Many popular child stars have had difficulty escaping being typecast when emerging into the unforgiving adult world of serious television, often having their careers terminated by despair, bad luck or tragedy. Daniel Radcliffe escaped the childhood innocence of Harry Potter with a near-nude stage appearance in Equus, about a man hating horses. Now we see an adult Robert Irwin as he struts on stage in the 2025 US Dancing With The Stars, showing he has skin in the game for sure (“All grown up, hot Robert absolutely wild on dance floor”, DT, 2/10). Showing more hip than hop, the buff ballroom maestro has learnt how to skilfully swing and twist better than any North Queensland crocs. One must expect that the popular Aussie star will feel 100 per cent accepted in his adult persona and avoid demeaning gimmicks on foreign stages, even if he is following in his big sister’s footsteps. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta. 3 Oct 2025