With the start of the comforting Springwatch (it’s like Horlicks in a good way), BBC4 slipped a Bank Holiday treat into the schedules with a night devoted to Bill Oddie, which I caught up with last night via some time shiftery magic. The highlight of the evening was Mark Lawson Talks to Bill Oddie, and I strongly urge you to catch tonight’s repeat on BBC4 at 11.20.
Not only is this a hugely revealing interview with a 70s icon enjoying a renaissance as a cuddly David Attenborough, it has to be seen for the glorious footage of Bill rejecting the advances of Michael Aspel on This is Your Life. Witness the adamant refusal to take part: “I always said I wouldn’t do it, and I won’t…”, and the Aspel’s crestfallen look of bemused rejection.
Bill’s reasons for not doing it seem fairly sound (being a pact between The Goodies that Tim Brooke-Taylor broke in 1981), but his change of heart to subsequently take part was brought about by a phone call from his daughter to tell him in no uncertain terms that “I hate you!”
The things we will do for the love of a daughter…
