News > Steve Irwin'sdaughter to star in TV series
October 18, 2006
Content taken from TV.com:
The 8-year-old daughter of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, who was killed last month by a stingray, is to follow in her father's footsteps by starring in a new TV series, sparking a debate about whether the youngster is being exploited.
From early next year Bindi Irwin will star in a 26-part series on Discovery Kids network, with the working title Bindi, the Jungle Girl.
A spokeswoman for Discovery, Annie Howell, said the wildlife documentary started several months ago as a show with Irwin and his daughter and would include scenes between the youngster and her father, the exuberant, khaki-clad Australian naturalist.
"It was something that they were really enthusiastic about," Howell told Reuters. But some critics have raised concerns that the youngster is being thrown in the spotlight too soon after her father's death.
Australian politician, Sen. Bill Heffernan, was reported in the Australian press to have told colleagues in a private meeting in Canberra that he feared the youngster would not be allowed to grow up normally.
Howell, however, defended the decision to continue with the series, saying the network was respecting the decision of Irwin's US-born wife, Terri.
"After his death Terri had to make a decision. Did she want Bindi to continue working? Did she want her to continue doing this show? And she really left it up to Bindi, with her guidance of course," said Howell.
"They decided this was a really healing process for her and are moving on."
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Irwin, 44, died on September 4 after a stingray's serrated barb pierced his heart while he was filming scenes for a documentary off Australia's northeast coast.
The eldest of Irwin's two children, Bindi Irwin received a standing ovation when she addressed thousands of mourners at a memorial service for her father at the family's "Crocoseum" wildlife park in the state of Queensland in Australia.
This week she appeared on Australian television saying she wanted to continue her father's legacy and get across the message that people shouldn't be afraid of animals.
After the nationwide interview with ABC, Australians were divided as they reacted on the channel's Web site. Some praised the family for the way it handled its loss while others said the girl was being exploited for money.
"[Irwin's] unfortunate death was a great tragedy for his family but was more or less inevitable. Now it seems his daughter is going to be exploited for all she is worth," a reader named Zodian wrote to ABC Australian Story Web site.
Irwin's manager, John Stainton, responded to critics who said Bindi was too young to be in the spotlight. "I think they don't understand that this little girl is very much enjoying what she's doing. She is in control," he was quoted as saying on People magazine's Web site.
It is unclear how the series will approach the subject of of Irwin's death but possible scenarios include his daughter talking about her father.
"It will still be Bindi in animal adventures continuing her father's conservation message to a children's audience," said Howell. "Because it's for a young audience we have to be really careful about how we discuss death."
