Robert Irwin is the first to acknowledge he didn’t have a traditional childhood. While many Australians enjoyed the lifestyle of cul-de-sac neighbourhoods and backyard barbecues, the already-famous youngster known as ‘Bob’ was immersed in the exotic wildlife at Australia Zoo – the 750-acre park in Queensland that serves as both home and workplace for his mother, Terri, sister, Bindi, and himself.
On the set of our Gold Logie nomination shoot, Robert smiles wide, likening his upbringing to life on a farm. When reminded that barnyard animals don’t often mistake humans for lunch, he laughs: “Well yes… it’s an occupational hazard! But it was great. It’s not normal, I guess, but it was our normal.”
Robert and Bindi became part of a world most Australians only dream about. Terri, alongside late husband Steve Irwin, is a giant of the conservation industry. Steve died tragically young in 2006, leaving memories of a boisterous, fun presence whose message was just as loud as he was.
The legacy of Steve Irwin
Steve’s enthusiastic nature and charm live on in Robert, 22, who will now step onto the TV WEEK Logie Awards stage as both host and a Gold Logie nominee. The honour comes just shy of the 20th anniversary of Steve’s death – and the timing is not lost on Robert.
“Dad had so much involvement with the Logies over the years,” he says. “He gave so much to the TV industry, as well as conservation, so it’s a full-circle moment for me. He presented an award there and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, so our family has had a lot to do with the Logies. It’s really cool.”
As Steve and Teri travelled across the globe and into the hearts of all Australians to raise awareness of the land we inhabit and the incredible species in it, Robert says their work created a family understanding that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
“Bindi and I both very much had this sense that you get in and do your part,” Robert says. “We sort of felt like we were working towards something that we believed in as we grew up and became adults.
“I think that’s what has kept our family tight-knit, because we deal with a lot of big, sad and adrenaline-filled things. When you’re experiencing conservation and humanitarian issues on the front line from a young age, it gives you a certain perspective.”
But even the closest of siblings squabble sometimes: “The biggest argument we had was about the largest land animal to ever exist,” he laughs.
Robert Irwin’s path to the gold Logie
Despite Australia Zoo being a family business, there wasn’t any pressure to continue the legacy. Robert never questioned his path, but he did wonder if he could do it differently.
“Mum was always there for advice, but she often said, ‘Go and do you own thing,’” he says. “As I got older, I realised there’s more than one way to bring the message to people. I got hooked on the idea of showing up in rooms where conservation isn’t discussed. I wanted conservation to be approachable, palatable and achievable for young people; I have a sense of urgent optimism.”
That thinking helped propel his career. He became a regular on America’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, exposing celebrity guests to various wildlife, and lent his influence to documentaries and charitable causes. He has recorded a voice cameo on Bluey, won the US Dancing with the Stars and co-hosted the reality juggernaut I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! among other achievements.
As the world started taking notice of the ‘internet boyfriend’, as he became dubbed, he kept his focus on what matters. He likes to think the Gold Logie recognition is about the message, not just him.
“Anything that I’m doing on TV has to have a cause behind it, so this recognition has to do with the fact that people listen to my message. That means everything to me,” he says. “How many zookeepers have been nominated for a Gold Logie? I’m stoked!”
The future of the I’m A Celeb jungle
I’m A Celeb co-host Julia Morris enters the Gold rush for the fifth time in a bittersweet swan song after the series was recently cancelled by 10. Neither have definitively confirmed their future on the show, which has been picked up by Channel Seven.
But, in Robert’s eyes, I’m A Celeb and Julia – who has helmed the show since 2015 – are intertwined: “To me, they are synonymous. You can’t have one without the other,” he says, seemingly shutting down speculation that he would continue to host alone.
“I will always have Julia in my corner, and vice versa. We’ll work together again, I’m sure,” he says. “I’ve learnt so much from her and she deserves to win [Gold]!”
Calm amid criticism: ‘It’s not real’
Giving global issues a platform means Robert’s personal life is often on show. From rumoured girlfriends and paparazzi outside supermarkets, to naysayers and criticism, he’s a hot topic – more so as he becomes the youngest person to ever host the Logies. So, how does he handle it when the noise becomes too loud?
“I don’t look at any of it,” he says with a laugh. “I heard someone say this in an interview: ‘If you have a problem with me, text me. If you don’t have my number, you don’t know me well enough to have a problem with me.’
Now, if there’s a genuine issue to hash out, that’s fine. But the online troll chatter, I could not care less. My mission is to pump out positivity and everything I represent is to try to make the world a better place, so I don’t let it in. I care about valid, real feedback but online hate is just noise; it’s not real.”
As for interest in his personal life, Robert jokes he doesn’t find what he’s doing “all that interesting”. What he does want to stress to younger people is the importance of shutting out online noise.
“We certainly need to regulate [social media],” he says. “Mum used to ask, what was your favourite part of the day? What are you looking forward to the next day, and what’s your good deed of the day? Some days are a triumph and some days suck! But that routine allows me to focus on positivity and take it into the next day.”
A Logies to remember
As Robert takes that onto the Logies stage, he combines it with the spirit for which his dad was famous: “passionate, authentic and lived life at 100 per cent”. He promises to “go big” on Logies night. And, yes, he says, there will be some “wildlife involvement, special guests and elements of nostalgia and celebration”.
“We’re not going to stray away from the roast… but I still want it to be positive,” Robert adds.
Steve will, no doubt, be looking down on him with a smile, while Terri and Bindi will cheer him on as they wrangle crocodiles!
“I’ll be coming to the Logies straight from a crocodile research trip in Cape York,” Robert says. “So they’ll be watching via a satellite signal on a little TV up north … it all feels very Irwin, doesn’t it?”
The 66th TV WEEK Logie Awards airs Sunday August 16, 7pm on Channel Seven and 7plus. You can vote for your favourite show or star here.
