Colton Underwood would be an excellent choice for the next The Bachelor star, at least according to franchise host Chris Harrison.

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"If he's single, Colton would be a very interesting Bachelor," Chris told Entertainment Tonight.

RELATED LINK: 'BACHELOR IN PARADISE' SPOILERS: WHO GOT ENGAGED ON SEASON 5?! WHICH COUPLES ARE STILL TOGETHER AND DATING?

Colton first competed for Becca Kufrin's heart on The Bachelorette and got dumped in fourth place. 

Colton then rekindled a romance with Tia Booth -- whom he had a brief fling with in January 2018 -- on Bachelor in Paradise's fifth season, although he questioned in the beginning whether he was even ready to commit to another woman after finding and losing love with Becca.

"We look at a lot of things when picking the Bachelor, and good TV and good story is a lot of it," Chris noted. "Colton has all that in spades."

Not only is Colton a former professional football player who has founded a charity for people living with Cystic Fibrosis, but he's also a self-proclaimed dog rescuer and virgin who is waiting to give himself to the right woman.

"There's the, 'Is he ready for this?' angle with Tia, and is that still hanging over him? Obviously, we'll see how that plays out in Paradise. Then there's the virgin angle. We have this guy who was brought to tears during Men Tell All about dealing with this," Chris explained.

"If he's willing to put that on display as the Bachelor, I would find that fascinating in this day and age... The women having to deal with that -- I think it would be a fascinating story."

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)

The franchise host added, "And that's a lot of what makes a good Bachelor. It's a compelling argument if he's single and willing to do it."

It wouldn't be a surprise if Colton is currently single because a preview for next week's September 3 episode of Bachelor in Paradise shows Colton and Tia having an emotional conversation that leaves them both bawling their eyes out.

Chris also teases in the preview's voiceover it could be "the final chapter" of Tia and Colton's romance. (To read Bachelor in Paradise spoilers regarding what happens to Tia and Colton's relationship, click here).

While Chris apparently believes Colton has the potential to be an engaging and atypical The Bachelor star, some fans have questioned his motives.

Tia's best friend, Raven Gates from The Bachelor, has accused Colton of always going after the "it girl." Colton previously dated Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, and he contacted Tia on social media when she was a frontrunner to be cast on The Bachelorette's fourteenth season, which ultimately starred Becca.

Colton was also slammed for showing an unflattering, more aggressive side to his personality on The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All in July, when he argued and picked fights with multiple men.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

"Who is Colton? On the show, he was the sweet, boy-next-door but at Men Tell All he was cursing and seemed to have a chip on his shoulders," former The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay wrote in her blog at the time.

"This is my issue with Colton. I don't believe you because I don't know who you are or which Colton I am getting."

Chris insisted the announcement of who will star on Season 23 of The Bachelor in 2019 will be made "very soon" because "it's only a matter of weeks" until the show goes into production.

Chris also clarified to ET that Season 20 The Bachelor star, Ben Higgins, was "never offered" the role, despite recent rumors.

"Maybe he took his name out of the running, but he definitely didn't turn down being the Bachelor. But hey, that's not to say he won't be!" Chris said.

In addition to Colton and Ben, producers have also reportedly been considering Jason Tartick and Blake Horstmann for the next Bachelor.

RELATED LINK: 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' PROS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: WHO'S DATING OR MARRIED TO WHOM!? (PHOTOS) 

Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone, however, believes ABC has already selected The Bachelor's new leading man. Click here to read which guy has allegedly landed the job.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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