Robert Irwin is spilling all about his upcoming role as host on DANCING THE WITH STARS: THE NEXT PRO.
“I first found out about THE NEXT PRO, actually, while the DANCING WITH THE STARS journey was happening for me,” he told TV Insider of the new show, which sees several professional dancers compete for a slot as a pro on DWTS.
Irwin continued, “When they asked me to remain in the family and do another project that really deepens the world of DANCING WITH THE STARS and [gives] a peek behind the curtain at what the pro dancers go through to become pros on the show, I really jumped at the chance. I mean, my reaction was just, ‘When do I start?’”
“I really felt like I got to be part of these dancers’ stories. And I think that’s what’s so different about THE NEXT PRO,” he shared. “These aren’t celebrities who are trying something new, just to give it a go and have some fun. This is a crop of people that have dedicated their entire life to this craft. They’ve given up everything. They and their families have sacrificed a lot to get to this point, and this is everything to them.”
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In a conversation with E! News, Irwin spoke more about his relationship with the contestants, saying, “I felt like I got to go from the contestant [to] almost a bit of a mentor for them. It was really nice.”
While Irwin was tight-lipped about what fans can expect from THE NEXT PRO, he did let a few details slip, sharing that fans will see “a lot of familiar faces” — and that he’ll take to the dancefloor.
“Yes, I will be dancing on THE NEXT PRO,” he revealed. “It’s going to be very, very exciting. So, yeah, strap in. It’s going to be a wild ride, that’s for sure.”
Talking to Decider, he joked, “It was all very exciting for me. While we were filming the season, I was asking the team when I could dance again….it became so ingrained in me. Now all I want to do is dance!”
Three-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas, serve as judges on the show. BBC Studios produces with Conrad Green as showrunner and executive producer.
DANCING WITH THE STARS: THE NEXT PRO airs every Monday, starting yesterday, with episodes available to stream the next day on Hulu and Disney+.
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