Eat. Sleep. Gonst. Repeat.

The writer, comedian and conservationist Bill Oddie has died aged 85. Having come to prominence with the comedy group The Goodies, Oddie later established himself as an authority on wildlife, presenting television series including the BBC’s Springwatch and Autumnwatch.

Oddie’s agent paid tribute to his “intelligence and wit”. In a statement, David Foster said: “It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder. Bill was a multitalented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued."

“Instead he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment. He taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it. He led the way and people of all ages and backgrounds responded to his call. And such a massive contribution to conservation will never be forgotten."

Oddie was born in Rochdale in Lancashire, and grew up in Birmingham, later studying at Cambridge University. It was at Cambridge that he met Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, with whom he would form the sketch group The Goodies. After various TV projects, Oddie appeared alongside Brooke-Taylor and Garden in the TV show The Goodies for 10 years from 1970 to 1980. The show was revived by ITV for a 1981 Christmas special and a six-part series that aired in 1982.

As well as creating and performing comic musical numbers with The Goodies, including The Funky Gibbon and Black Pudding Bertha (The Queen of Northern Soul), Oddie’s music projects included a role in the English National Opera production of The Mikado in the late 1980s.

An avid birder, Oddie made forays into natural history television in the 1970s and 1980s, going on to present wildlife series for the BBC and publishing several books on conservation.

Oddie had depression and bipolar disorder. In 2015, he told the Guardian that he had “inherited the same genetic flaw” as his mother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia but may have also had bipolar disorder.

He said in 2014 that he still felt a lingering sadness that his days on Springwatch had been cut short, and he rarely watched the programme.

“I very much miss it, but when I do see it, it brings back many happy memories and I like to think I contributed to its success,” he said.

“It’s still so well loved and helps encourage people to enjoy the natural world. That’s all to the good because I fear so many people wear earphones for their phones and music players that increasingly they miss out on everyday joys like birdsong.

“My plea to people would be to ‘go naked’ occasionally – take off those earpieces so you hear nature and, of course, birdsong. You may not realise how precious it is until it’s gone.”

The RSPCA’s chief executive, Jo Rowland, said: “Everyone at the RSPCA is deeply saddened by the loss of our former vice-president Bill Oddie OBE.

“While his comedy, music and, of course, work with The Goodies delighted so many, his tireless commitment to British wildlife will define so much of his extraordinary life.

“Bill was an exceptional and steadfast champion for the natural world, whose passion for birds and wildlife was truly infectious.

“He campaigned tirelessly alongside his many friends at the RSPCA, including taking the fight to governments against plans to cull badgers.

“I know many of our wildlife rescuers were inspired into animal welfare by Bill’s groundbreaking broadcasting work and incredible knowledge of British birds, which brought the wonders of nature into millions of homes across the country.”

She said “nature has lost one of its best friends, fiercest champions and most iconic defenders”.

Happy Birthday to the actor Tony Curran born 13th December 1969 in Glasgow.

Tony took to acting while still in his teens, he recalls the days in the Scottish Youth Theatre with Gerard Butler. Young Anthony Curran went on to attend the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama before gaining notoriety with a prominent role on the BBC series This Life. He would go on to make a name for himself in movies with a sci-fi/fantasy bent, like The 13th Warrior, Blade II, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Beowulf, of his small screen credits, our old favourite Taggart returns after not appearing on Kenneth Cranham’s CV yesterday!

Curran has made a name for himself in over the Atlantic in a number of US shows which include, Numb3rs, Medium, 24, Sons of Anarchy and Elementary. His most notable appearances over here have been in the ITV series Ultimate Force, Dr Who, as Vincent van Gogh , and more recently in the E4/Netflix original series Crazyhead.

Tony appeared in the 2018 Netflix film Outlaw King about Robert the Bruce and the Wars of Scottish Independence, where he played the part of Aonghus Óg of Islay, ( Angus Macdonald) chief of Clann Domhnaill. Back over in the states he has recently been in Ray Donovan, which is a great series series and few episodes of the CBS show SEAL Team. He also turned up in the mini series, Your Honor, which also stars the excellent US actor Brian Cranston of Breaking Bad fame, it’s great hearing Scottish accents in US shows, don’t you think?

Tony is another guy I follow on twitter, the guy has a heart of gold, I remember he tweeted “Me and my lass woke up this morning temperatures dropping compelled to help our homeless, loaded up some blankets pillows clothes, sweaters jackets, I’m sure we all have stuff we can donate, it all helps.” He was then out on the streets handing them out to the homeless, Tony was involved in a charity weekender with all funds raised going to St Mary’s & St Alphonsus and the great community work they do. He has in the past played charity football matches in Glasgow.

In the past few of years Tony has been playing Despero in the Super Hero series The Flash, Tony has also appeared in the US movie, Two Deaths of Henry Baker where he plays a town Sheriff, this year he appeared in the US crime series The Calling, the show has some good reviews on IMDB with a 7.1/10 rating, and in an episode of the US show For All Mankind.

In 2022 Tony appeared in a homegrown project. The two part “series”, Mayflies is set in a Scotland and Manchester in the 80′s Martin Compston co-stars along with new Shetland star Ashley Jensen,. The show is based on a novel by Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan’s book of the same name. It tells the story of Jimmy (Compston) and Tully (Curran) who ignite an “unforgettable friendship” defined by music, films and their shared rebellious spirit in a small Scottish town in the 1980s. if you haven’t seen it, please look it up, and keep the hankies close by. He has also appeared in a couple of US series, an unexpected second season of Your Honor and Secret Invasion.

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The Terror Characters as Florence + the Machine Songs | 2/? | Captain Francis Crozier - Ship to Wreck

Two years ago, i drew an ilustration for PALE_, but i did It so quick because i didnt have time (i forgot upload here, my mistakes).

I love the concept, so i draw the 2026 remake.

2024 (first image)