Bill Oddie remembered in Seychelles following news of his passing |29 July 2026

Bill Oddie remembered in Seychelles following news of his passing

News of the death of Bill Oddie, the British actor and broadcaster, at the age of 85 has prompted many around the world to recall his visits and the impact he left behind.

In Seychelles, Ambassador Alain St Ange remembered Oddie’s visit in May 1985, when he stayed at the Reef Hotel (formerly Hallway Hotel).

“At the time, I was marketing manager and executive assistant manager of the Reef Hotel, and I had the honour of meeting Bill Oddie and spending a lot of time with him during his stay,” Ambassador St Ange said. “I was impressed by his friendly approach and his humour. Although he was in Seychelles not for comedy but filming his wildlife shows and pursuing his love of birds, his special funny side came through in every conversation.”

Bill Oddie is best known for the UK television show The Goodies, which ran for nine seasons with 76 episodes from 1970 to 1982. After The Goodies, he became a prominent wildlife broadcaster and conservationist through BBC series such as Birding with Bill Oddie and Springwatch.

Souvenir photos of Oddie with Alain St Ange, taken in the grounds of the Reef Hotel during his Seychelles visit, are published in Ambassador St Ange’s autobiography Alain St Ange – My Journey (page 632), alongside a photo sent to him personally by Oddie.

Contributed