Chris Harrison is officially set to return to television as the co-host of a morning show and the host and creator of a new reality dating series.
The former ABC host has accepted a new gig in front of the camera after nearly three years since he departed from the Bachelor franchise.
Chris has signed on with Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media, where he will host both a morning show and a dating show, and contribute to Dr. Phil Primetime.
“Call it divine intervention, karma, kismet, whatever it is, the fact that Dr. Phil created this network in my own backyard here in Dallas, it means the world to me to, not only be returning to television, but to be doing it here in a hometown crowd,” Chris tells ET.
“He’s so good on camera,” Dr. Phil told ET of Chris. “When he walked out for the first time, the audience went insane.”
“It has dating elements in it, but this is so different and so novel,” he said. “It is flipping the script in a way that I think people are gonna become addicted to it in a week. It is unbelievable.”
“People got to know and love me for two decades hosting The Bachelor, so, yes, we are going to be creating a reality dating show,” Harrison told the outlet. “For years and years I said, ‘This is the most dramatic show ever.’ We want to create a show where those words actually ring true, so this dating show will be the most dramatic ever — that you can be sure of.”
Also, Chris will be teaming up with his wife Lauren Zima, to host a morning show.
“What matters the most to both of us has always been our audience, so we want to be able to connect with them,” Chris said. “What’s more relatable than talking about our relationship and what’s going on in our own lives?”
“Our relationship is a big part of the morning show,” Lauren Zima said. “The morning show we’re pulling together is gonna be a place for us to play, to have fun. What matters the most to both of us has always been our audience, so we want to be able to connect with them. What’s more relatable than talking about our relationship and what’s going on in our own lives?”
“It’s really exciting to be here,” Lauren continued. “The studio, the energy here is so invigorating. To have someone who is such a master of his craft like Phil running a network, it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“What they’re doing here is groundbreaking, innovative. It’s going to be fun, of course it’s going to be entertaining,” Chris added. “We’re doing television here, but I truly believe what this place stands for. [I’m] proud to be a part of it, and, above all else, we’re doing it in our own backyard.”
Chris Harrison departed from the Bachelor franchise in 2021 after Rachel Lindsay called him out for defending a contestants past racist behavior.
“I’ve had a truly incredible run as host of The Bachelor franchise and now I’m excited to start a new chapter,” he wrote on his Instagram post. “I’m so grateful to Bachelor Nation for all of the memories we’ve made together. While my two-decade journey is wrapping up, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime.”
Are you going to be watching his new dating reality show?