Oddie has suffered from depression for most of his life, being clinically diagnosed in 2001, and this may explain his reputation for truculent behaviour behind the scenes.
On 11 March 2009, it was reported that Bill Oddie had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital (Capio Nightingale) to deal with his depression. His agent David Foster said: 'Bill gets these bouts every two or three years where he gets down for about two weeks and recovers. He sometimes goes into hospital or takes a break or has a change of scenery to recharge his batteries.
I've been in love with Chris ever since he first appeared on The Really Wild Show years ago.
But I do miss Bill. Hope he returns for the next series and keep Chris also.
As a fellow sufferer, I would never denigrate anyone as a sufferer of depression, but that said, Bill Oddie seems to have gone from being one of the most unfunny men on television in the 1970's, to being one of the most unlovely presenters in the current season - not a bad feat in and of itself, but I can;t abide the man.