'The Bachelorette' Names Its Next Two Leads
by EG
Host Chris Harrison won't be back for the next season of The Bachelorette, but at least we know who the show's lead will be. The franchise announced this week its picks for not just the next Bachelorette but the one after that as well. Harrison is going to sit out at least the next season after he got involved in a race-related controversy earlier this year. Read on for details.
Amid ongoing controversy, The Bachelor franchise is committing to not one but two seasons of The Bachelorette.
The long-running reality dating franchise is doubling down on its female-led series for what will be the 17th and 18th seasons. The 17th cycle of The Bachelorette will star Katie Thurston and will air this summer. The 18th season, set to air in the fall, will star Michelle Young.
Both Thurston and Young have been plucked from the current season of The Bachelor and were officially announced during Monday's highly anticipated Bachelor: After the Final Rose finale special, where Young was revealed to be runner-up to problematic contestant Rachael Kirkconnell in the competition for the final rose of historic Bachelor star Matt James.
"We're the Bachelorettes!" said Young and Thurston of their double reveal and individual seasons in a brief appearance on Monday night. "I was a little nervous, but once I found out it was two different seasons, I was here for it. I'm excited that I will have somebody to bond over with this and share notes as we go," said Young. Thurston added that she is ready to find love: "I've seen it work before. Why can't it work for me?"
Production on Thurston's season is already underway without the embattled face of the franchise, Chris Harrison, as The Hollywood Reporter has reported. On Friday night, ABC and producers Warner Horizon made Harrison's hiatus from The Bachelorette official when they announced that former Bachelorette stars Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe would be taking over his hosting duties for what viewers now know will be Thurston's season.
"We support Chris in the work that he is committed to doing. In his absence, former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will support the new Bachelorette through next season," read the joint statement, which did not name the pair as "co-hosts." Multiple sources have told THR that Adams and Bristowe will assume a mentoring role behind the scenes, as an official decision about Harrison's future as host has yet to be made. (In addition to appearing in Monday's pre-taped finale, Harrison's voice was also heard teasing the post-show.)
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
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