'DWTS' champ Robert Irwin to host ballroom spinoff 'The Next Pro'
LOS ANGELES — "Dancing with the Stars" champion Robert Irwin is helping to expand the hot ABC ballroom competition reality franchise, hosting a new spinoff series, "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro."
Hulu announced the new summer reality show featuring wildlife conservationist Irwin, 22, the social media-savvy winner of "DWTS" Season 34, at the "Get Real House" event on Wednesday, April 22.
"The Next Pro" will feature 12 up-and-coming dancers who move into a house together and compete through the audition process, vying for a spot as a pro dancer on the upcoming Season 35 of "Dancing with the Stars."
Three-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas and his pro dancing mother, Shirley Ballas, will serve as judges.
"Crikey, this is going to be fun," Aussie Irwin said from the stage at the event, taking a break from the "DWTS" national tour with champion pro partner Witney Carson.
The group will be joined by a lineup of returning pros who will serve as rotating mentors and guest judges. These judges will be announced at a later date.
"Now it's time to find the next pro who can keep up with our seasoned pros and whip these rookie stars into shape," said Ballas, a judge on "Strictly Come Dancing" in the UK.
"The Next Pro" will premiere July 13 (8 EDT/PDT) on ABC, with episodes available the next day on Hulu.
'Traitors,' 'Love Island' star Maura Higgins joins 'DWTS' Season 35
Maura Higgins, star of "The Traitors" and "Love Island," and "Summer House" star Ciara Miller will join "DWTS" Season 35 as the first two celebrity cast members.
Hulu officially announced the show has been renewed for Season 35 after blockbuster ratings for Season 34.
"A brand new bombshell is entering the ballroom," "DWTS" host Alfonso Ribeiro said from the stage as Higgins navigated in treacherously high heels.
“I manifested it really hard. It’s on my vision board,” Higgins tells USA TODAY of the ballroom casting. “It's the one show I really want to do. This is the last show I want to do as a contestant.”
The Irish reality star turned down the Irish version of “Dancing with the Stars” and the UK’s “Strictly Come Dancing.”
“I turned down anything that would jeopardize ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in America,” Higgins says. “I’m just being honest. I really wanted this one.”
Higgins says she’s praying for Mark Ballas to be her pro partner. In the meantime, she’s going to rest until rehearsals begin in August.
“I'm not going to start working my ass off now, because by the time August comes, I'll be absolutely shattered,” says Higgins. “I’m going to take some daytime naps, because I'm going to need it.”
'Summer House' star Ciara Miller joins 'DWTS' Season 35
"Summer House" star Miller was unable to attend the Los Angeles event due to filming an emotional reunion special in New York City.
"I wanted to be there, I wish I could be there, but I had some unfinished business in New York that I need to wrap up," Miller said. "But I am so excited to join Season 35. I feel like this is the perfect moment; I'm opening a new chapter. I can't wait to put my energy on the dance floor."
Who else is on Season 35 of 'Dancing with the Stars'?
The full "DWTS" cast and the pro partners will be announced later. The season will likely take place in mid-September, but an official start date has not been announced.