Colton Underwood had two breakups on two different reality shows before signing on as The Bachelor's next leading man, so did host Chris Harrison truly think he was ready for a serious relationship and commitment?
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RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' SEASON 23: MEET ALL OF COLTON'S BACHELORETTES! (PHOTO GALLERY)
Harrison admitted he wasn't entirely convinced the 26-year-old charity founder and former professional football player was ready for lasting love until weeks into filming The Bachelor's 23rd season.
"If I had to be honest, about halfway through shooting the season was when I truly felt like I got to know the man Colton is and felt that this guy is ready to have a relationship and take that next step," Harrison told The Hollywood Reporter.
"It took him opening up and really being vulnerable and letting himself go. It's not a foolproof system, it's not 100 percent."
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Harrison added, "Even if they say they're ready, they've got to really be ready. That's part of the beauty of the show that I think everyone can relate to."
The longtime host of the franchise explained, however, it usually takes some time to figure out what's in a Bachelor or Bachelorette's heart once a season begins taping.
"You really never know until you dive into being the Bachelor," Harrison said.
"Yes, we thought he was ready and he said all the right things and appeared to be doing the right things, but until you really get into the meat of it and you are emotionally pushed and challenged the way we do that, you don't know for sure."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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Colton, a self-declared virgin, dated Becca Kufrin on The Bachelorette's fourteenth season and finished in fourth place.
After learning Becca didn't love him back, Colton asked Tia Booth to be his girlfriend on Bachelor in Paradise's fifth season last summer, but he called it quits on their relationship halfway through the season because she wasn't "the one" for him.
The Bachelor's 23rd season is set to premiere on Monday, January 7 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC, and viewers will watch Colton date 30 women in order to hopefully find his future wife.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski