The Bachelor: Clayton Echard Officially Named Season 26 Star — Watch Teaser
The (already leaked) news is out: The Bachelor has officially named recently booted Bachelorette contestant Clayton Echard as the star of the upcoming Season 26, TVLine has learned.
Clayton was first rumored to be the next Bachelor back in September, before he even made his debut as one of the suitors vying for Michelle Young’s heart on the current season of The Bachelorette. A former pro football player and a Missouri native, Clayton made it to Michelle’s final eight, but she sent him home last week after their one-on-one date.
ABC has also provided a first look at Clayton’s Bachelor season — which you can watch above — including the usual exotic globetrotting locales, savage catfights and lots and lots of tears. The Bachelor premieres Monday, Jan. 3 at 8/7c.
“This Midwestern man proves he is so much more than just a good-looking guy with a rock-hard bod,” per the official description. “He’s a throwback romantic who’s not afraid to put himself out there for love.”
Plus, Clayton won’t be the only new star when The Bachelor returns: Jesse Palmer, a former Bachelor himself, takes over hosting duties from Chris Harrison, who left the franchise earlier this year amid controversy after he railed against “cancel culture” while defending Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after photos surfaced of her at an Antebellum party.
Alright, Bachelor Nation, what do you think of Clayton as next season’s star? Hit the comments and share your thoughts.
Clayton seems like a perfectly nice fellow, but I’m not seeing him as a dynamic leading man. And that teaser was so much like Colton’s, I expected there to be a wall jump at the end. If you have to fill the teaser with nothing but women sobbing, I don’t have great faith in what’s to come.
globetrotting locales – Yay Toronto
Jesse should be a good host, but I don’t know if it is fair to say Chris “railed against “cancel culture” “
Apparently unlike the rest of the world, I had no idea Clayton was going to be the next Bachelor. I just finished up Episode 6 of the Bachelorette and said to myself he needed to be the next Bachelor. So, I googled make Clayton the next Bachelor and landed here! I think its perfect. He deserves it and having him on the show brings back the authenticity of what Bachelor used to be. Yay! On the subject of the new host.. No one compares to Chris Harrison. He will forever be missed on the show. <3