The charismatic host of Bachelor in Paradise is always the one asking the questions and helping us to understand more about our fave characters on the reality shows. And having won himself a slew of prestigious awards throughout his career, the host has worked his way up the ranks in broadcast television. Let's get to know more about him!

Chris Harrison began his television career by covering local sports in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

The Dallas, Texas, native went to Oklahoma City University on a soccer scholarship, and then made the natural transition to sports casting with a local station. During his six years there, he worked his way up the ranks from part-time sportscaster to weekend sportscaster. He also had the opportunity to cover hard-news stories, including the 1995 tragedy at the Federal Building, an event which profoundly affected his perspective on life and career.

A visit to Los Angeles in 1999 for an audition for a horseracing network led to a permanent move. Later that year, Harrison landed the job as host of HGTV’s Designer’s Challenge, which was consistently one of the network’s highest-rated shows. In 2001, he became host of ABC’s hit romance/reality series, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

He also has hosted ABC’s popular reality show Bachelor Pad, the all-star reunion from previous seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, from 2010 to 2012, and its OMG buzz-worthy hit successor, Bachelor in Paradise, the last three years, from 2014 to 2016. 

Additionally, Chris hosted the live after-show After Paradise, with author and Bachelor franchise enthusiast Jenny Mollen, in 2015. The new weekly, one-hour show dished about the outrageous happenings on the hot series with cast members and celebrity fans.

Harrison continues to advance in the entertainment industry through a variety of professional endeavors. He is the host of the nationally syndicated game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. He joined the popular long-running franchise beginning with its 14th season in the fall of 2015 while remaining the host of the Bachelor franchise. Harrison also has co-hosted ABC’s live coverage of The Miss America Pageant for the past five years, from 2011 to 2015. 

He first hosted the iconic broadcast on ABC in 2004. Additional hosting credits include Emmys Red Carpet Live at the 2012 Primetime Emmys, ABC’s 2011 American Music Awards Red Carpet, live television coverage of the final championship rounds of the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee on ABC, ABC’s 2008 American Music Awards Red Carpet Live! and Road to the 60th Primetime Emmy® Awards, ABC.com’s daily coverage leading up to the 2008 Primetime Emmy Awards.

In a departure from his many broadcast endeavours, Harrison turned to the written page, as he penned his first book – an emotional, passionate and suspenseful novel entitled The Perfect Letter. The romantic novel was published by Harper Collins in May 2015.

The versatile Harrison has done his fair share of acting as well, with roles in the popular television series Alias, The Practice, Six Feet Under and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. His feature film appearances include Bounce, Showtime and portraying himself in the comedy Date Movie.

In his spare time Harrison still plays soccer and has become addicted to golf. He has developed a great appreciation for the weather and lifestyle of Southern California and spends as much time as possible outdoors with 15-year-old son Joshua and 13-year-old daughter Taylor.

Catch Bachelor in Paradise season 6, airing on Thursdays at 20:30, exclusive to #1Magic