julian_craster

Goodie turns baddie as viewers protest at Oddie's 'X-rated' wildlife commentary
By Amol Rajan
THE INDEPENDENT
Friday, 30 May 2008


For the millions of viewers who tune in every week, the BBC's Springwatch, fronted by the former Goodie Bill Oddie, has long been a beacon of prime-time decency. So it came as a shock to many when, earlier this week, the presenter used rather direct language when narrating sexual congress in the natural world.

Describing a mating scene between two sparrows, Oddie, 66, said: "The female is asking for it – and getting it, basically. She is doing that wing-fluttering think like that as if to say: 'I am a baby, feed me'... [and] is getting quite the opposite." He concluded the piece by saying: "That's a wing-trembler she's just had there."

An item on beetles reignited the sensitivities of some viewers. Describing the sexual congress taking place in front of viewers' eyes, Oddie abandoned euphemism altogether. "He crash-lands on top of a likely looking lady – there's a bit of luck! One thing's for sure: this boy is horny!"

Then, as the male fought off a competing suitor for the right to mate, Oddie went into character, adopting the part of the female and saying in a high-pitched voice: "Come on big boy, come and get it. Oh, be gentle with me!"

Viewers reacted with outrage. One man complained: "I am sick to death of the constant innuendo being offered by Bill every time a scene of mating appears.

"It isn't funny or witty... just downright embarrassing when you are watching it with children. For example, being asked by my 10-year-old daughter: 'What does horny mean, daddy?' when watching mating beetles isn't right.

"I would never try to stop her understanding how animals reproduce, but commentary such as: 'She got more than she bargained for', and: 'He has his wicked way' isn't called for, and I am considering stopping her watching it."

Another viewer said: "This is schoolboy sniggering, behind-the-bike-sheds type humour and it's out of place in a programme that is otherwise marvellously educational for all age groups."

Oddie, who came to fame in the 1970s as one of comedy trio The Goodies, has been a keen birdwatcher since his childhood.

The BBC commented that many viewers endorsed the "light-hearted view" of Springwatch and Oddie. "The programme is always looking at new, creative and entertaining ways of bringing nature to a wider audience. Storytelling is one of many ways of doing this. No offence was intended."

Birds do it, bees do it... Oddie's mating commentary

On sparrows:

'The female is asking for it – and getting it. That's a wing-trembler she's just had'

On beetles:

'He lands on a likely looking female. One thing's for sure – this boy's horny!'

To watch the episode of Springwatch which prompted the complaints :
Goodie turns baddie as viewers protest at Oddie's 'X-rated' wildlife commentary - Media, News - The Independent

DB7

The Goodies and Mrs Whitehouse do have a history as I recall they were none too pleased she approved of them initially. That's comedy cred out the window.

I watched last night's show and Bill did make some remark about his unique style not being to everybody's taste - but like Griff Rhys Jones I always allow for this because they're people passionate about their hobby and have come from comedy shows.

Actually it'sd pretty dull where Bill is situated; far better is a fellow presenter watching Wildcats and an Osprey elsewhere.

davidb

judging by the tv show the other night , mary whitehouse / hetty wainthrop would form an action group against bill oddie that would inadvertently have a sexual swear word as an abbreviated name ,meanwhile bill oddie would start eating his scripts before eventually running off in despair in a comic fashion .basically a whole series of lighthearted mishaps would ensue .

julian_craster

Still.......live sex (complete with a running commentary) on BBC2 before the 9.00PM watershed
.....surely something must be done about this in order to protect innocent viewers aged under 18 from this filth......

penfold

Worse still....how old are the sparrows??

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

CaptainWaggett

How to make Springwatch


TV Dinners: How to make ... Springwatch
Prepare in the great outdoors - or your garden as you call it. Add plenty of eggs, and the cast of Wind in the Willows
May 30, 2008 9:00 AM

1. You are in the kitchen, cooking (beans on toast). Inadequate, tasteless, drab. And the beans on toast aren't much better. Somewhere a world of wonder awaits. If only you were looking in the right places. Out of the window, for example.

2. The great outdoors - or your garden as you call it. In the shrubbery, you can just make out something moving. Inquisitive, with busy whiskers, its brown furry face combines the likable character of Rattie from Wind in the Willows with the slight edge of menace of a ferret. It's Bill Oddie.

3. With a mix of curiosity and consternation, Kate Humble is studying something through her binoculars, muttering superlatives ranging from "fascinating" to "absolutely fascinating". It's Bill Oddie again.

4. Nature's finest ingredients are laid out before you. Fish, pheasant, deer, duck. Can you eat all this, you wonder? And so organic? Resist the urge to sing, "Goodies! Goody, goody, yum, yum."

5. Greens are less essential. Shots of meadows, moors and mountains rarely look that good on your kitchen portable.

6. Add plenty of eggs. Eggs being hatched, eggs being laid, eggs being, er, abandoned. The mother has been disturbed - by an osprey, a fox or a lesser-spotted cameraman.

7. Kate Humble is in charge of nesting. "Great tits!" suggests Oddie, his schoolboy enthusiasm to the fore, though they turn out to be coal tits.

8. To add sauce, finish off by watching owls having soft-focus (out-of-focus) hanky panky. You go back indoors, asking yourself: "Filming animals having sex ... Is that legal?"

Gazza

Excellent david and CW! - made me laugh

earlb

DITTO: Brilliant piece of writing - and imagination.

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

CaptainWaggett

I'd like to take credit but it's from Jim Shelley's excellent Guardian column. Click the link for more formulaic tv fun.