Backlash ... Yumi Stynes and The Circle co-host Gorgi Coghlan. New South Wales RSL president Don Rowe also reportedly called for an apology on air. The show's treatment of Corporal Roberts-Smith also came under fire after the soldier revealed in a candid interview on Channel Seven's Sunday Night that he and his wife had conceived their twin daughters through IVF treatment. Stynes said on air today that she did not know much about Corporal Roberts-Smith nor the Australian Defence Force, and merely saw a "very handsome guy". "So I made a joke, because how could anybody possibly be so perfect?" Stynes said.

IVF parents ... Ben Roberts-Smith at home with his wife children in a profile featured on Channel Seven's Sunday Night program. Credit:Channel Seven "What I didn't estimate was how much my joke was not appreciated. I sort of intimated that maybe he wasn't very smart, because how could you be that buff and spend that much time in a gym and be smart as well? And people have been a bit angry and I've been getting a lot of angry messages. "And I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to offend anybody and I have total respect for people that work in the defence forces, and I've never met Ben but I'm sure he's lovely and he does seem like a big family man." Taking a dip .... Pictures of a shirtless Ben Roberts-Smith prompted the comments. Credit:Channel Seven The former Channel [V] host said she felt sick after the backlash, and that "I think most people know that I'm good-hearted".

Network Ten also released a statement late this morning apologising for the comments. 'Good in the sack?' ... Broadcaster George Negus was a guest on the show. He's going to dive down to the bottom of the pool to see if his brain is there. "We recognise he is a highly decorated soldier, national hero and we have the utmost respect for him," the statement said. "We are sorry for any offence this may have caused him and sincerely echo today's apology by The Circle."

Decorated ... Ben Roberts-Smith is awarded the Victoria Cross by the Governor-General last year. Credit:Chris Moore This afternoon, Ten issued a statement on behalf of Negus. "In the wake of media and public reaction to comments attributed to me on The Circle television program, this is what I actually said yesterday: 'I'm sure he's a really good guy, nothing about poor old Ben - But that sort of bloke, and what if they're not up to it in the sack?'," he said. "Read properly and in context, it can be seen that what I actually intended to be a 'tongue-in-cheek quip' about men generally with great bodies. In no way was it meant to be a comment or a reflection on Corporal Ben Roberts - Smith, directly or otherwise. "However, if my comment has unintentionally offended Ben, his family, or his ADF / SAS colleagues, obviously I am sorry."

The Circle's Facebook page was flooded with angry comments, while a relative of another decorated war veteran contacted The Age to call for the Stynes and Negus to be sacked. "Their comments are disgusting, bird-brained, and an insult to the ADF," Frances Butcher said. "As the great niece of Captain George Milne, awarded a Military Cross for his bravery in France in 1918, I advocate that all involved in the shameless performance be made to give a proper apology - as well as being dismissed." One viewer on The Circle's Facebook page wrote: "Shame shame shame you idiots its disgusting. "My neighbor is a ww2 vetran at kokoda you have tarnished the whole aussie defence force , IDIOTS."

Another said he could not "believe they would speak so trashy about a guy who would do anything for our country". One viewer complained: "An Australian who has been honoured as a V.C. recipient deserves all the accolades we can lavish on him - He's the epitome of a great Aussie bloke! What a disgusting comment by this bird brain 'Yumi' Who is she?? and even more surprising and disappointing is the derogatory comment from George Negus - A journalist I've had great respect for in the past." Some called for Yumi to be sacked from the show, but others claimed that the comments were light-hearted and people had overreacted. "Where's your Australian sense of humor! I guarantee he [Corporal Roberts-Smith] wasn't even offended! (unless of course what she said is actually true!)," wrote one woman. In response to the backlash, The Circle posted an apology on its Facebook page late yesterday to anyone who had been offended.

"Gotta love live T.V.!," the apology read. "What started out as an innocent admiration of one of Australia's heroes today unfortunately ended up changing direction. "I hope you all know us well enough by now to know that we would never set out to upset anyone.

"Your feedback is very important to us and we appreciate your input on a daily basis. "So sorry if we offended any of you today." The Age has contacted Negus for comment.

Corporal Roberts-Smith was awarded the VC for extraordinary heroism in bitter fighting as members of the Special Operations Task Group assaulted a Taliban stronghold in Kandahar Province on June 11, 2010. At great risk to himself, Corporal Roberts-Smith drew fire away from his fellow Diggers by making himself an easy shot before single-handedly silencing two Taliban machinegun posts. That enabled his unit to go on to clear a village of Taliban. Opposition defence personnel spokesman Stuart Robert condemned the comments made by Negus and Stynes. "For such extraordinary feats of bravery and for the humility with which [Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith] has lived his life to be so denigrated by these two journalists is not only unacceptable; it is contemptible," he said.

"The irony is that the freedom of speech these journalists exercise is a freedom neither of them have fought for -but which both enjoy." Mr Robert called for an apology from the network and the journalists. "This is a man whose hope is that his service and that of his regiment may lead to a national life free of the fear of simply walking on to a bus that may be blown up. Such a man is to be honoured and never denigrated." "I therefore ask both the network and the journalists involved to apologise to this great Australian and his family for comments that demean a man who has spent his life serving our nation." Listen to the exchange here

In 2012, Fairfax publications asserted in a number of articles that Yumi Stynes and George Negus had made derogatory comments regarding the sexual character of Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith and his use of IVF procedures. The discussion occurred on The Circle television chat show. Our interpretation was wrong and we accept that both Mr Negus and Ms Stynes were not referring to Corporal Roberts-Smith personally, but to strongly-built men generally. We apologise for the error. Loading Follow The Age on Twitter @The Age