Chris Harrison Explains Why Chris Soules Was Chosen as the Star of The Bachelor

It's no secret that The Bachelorette's Chris Soules was a front-runner to star on The Bachelor. He's hot, successful, and left his season brokenhearted — all the makings for the perfect lead. But with another fan favorite — Arie from Emily Maynard's season — also in talks for the gig, host Chris Harrison says the decision came down to the wire.

So what gave the Iowa farmer the edge? "At the end of the day, Chris is everything the show is based on," Harrison tells TVGuide.com. "He's that diamond in the rough from middle America who, more than ever, needs the show to find his wife. It reminds me of Aaron Buerge in Missouri. He needed the show to expand his horizons. So, it takes us back to where the show began."

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Although rumors have been swirling for weeks, especially after the "Men Tell All" special,  Harrison swears that nothing was official until this week. "There were rumors that it was confirmed, but the truth is until this week, everybody was wrong," he says. "It's not like we waited this long to hold on to this little nugget. We confirmed it [on Good Morning America] two days after we could. But, of course, he's been the front-runner. That wasn't hard to figure out."

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While there are lots of Chris supporters, there are also those wondering if Soules is dynamic enough to lead the show. But Harrison says not to worry. "When you're one of 25, you get a very small glimpse," he says. "Sean Lowe is the best example. He was not that popular on Emily's season. He wasn't the hero that he was when he was The Bachelor. But we knew Sean was a star and that he had a great sense of humor and was smart. It's the same thing with Chris. He's very smart, articulate and he's professional. Like Andi, he'll approach 'the job' the same way.

"I don't know if we would've had that same attitude with anybody else at the top of our list," Harrison continues. "He's also sincere and I know he's looking for love. If there was ever guy we'd say will walk away with someone, it's Chris. So, for those who are worried, you just haven't seen what you'll see during the show."

Do you think Chris will make a good Bachelor? Weigh in below! Plus: Check back for Harrison's thoughts on Bachelor in Paradise.