Find out how long Robert Irwin has been dreaming of appearing on Dancing With the Stars.
ABC and Hulu announced on Tuesday (April 22) that long-running ballroom dancing competition show Dancing With the Stars is officially renewed for a 34th season — and they revealed that the first celebrity in the season 34 cast is none other than Robert Irwin.
Irwin is the son of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, who passed away in 2006 when Robert was just 2 years old. Robert's older sister is Bindi Irwin, whom Dancing With the Stars fans will certainly remember because she won the 21st season of Dancing With the Stars back in 2015 alongside her partner Derek Hough.
Hough is now a judge on the show but Irwin definitely remembers watching Hough dance with his older sister. When the show revealed that Irwin is the first contestant for the upcoming season, Hough asked Irwin how he feels about being cast on the show (via People's Instagram).
Irwin said that it is an enormous honor to be asked, especially because he remembers being a little 11-year-old boy sitting in the ballroom and hoping that one day he would get to compete as well.
"I cannot tell you what an honor, what a privilege it is to be joining this season. I remember being a little 11-year-old — little 11-year-old Robert about this big with a little bowl cut, you remember that! — and watching you and Bindi having the most incredible time, lighting up the dance floor," Irwin said to Hough.
The conservationist continued, "I just thought 'one day that's gonna be me.' I had these little dreams going 'one day!' and now that dream is a reality, and I am over the moon, let's do this!"
In addition to being quite the star on TikTok, Irwin has a little bit of TV experience under his belt. He starred with his family on Crikey! It's the Irwins from 2018 to 2022, and he co-hosted the 2024 season of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
The rest of the season 34 cast will be announced at a later date; typically, cast members start leaking in August as they begin rehearsals. There is no official premiere date yet for season 34, but Dancing With the Stars typically premieres in the third week of September on ABC and Hulu.
