BBC have confirmed that Bill Odie has quit Springwatch after only four years.

“I’m really going to miss working with Kate and the team but after an amazing four years of really intense work it feels like the right time to take a breather and recharge my batteries,” he said.

An hour-long special will be broadcast at the start of the next series bringing together some of Oddie’s best moments on the show.

“Bill’s inimitable style, in depth expertise and unflinching dedication have helped establish Springwatch and Autumnwatch as two of the nation’s favourite natural history programmes,” BBC Natural History head Neil Nightingale said.

“Although he’s stepping out of the picture for this series he remains an important member of the Springwatch family.”