Steve Irwin's widow Terri has defended the decision to give their daughter Bindi her own show.

Wildlife programme Bindi: The Jungle Girl sees the eight-year-old following in the footsteps of her father, but some critics have argued that Bindi is too young for the limelight.

"I think he [Steve] would have said, 'Crikey mate, I couldn't wait for Bindi to take over.' Bindi's been filming with us since she first hatched," Terri said at the show's launch.

"It was a natural progression to be doing her own shows, and Steve was involved with the first seven episodes. He really enjoyed watching Bindi showcasing the wildlife that he worked with for so many years. It gave him great pleasure."