss him.” TV nature presenter Chris Packham is among those paying tribute to the “delightfully unpredictable” star who he described as an “utter joy to be with”.
Taking to Instagram, the broadcaster shared a sweet snap of his late Springwatch star, alongside a lengthy statement, which read: “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.”
