{"id":2386075,"date":"2026-04-23T16:21:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T16:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2386075"},"modified":"2026-04-23T16:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T16:21:13","slug":"robert-irwin-returning-to-dancing-with-the-stars-universe-in-new-role-let-the-fiercest-dance-battle-begin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/robert-irwin-returning-to-dancing-with-the-stars-universe-in-new-role-let-the-fiercest-dance-battle-begin\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert Irwin Returning to \u201cDancing with the Stars\u201d Universe in New Role: &#8216;Let the Fiercest Dance Battle Begin&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Robert Irwin is returning to the <em>Dancing with the Stars <\/em>franchise<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The season 34 winner will host <em>Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The spinoff series follows 12 dancers who are &#8220;vying for a coveted spot as a\u00a0pro\u00a0dancer&#8221; in the next <em>DWTS<\/em> season<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/robert-irwin-5672162\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Robert Irwin;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Robert Irwin<\/a> is returning to the <em>Dancing with the Stars<\/em> universe \u2014 just with a different title.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy at the end of season 34, Irwin will now host <em>Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em>, a spinoff series with the goal of finding the next pro dancer to join the franchise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Per a synopsis, <em>Next Pro<\/em> features &#8220;12 exceptional up-and-coming dancers who move into one house and compete in a grueling audition process, all vying for a coveted spot as a\u00a0pro\u00a0dancer on season 35.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Witney Carson and Robert Irwin holding their Mirrorball trophies on Nov. 25, 2025<br \/>Credit: Disney\/Eric McCandless<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Irwin, 22, isn&#8217;t the only familiar face returning to the ballroom with a new gig. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/mark-ballas\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Mark Ballas;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Mark Ballas<\/a> will also be taking part in the series as a judge, alongside his mother and fellow famed dancer Shirley Ballas. Irwin helped announce the news during Hulu\u2019s Get Real House event held Wednesday, April 22.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A rotating cast of returning pros will also appear as guest judges and mentors for the <em>DWTS<\/em> hopefuls, and contestants will be revealed at a later date.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;For the first time in <em>Dancing with the Stars<\/em> history, the greatest dancers will compete for a spot as the next pro,&#8221; Irwin said in a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pYgIH_3IdRE\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:teaser;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">teaser<\/a>. &#8220;Let the fiercest dance battle begin.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Get ready,&#8221; Irwin added in an Instagram comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">BBC Studios is producing the series from showrunner and executive producer Conrad Green. Other EPs include Ryan O\u2019Dowd, Krystal Whitney, Alex Cross and Jenny Groom, with Deena Katz and Quinn Lipton serving as co-executive producers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Disney also announced on Wednesday that the first two celebrities joining the fun for season 35 are <em>Summer House <\/em>star <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/ciara-miller-if-do-bachelorette-after-west-wilson-drama-11952234\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Ciara Miller;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Ciara Miller<\/a> and <em>The Traitors<\/em> alum <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/maura-higgins-plastic-surgery-plans-11952244\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Maura Higgins;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Maura Higgins<\/a>. The full\u00a0<em>DWTS<\/em>\u00a0cast of celebrities and pro dancers will be announced at a later date, with the show premiering in the fall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em> will premiere on July 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu. <em>DWTS<\/em>\u00a0season 35 will premiere in the fall on ABC and Disney+.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/robert-irwin-returning-dancing-with-the-stars-new-role-11956975\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:People;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Robert Irwin is returning to the Dancing with the Stars franchise The season 34 winner will host Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro The spinoff series follows 12 dancers who are &#8220;vying for a coveted spot as a\u00a0pro\u00a0dancer&#8221; in the next DWTS season Robert Irwin is returning to the Dancing with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2386076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[41508,344313,344314,353608,343475],"class_list":["post-2386075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-dancing-with-the-stars","tag-dwts-season","tag-mark-ballas","tag-robert-irwin","tag-spinoff-series"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Robert-Irwin-Returning-to-Dancing-with-the-Stars-Universe-in.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2386075"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2386077,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386075\/revisions\/2386077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2386076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2386075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2386075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2386075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}