Oprah defends Madonna adoption

US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey has leaped to the defence of pop superstar Madonna, insisting her adoption of a Malawian tot was an "amazing" act.

Winfrey visited Africa herself earlier this week to open a school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa and she can't understand why Madonna's adoption of baby David Banda has received so much criticism in the press.

Speaking on British current affairs show Newsnight yesterday Winfrey said: "I applaud Madonna. I think it's an amazing thing that she did, and it makes me sick that people criticise her, because there are millions of children in this world who will die because no one came to save them.

"I think she deserves praise and applause and not to be criticised."

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie were granted interim adoption of David in October.