Jesse Palmer announced as host of upcoming 'The Bachelor' season

Palmer starred as the fifth Bachelor seeking love in 2004. He ended with Jessica Bowlin, though he never proposed and they broke up within a month. The University of Florida alum got engaged to model Emely Fardo since July 2019, and rumors are flying that the couple have secretly wed as Fardo has taken his last name on Instagram.

The need for a new "The Bachelor" host came suddenly after Chris Harrison, the sole host since the franchise's debut in 2002, caught backlash for attempting to rationalize past racially insensitive behavior from then-Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell in early February.

At the time, the 25th season of "The Bachelor" was airing with its first-ever male Black lead in Matt James, who ended up with Kirkconnell. Harrison immediately apologized and then announced he was "stepping aside for a period of time." Ultimately, he was fired in early June.

Bachelor Nation favorites Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe co-hosted the subsequent season of "The Bachelorette" featuring Katie Thurston that aired this summer.

Variety's Elizabeth Wagmeister provided context on Palmer's hire:

"Palmer has a longstanding relationship with The Walt Disney Company, as a sports commentator on ESPN, and former special contributor on Good Morning America and across ABC News. He is currently hosting ABC’s summer series The Ultimate Surfer, and he previously hosted the network’s reality series The Proposal in 2018, which was created by The Bachelor boss Mike Fleiss. He has also hosted ABC’s Disney Parks’ holiday specials and ABC’s presentation of the NFL Draft.

[...] 

"As of now, Palmer is officially signed on for Season 26 of The Bachelor, which will air in 2022. However, insiders explain that the idea is for Palmer to continue with the franchise in the future, both on the flagship Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but nothing is set in stone—and the network has not renewed either series beyond their next upcoming seasons. Sources say that hosting format for future seasons of Bachelor In Paradise, which used to be led by Harrison, is still in flux. (The current season of the summer series is being hosted by a rotating slate of celebrity guest hosts, like David Spade and Lil Jon, which has received warm reviews both from critics and fans.)"

"The Bachelor in Paradise" three-hour season finale is set for next Tuesday (Oct. 5).