Robert Irwin is officially trading khakis for dancing shoes – The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars.
The confirmation came during a chat with judge Derek Hough, the very same dancer who helped Robert’s sister Bindi Irwin win the competition back in 2015.
For Robert, this isn’t just another reality show, it’s something he’s dreamed about since he was a kid.
“I cannot tell you what an honor, what a privilege it is to be joining this season,” he said. “I remember being a little 11-year-old, little Robert with a bowl cut, watching you and Bindi light up the dance floor. I thought, ‘One day that’s going to be me.’ And now that dream is a reality. I’m over the moon, let’s do this!”
Although no premiere date has been confirmed yet, Dancing with the Stars typically kicks off in mid-September and will air on both ABC and Hulu. With Robert announced as the first contestant, fans are now eagerly waiting to see who joins him on the official cast list.
This isn’t Robert’s first brush with reality TV either. From 2018 to 2022, he starred alongside his family in Crikey! It’s the Irwins, and more recently, he co-hosted the 2024 season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Australia with Julia Morris. Their friendship has grown so strong that Robert jokingly calls her an “honorary Irwin.”
“Julia’s a bit of a Queenslander at this point,” he told TV WEEK. “We shot the promo at the zoo and hosted our gala. She’s got her own khaki uniform. She’s part of the family.”
Fans of Dancing with the Stars will no doubt remember Bindi’s deeply emotional and charismatic run on the show, which culminated in her winning the mirrorball trophy. Seeing her younger brother step into the spotlight nearly ten years later is a full-circle moment, and the added layer of having Derek Hough, now a judge, makes it even more poetic.
So far, Robert is the only confirmed name, but if DWTS tradition holds, we can expect a lineup featuring athletes, viral stars, actors, and musicians. That said, Robert brings something unique, genuine likability, natural charm, and a legacy that stretches far beyond Australia Zoo.
As he gets ready to take the dance floor, all eyes will be on who he’s paired with, how he performs under pressure, and whether he can follow in Bindi’s championship footsteps.
Robert Irwin’s journey on Dancing with the Stars has just begun, but if his energy is anything like his wildlife work, it’s going to be wild, heartfelt, and full of surprises.
Are you rooting for him already?
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