Irwin Family bond with Gosselin

This week in Kate Plus 8, the Gosselin family travels to Australia for a series of adventures that leave a lasting impression on them.

Filming was done last year and among the excursions was a visit to Australia Zoo where the family bonded with the Irwin family to such a degree that Kate Gosselin made a solo trip back in November to celebrate Steve Irwin Day at the zoo with Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin.

"I fell in love with the Irwin family," she said from her home in Pennsylvania. "We all did and we've kept in touch.

"I wanted to go back and help raise funds to keep Australia's animals healthy and happy and protected and safe. I fell in love with koalas when I was there originally, so I had to go back for my koala fix."

It was the first overseas trip for Kate Gosselin and her family of eight, which includes 11-year-old twins and seven-year-old sextuplets. Originally the series included husband Jon but after the couple split up there was a name change and a revamp of the series into its current format.

It has now been cancelled and Kate Gosselin is working as a blogger for a coupon website that offers discounts to US shoppers.

She said the children missed having the camera crew in the house and the travelling.

"I have to say that beyond the experiences that we're missing, I do feel bad for our fans, the people who have watched my kids grow up, and now we're missing from their lives.

"I started a website, Kateplusmy8.com, to keep everyone informed of what we're doing, so that they don't feel such a humongous absence. I've had emails saying 'I feel like you're our neighbour that has moved far, far away and we'll never see you again'."

Not all online comments about Gosselin are so positive and that is something she sometimes struggles to cope with.

"If I said it didn't hurt, I wouldn't be human, but it's one of those things that anybody that's in the spotlight has to deal with," she said. "I don't take it personally because 98 per cent of what they write and say is untrue, so I just disregard it."

Source - thewest.com.au