Bill Oddie's Wild Side : It was Ok...

tigger · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 07:59 AM

I'm not a big fan of Bill Oddie, but when he isn't mucking around he is actually quite knowledgeable...

I watched his new programme tonight and quite enjoyed it. I think the thing I really liked was the filming (John Aitchison : Wildlife Cameraman) which was quite stunning.

OK Oddie was stupid in parts... but even he was ok when he was actually talking about the wildlife, and some of the stuff he was talking about was pretty interesting.

I will be watching next week (give it another go!) at least it's better than blimin Johnny Kingdom..

wetlands_wedge · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigger

I'm not a big fan of Bill Oddie, but when he isn't mucking around he is actually quite knowledgeable...

I watched his new programme tonight and quite enjoyed it. I think the thing I really liked was the filming (John Aitchison : Wildlife Cameraman) which was quite stunning.

OK Oddie was stupid in parts... but even he was ok when he was actually talking about the wildlife, and some of the stuff he was talking about was pretty interesting.

I will be watching next week (give it another go!) at least it's better than blimin Johnny Kingdom..

Hi Tigger!

I am afraid that I have to agree with you. I will never have the knowledge that Bill Oddie has and I respect him for that. When he concentrates on putting a point across he is very good at that. BUT, why does he insist on trying (and failing miserably) to be funny?
I will watch the programme next week to give it a chance. Several freinds have commented on JA's camerawork as well, so shall watch for that reason as well.

ron1863 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetlands_wedge

Hi Tigger!

I am afraid that I have to agree with you. I will never have the knowledge that Bill Oddie has and I respect him for that. When he concentrates on putting a point across he is very good at that. BUT, why does he insist on trying (and failing miserably) to be funny?
I will watch the programme next week to give it a chance. Several freinds have commented on JA's camerawork as well, so shall watch for that reason as well.

I concur

Adam Cheeseman · #4 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 02:52 PM

Probably one of his best programmes to date. The bits on filming and sound recordeing were very good, but I have to say that I like him when he is being a bit silly on his own. I can't watch that bloomin' awful Spring/Autumnwatch!

Cheers,

Adam

JeffH · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 03:11 PM

Sadly I missed his programme last night but will try to catch it next week, as although I'm not a fan of Bill's 'presenting' style I do have enormous respect for his knowledge of natural history and particularly birds and, as others have said, when he stops clowning around he's actually not bad.

Jeff

epops · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 04:49 PM

Havnt seen that but i did cath a re run of QI and was impressed with Rory McGrath knowledge when some bird questions came up and i did have a chuckle to myself when he said he and bill oddie were going to make a program together and he wanted to call it Panurus biarmicus's (look it up if ya dont no what they are) but the bbc would'nt let him

tigger · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 07:18 PM

That would be a great name for a wildlife show.... perhaps you could have one presented by women called Cyanistes caeruleus's!

Jane (so no, it wasn't a male chauvinist comment!)

epops · #8 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigger

That would be a great name for a wildlife show.... perhaps you could have one presented by women called Cyanistes caeruleus's!

Jane (so no, it wasn't a male chauvinist comment!)

winter watch with kate humble maybe

wildlifesnapper · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 11:40 PM

Oh Bah twaddle - I forgot about it.

"Must remember!!" - next week

nightshade · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-2008, 07:24 AM

Good content, shame about the comedy, why doesn't someone tell him to
leave out the clowning

loony · #11 (**permalink**) 11-01-2008, 08:14 AM

hi . i enjoyed the new bill oddie series very much ---i have met him about 3 times and he`s always at the british birdwatching fair in august at rutland water. i know he can be a bit nutty at times but i think the way he puts over his stuff about wildlife is great and makes the subject more interesting , especially to young viewers os someone not really interested in wildlife . he is a comedian . . i love springwatch/autumnwatch too. sue

ron1863 · #12 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epops

Havnt seen that but i did cath a re run of QI and was impressed with Rory McGrath knowledge when some bird questions came up and i did have a chuckle to myself when he said he and bill oddie were going to make a program together and he wanted to call it Panurus biarmicus's (look it up if ya dont no what they are) but the bbc would'nt let him

Did you see three men in a boat in which Rory was one, Gryff Rhys Jones and an Irish comedian were the others. They were sailing Jones's boat to the south of England for a race. Anyway, Rory was frequently seen sneaking off to do a bit of bird watching, so he is possibly a bit of a twitcher.

Fritillary · #13 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 10:45 AM

MMM I see I am not the only one. I dont know but there is something I dislike of Billy. Maybe the programs he presents are for people that are not interested at all to wildlife because he says a lot of very silly things like trying to do it "cool".

I did not watch the past program because "boff it is Billy" but if you say there were some parts that were good, well maybe I will have a watch next week.

"Nature of Britain" were my preferred. Generally I dont like to watch wildlife programs because they are quite negative.Most of times, they show all the destruction and at the end of the programs I am just upset. However, Nature of Britain is quite positive, it shows that there are beautiful places and we can still protect species of the destruction.

Dan Salter · #14 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 12:29 PM

I watched the first one of this ...but forgot what night its on? is it tonight?

epops · #15 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron1863

Did you see three men in a boat in which Rory was one, Gryff Rhys Jones and an Irish comedian were the others. They were sailing Jones's boat to the south of England for a race. Anyway, Rory was frequently seen sneaking off to do a bit of bird watching, so he is possibly a bit of a twitcher.

yea saw that as well though he was on an old QI i was watching and seemed to be well clued up on birds

lendalfooter · #16 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 02:37 PM

This is a technically brilliant programme with some wildlife photography that is out of this world.................... what a pity that so much time is taken up with Oddie trying to impress with his "witticisms".
Someone should tell him that he is turning many viewers off.

aeshna5 · #17 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 04:45 PM

An interesting programme I thought- a different slant on things. Yes occasioanlly the humour was a bit cringeworthy, but that's Bill for you. I'm pleased I'm not his neighbour- I would hate to have to see his highly eccentric garden every day!

Ukwildlifeo · #18 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 05:25 PM

I just caught up with it on BBC Iplayer. Its good. Adders + Smooth Snakes next week

wild flower · #19 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 05:29 PM

If I recall correctly, Bill was.... calmer in the past - he wasn't as bonkers as he seems now. I wonder if the success of the Steve Urwin style of presentation encouraged producers, to encourage Bill, to exaggerate his once mildly amusing idiosyncrasies in to something altogether more extreme? Sadly, despite how knowledgeable he is, I cannot watch him

but if he is encouraging new comers and instilling a love of wildlife, where there once was none, then I say GO BILL!

Gill Catton · #20 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Probably one of his best programmes to date. The bits on filming and sound recordeing were very good, but I have to say that I like him when he is being a bit silly on his own. I can't watch that bloomin' awful Spring/Autumnwatch!

Cheers,

Adam

Yes I think so too, I even liked his bonkersness in this one perhaps because he was free-er to express it being his own show - and I learnt a few things and I always appreciate programs that do that for me

hedgehog whisperer · #21 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 08:48 PM

I liked this show, Bill is a bit loony, but his love of wildlife is genuine and that comes across.

In addition, I though the bits in the show where he showed you how they get the great shots on the beach, and the efforts they go to achieve the real sound was fascinating.

Pity the birds on the beach was not shot HD it was magnificent.

Elizabeth B · #22 (**permalink**) 14-01-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendalfooter

This is a technically brilliant programme with some wildlife photography that is out of this world.................... what a pity that so much time is taken up with Oddie trying to impress with his "witticisms".
Someone should tell him that he is turning many viewers off.

I'm glad I'm not the only one (on WAB) out of step here! We're recording the series - but if the next one is as bad as this, we shall probably give up on it, unless it's possible to whizz through the playback and just view the photographic sequences. Several of our birding friends are of the same opinion.

paddy · #23 (**permalink**) 14-01-2008, 12:53 PM

Having watched The Nature of Britain User's Guide on BBC4 had forgotten what a good presenter Chris Packham is. It's a difficult gig, I think, hitting the general audience while maintaining the content for the more specialised. Bill's been better in other things when the 'mixed brief' hasn't been so necessary. He is, I suspect, a lot more serious as a personality than he wants us to know, and some of the humour gets a bit hysterical....