Bindi called "creepy" on TV show

Wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin has been labelled a "bit creepy" by comedian Fiona O'Loughlin on television trivia show Spicks and Specks.

Evan Agostiniap

THE Irwin family has been attacked during an episode of ABC television trivia show Spicks and Specks.

The Herald-Sun reported that guest and comedienne Fiona O’Loughlin described 11-year-old Bindi Irwin as a “bit creepy” before imitating the young star’s voice.

After then making a gesture suggesting Bindi was crazy, she mimed a slap across the jungle girl's face during Wednesday night's show.

The attack on the family, who run Australia Zoo at Beerwah, shocked other guests on the show, including Chris Durling who performed with Bindi as one of the “Crocmen” and is now rehearsing for Fame: The Musical.

Mr Durling said working with Bindi was a great experience, describing her as "gorgeous" and down-to-earth.

"What you see is what you get," Durling said of Bindi on the show.

A laughing O'Loughin replied: "Yeah, a freak show."

Series regular Alan Brough waded into the awkward discussion, joking that O'Loughlin was spiteful and hateful for getting stuck into a little girl.

US comic Eddie Ifft also mocked the late-croc hunter Steve Irwin during the course of the show, making fun of his apparently endless enthusiasm.

Related: Comedian defends Bindi crack

Steve Irwin died in 2006 after being killed by a stingray barb while filming on the Great Barrier Reef.

ABC fans appeared less than impressed with the show.

"Oh no! It seems that Spicks and Specks, once compulsory viewing in this household, is really losing the plot,'' one wrote.

"Tonight's cheap jibes at Bindi Irwin were so unnecessary. After all, whether you like her or not, she is just a little girl who has lost her father under tragic circumstances.

"So why refer to her as a "freak show" and allow that to go to air? All for a cheap moment. Come on Spicks team - you can do so much better than that.

"Perhaps the format is tired and overworked after all - if this is what the producers now find funny, it could be time to call it a day. What a pity.''

But another wrote: "Come on people, Bindi Irwin is as fair game as anyone else, given how she puts herself 'out there' in a very un-childlike way. She is a performer.

"I do agree that the 'freak show' comment was tasteless though. Sometimes I think that guests (on any program) forget where they are.''

The Irwin family is in the United States at the moment promoting Bindi’s latest film Free Willy 4: Escape From Pirate's Cove.

Ms O’Loughlin was last year treated for alcoholism and depression after admitting to being drunk when she performed at Brisbane’s QPAC theatre.