Bill Oddie: This is Your Life (2002) With Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden

[BRUTUALTRUTH]

ODD LITTLE BASTARD!

[withnail555]

Having depression is one thing but being a rude, ill-mannered gnome twat is entirely another.

[DaveWBedford]

I think a lot of people who have depression prefer not to reflect on their past. Much of it contains bad memories and perceived failures. This must have been painful.

[neil73]

Someone else famously refused to do This is your Life back in the early 80's, but I can't remember who it was. Anybody know?

[verkaforever]

According to this is your life, there have only ever been three refusals, and Bill Oddie's was the latest. Author Richard Gordon refused in 1974, so maybe it's him you're thinking of. The only person to refuse and actually never appear though, was Danny Blanchflower.

[gazrandomhero]

and you aspell you motherfucker

[gazrandomhero]

fuck off oddie you cunt

[97channel]

It's difficult to decide whether or not he's a spoilsport for initially turning it down. On the one hand you could say he is, as he's shunning a compliment and the efforts of his family and friends. On the other hand, he has every right to decide what TV shows he wishes to be part of and This Is Your Life does take a liberty by effectively forcing its subject to take part.

Awkward atmosphere when Tim & Graeme appear.

[tenderheart17]

@97channel

I think Bill's depression cast a grey shadow over all aspects of his life for many years, and affected the way he reacted not only to the general public, but to everyone around him including his family. I think one of the reasons why Bill became so heavily involved in bird-watching (besides his love of nature and the environment), is because it allowed him to escape from having to interract with other people. Did you find this difficult to watch? It made me very uncomfortable.

[97channel]

@tenderheart17 It had crossed my mind that his reaction may have been infuenced to some degree by his mental health problems. I felt that the manner in which he refused was decent.

It makes me question how aware or not the producers were of the way he'd react. I hope they didn't have any hint upon which they felt fit to exploit. Because it just seems a bit odd that nobody close to him didn't suspect he may not be happy to participate.

Very uncorfortabe to see him forced into doing it.

[tenderheart17]

@97channel It might have been difficult even for his family, to guage how he would feel about (and react to) being asked to do the show. Perhaps they felt it might be a good thing for him to do? Did you see the programme that covered Bil's journey to find out about his family history..."Who Do You Think You Are.....Bill Oddie", I think was the name of it. I was in tears.

[lapislazuli7]

Could you tag Michael Palin, too? ;-) Thank you!

[frogandpeach1]

Yes I have done that now, but of course Palin's main bit is in Part Two. Thanks for looking.

[lapislazuli7]

It is nice being able to watch British TV this way... I would not know a lot of these shows at all - if it wasn't for youtube.

[Marthanna3]

Oh! Here is 1/3...I watched 3/3 first...thanks so much for posting! :~) I just love Bill Oddie! Martha