ABC and The Bachelor will conduct thorough search for successor for host Chris Harrison after his exit from franchise after 19 years
ABC and The Bachelor will take their time in picking a successor to Chris Harrison, in the wake of his parting from the reality romance franchise after 19 years as host.
Sources told Variety that the network isn’t expected to name the new permanent host until at least this fall, when the next season of The Bachelor commences production for its premiere in January 2022.
The longtime host of all three Bachelor Nation shows – The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, 49, on Tuesday permanently left the reality romance franchise.
The latest: ABC and The Bachelor will take their time in picking a successor to Chris Harrison, 49, in the wake of his parting from the reality romance franchise after 19 years as host
His exit came about four months after a race-related controversy in which he suggested ‘a little understanding’ toward a contestant who had attended a plantation-themed theme bash in 2018.
Harrison had initially stepped back in the wake of the racial insensitivity scandal, which erupted following a February Extra interview with The Bachelorette alum Rachel Lindsay about Rachael Kirkconnell.
Following news that Harrison was not returning, producers have dealt with a flood of calls from agents looking to secure the role for their clients, according to the outlet.
The network is looking at a large field of options, both in the Bachelor Nation group and outside of it, the outlet reported, and no one person has emerged as the top candidate.
Gorgeous: Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe, formerly of The Bachelorette, are currently hosting this season’s incarnation of the show and could return for next year’s as well
Harrison had initially stepped back in the wake of the racial insensitivity scandal, which erupted following a February Extra interview with The Bachelorette alum Rachel Lindsay about Rachael Kirkconnell
Harrison addressed his exit from the franchise in an Instagram post Tuesday
Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe, formerly of The Bachelorette, are currently hosting this season’s incarnation of the show, and could return for next year’s as well, sources told the outlet.
A rotating cast of celebs are set to host Bachelor in Paradise, according to Variety, including comic David Spade, rap stalwart Lil Jon, musician Lance Bass and actor Tituss Burgess.
Harrison addressed his exit from the franchise in an Instagram post Tuesday.
‘I’ve had a truly incredible run as host of The Bachelor franchise and now I’m excited to start a new chapter. I’m so grateful to Bachelor Nation for all of the memories we’ve made together,’ he said. ‘While my two-decade journey is wrapping up, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime.’