DWTS Announces Season 34 With Legacy Star as First Contestant

Australian wildlife conservationist and television personality Robert Irwin has officially been named the first celebrity contestant for the upcoming 34th season of “Dancing with the Stars.” The announcement was made during Disney Entertainment Television’s Get Real Event on April 22, where the show was also confirmed to be renewed for a new season.

Irwin appeared on stage shirtless with a snake around his neck and shared his excitement about joining the competition. “I cannot tell you what a privilege, what an honor it is to be joining this season,” he said during the live announcement. The moment was captured in a video posted by DWTS pro Emma Slater on her Instagram story and later reposted by the show’s official account.

DWTS hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro welcomed Irwin on stage, where he gave a nod to his family legacy with a signature catchphrase: “All I can say is, Crikey!”

Irwin will follow in the footsteps of his sister, Bindi Irwin, who competed on season 21 in 2015 and won the Mirrorball Trophy alongside pro partner Derek Hough. Bindi took to Instagram to celebrate her brother’s casting on the show, writing, “Robert, you are going to absolutely shine in the ballroom. I wish I could express the magnitude of how proud I am of you and everything you have achieved.” She added, “Here’s to an extraordinary journey ahead,” while reflecting on her own DWTS experience 10 years ago.

Who Is Robert Irwin?

Robert Irwin is the son of the late Steve Irwin, famously known as “The Crocodile Hunter.” Steve Irwin died at the age of 44 in September 2006 after being fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a documentary in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Robert has dedicated his life to continuing his family’s conservation legacy. He works alongside his mother, Terri Irwin, and sister at Australia Zoo and has become a recognizable figure through the Animal Planet series Crikey! It’s the Irwins. Irwin also frequently appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he educates audiences about animals.

A passionate wildlife photographer, Irwin has had his work showcased in galleries and media outlets. In April, he made headlines for posing in a reptile-themed campaign for Australian underwear brand Bonds. Speaking to People about the campaign, Irwin said, “Also, I’m at this point in my life where I’m trying to do as many different and random exciting things, and if it’s something that makes me a little bit nervous, that I’ve never done before and it’s a bit of an adrenaline rush? That’s what I want to be doing.”

Robert Irwin Turns Dancing Dream Into Reality on DWTS

While Irwin’s professional dance partner for season 34 has not been revealed, his interest in joining Dancing with the Stars dates back to early 2024. As previously reported, Irwin expressed enthusiasm about the show and specifically mentioned DWTS pro Rylee Arnold as a dream partner.

Irwin said he had dreamed of joining the show since watching his sister Bindi win in 2015. At the event where the announcement was made, he told the crowd, “I said, ‘One day, that’s gonna be me.’ And now, that dream is a reality, and I am over the moon. Let’s do this!”