Young wildlife warrior Robert Irwin will join jungle queen Julia Morris to co-host Ten’s award-winning I”m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! in 2024.

Irwin was named among a raft of programming announcements by Network Ten on Tuesday.

“You might think Robert and I are an unlikely duo, but it turns out we’re a magical combination,” Morris, 55, said.

With Irwin and Morris described by the network as “Australia’s newest ‘it’ couple”, the young photographer replaces celebrity vet Dr Chris Brown.

Brown announced in February he was leaving the show he has co-hosted since 2015 to take up a lucrative contract at rival network Seven. He was last week confirmed as the new co-host of Dancing with the Stars, and will also host two other shows for Seven.

“I’ve become so powerful at the network I am now allowed to trade in for a younger model and, of course, when you trade in, you always upgrade,” Morris joked as the new duo spoke to News about their pairing.

In his day-to-day life, Irwin, 19, continues the work of his late father, Steven, at Australia Zoo in Buderim, Queensland. Now, though, he’s packing his bags and heading to the South African jungle for a celebrity reality TV gig.

He’s no stranger to the camera, right from his baby days when his “crocodile hunter” father sensationally dangled him in front of one of his hungry crocodiles for an Australia Zoo performance in 2004.

Since then, he’s grown up in front of the camera, co-hosting Robert’s Real Life Adventures, and also starred on the Animal Planet series Crikey! It’s the Irwins with his mother, Terri, and sister, Bindi, from 2018-2022.

“I thought it’d be a very tricky race [to find a new co-host], but the second Robert walked through the door, there was no contest,” Morris said.

“Everybody in the room was spellbound.”

Morris and Brown delivered on-camera chemistry and banter throughout nine seasons of I’m A Celebrity …,  as they put the A-listers through more than 20 gruelling trials and challenges.

They laughed as celebs gagged on gourmet spiders and animal intestines, watched as snakes crawled over them in bunkers and delighted at their rudimentary campsite living conditions from atop their hideaway.

There’s a 35-year age gap between Irwin and Morris. But said said fans would see a “different energy” between the pair.

“Robert is only just a whisper older than my eldest child, so I’ve really got my mummy protection pants on,” she said.

“I don’t remember [previously] seeing the dynamic of a turning-56-year-old woman, standing beside a 20-year-old man, presenting a prime-time show.

“He can help me with my Zimmer frame when we get to, like, series 18. Robert will be on a carer’s wage as well.”

For Irwin, who will see every creature as a gorgeous little reptile or arachnid, and who can’t wait to lay eyes on giraffes, lions and water buffalo, how will he go taming a camp full of hangry celebrities?

And watch them bite through plump tarantulas?

“It’s a huge honour to be the new co-host,” he said.

“I can’t wait to plunge back into the incredible African jungle and introduce our celebrities to the magnificent wildlife that call the jungle home.

“Most of all, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside the incredibly kind and talented Julia Morris.

“Crikey! This is going to be a wild ride!”

Season nine of I’m a Celebrity … featured comedian Peter Helliar, Bachelor star Nick Cummins, radio jock Ian “Dicko” Dickson and day-time TV host Kerri-Anne Kennerley among 14 celebrities parachuted into the jungle.

Former netball player Liz Ellis was crowned winner in April.

Ten promises it will pull out “all the stops” for its 10th anniversary season in 2024, with plenty of fun and laughter, and “the most hideous and hilarious trials” in the history of the show.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! returns to Ten and 10 Play in 2024