Oddie slates BBC over repeats

Bill Oddie has hit out at the BBC for not repeating The Goodies.

The stars have long complained that their cult comedy has not been repeated since 1980, even though fans have demanded it.

And today Oddie, 62, has stepped up the protest, complaining to Teletext: "For some reason best known to themselves, the BBC has never ever repeated a full series of The Goodies and they show no sign of doing so.

"The men at the top have always said it would be deeply unpopular today, but that is not the feedback that I get."

However, a DVD release of eight episodes - put out not by the BBC, but by Network Video under licence - proved so popular that a follow-up is planned for September.

"Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and I had a great time last year when The Goodies was released on DVD for the first time," Oddie said.

"They're about to do the same thing this year, which will be fun."

No details of the new DVD have been released, although the official Goodies fan club says that the episode Pirate Radio Goodies has been comfirmed.

Producers are also said to be in talks about securing rights to The Goodies' guest appearances from other shows, including The Cilla Black Show and Shang-a-lang!.

Published: 2 Feb 2004