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Kyle Sandilands has called out a major honour bestowed to wildlife warrior and new TV presenter Robert Irwin.
The son of the late Steve Irwin, 20, has been named Australia’s “Top Broadcast Talent”, beating out the likes of veterans Dr Chris Brown, Hamish Blake, Andy Lee and Kitty Flanagan.
Irwin also came in at No.1 spot for “Top 10 Male Talent” in the same market research of Australian media personalities.
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The acclaim for the wildlife warrior comes after 7000 Aussies were surveyed by Lewers Research for the “Australian Talent Index”, which ranks 400 personalities on public awareness and sentiment.
Irwin has previously presented on Seven’s Sunrise, filling in for weather presenter Sam Mac, and is about to take on a co-hosting role for I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here.
KIIS FM radio host Kyle Sandilands — who the talent index found was Australia’s “most controversial broadcaster” — appeared stunned by the news about Irwin.
“The b**** has done nothing,” he claimed on Kyle and Jackie O Show.
“It’s a sympathy vote.”
Sandilands also turned his attention to his co-host Jackie “O” Henderson — who garnered 59 points out of 100 on the index’s “likeability” scale.
“You’re liked? I find that hard to understand,” he teased.
While Irwin is new to a regular TV presenting role, he has built a mass following online, sharing updates from his work as a conservationist to more than 5.5 million Instagram followers.
“Wow, it’s a real honour to officially be named Australia’s most popular broadcast personality,” he said in an Instagram post.
“I’m here to spread important messages and a bit of positivity with the world, so this commendation means so much.
“I’m humbled and grateful.”
Home and Away actress Georgie Parker took out the top spot in the “Top 10 Female talent – Broadcast”, followed by Kitty Flanagan.
She has been playing Roo Stewart on the Channel 7 soap since 2010.