Kate Humble denies 'Springwatch' rivalry

Kate Humble has insisted that her Springwatch co-host Bill Oddie is a "good mate".

Oddie is often seen interrupting Humble on the BBC Two wildlife programme, leading to speculation that the pair do not get along off-screen.

"People always want me to say 'Bill Oddie's a complete b*****d' But I'm working with someone who knows his stuff, loves his stuff, and wants to talk about it," Humble told the Daily Record. "There's nothing wrong with that. I've learned so much working with him. And we laugh all the time on screen and off.

"When we first started working together, neither of us knew the other and I won't pretend it was love at first sight. But, over five years, we've become genuinely good mates."

Bill said: "People actually want us to say we have tiffs. We don't. But I'd be the first to say I'm difficult to work with."

Last month, Oddie complained that criticism of his performance on the programme is "deeply hurtful".