Oddie in mental hospital with bout of depression

Bill Oddie is being treated at a mental health hospital for depression.

The television presenter and conservationist is at the Capio Nightingale hospital near Harley Street, where Amy Winehouse has been treated for crack, heroin and Valium addictions.

Oddie, 67, has suffered depression for much of his life and has spoken about it publicly.

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."

A spokesman for the BBC said: "We wish him a speedy recovery."

In his autobiography published last year, Oddie wrote: "While I was writing this book, my brain stopped for a fourth time. I started waking up with those all too familiar feelings of anxiety. Not terrified, but nervous, slightly fearful." He added: "Filming Springwatch helped - my mood always improves when I am out in the great outdoors."