Bindi enjoying being back in the spotlight

8:00a.m. 17th October 2006

BINDI Irwin's grandfather Bob has backed her controversial foray into showbusiness, predicting the eight-year-old will have a "really, really big career".

Amid criticisms too much pressure is being placed on the youngster to follow her father Steve Irwin's footsteps, Bob Irwin said Bindi was a "real professional" who enjoyed the spotlight.

"Bindi's an amazing little girl. She is a real professional. The thing about Bindi is she seems to enjoy it," Bob said.

"Filming for her is very much like other kids' soccer," Steve's best mate Wes Mannion explained.

"Bindi has been basically going, 'Come on ... I want to start filming again, I want to start getting out there, I want to start spreading Dad's message', and I think that's part of her way of coping."

Bob Irwin also backed his son's long-time friend and manager John Stainton, who has come under fire for saying Bindi would be more famous than her Crocodile Hunter father.

"John Stainton isn't only a friend of mine, he's the person that I would like to guide Bindi through the rest of her career," Mr Irwin told ABC TV's Australian Story.

"And I think she's going to have a really, really big career.

"John will work closely with (Bindi's mother) Terri and I think with the two of them, it will be a perfect match."

Mr Irwin also revealed how he and Bindi still speak to the Crocodile Hunter, who was killed after being struck in the chest by a stingray's barb on September 4.

"... I've actually been with her and we've both spoken to Steve and she actually speaks to him like he's there helping her," he said.

Australian Story filmed on location as Bindi, accompanied by Terri, resumed work on the Bindi the Jungle Girl program for the American Discovery Channel.

Bindi urged people not to be afraid of animals because they were "put on this earth to help the environment".

"Some people think that I would be afraid of them, but I'm never ever afraid of an animal," she said.

Mr Stainton defended criticisms Bindi was being pushed into showbusiness against her will.

He said Bindi would never be exposed to animals that could hurt her.

"We have to be always mindful of that 'cause things can backfire on us, like the baby Bob incident," he said.

For a vodcast, go to www.abc.net.au/austory.