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Bachelorette 2020: Frontrunner Harry Harris's reality TV past

He may have swept Bachelorette Elly Miles off her feet in the season premiere, earning him the coveted ‘Country Rose,’ but it turns out this isn’t James ‘Harry’ Harris’s first reality TV rodeo.

The 35-year-old builder from South Australia might look a bit familiar to some viewers because, lo and behold, he appeared on rival network Channel 7’s reno show, House Rules, just three years ago.

His appearance on The Bachelorette isn't Harry Harris's first foray into reality TV. Photo: Channel 10.
His appearance on The Bachelorette isn't Harry Harris's first foray into reality TV. Photo: Channel 10.

Harry and his partner of nine years, teacher Kate Whiting, donned their hard hats and tool belts to transform their competitors’ homes, while their competitors did the same to theirs.

Joining them along the way was their adorable son, Xavier, who was just two-years-old at the time.

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Harry appeared with his then-partner Kate on House Rules in 2017. Photo: Channel 7.
Harry appeared with his then-partner Kate on House Rules in 2017. Photo: Channel 7.
Harry and Kate with their son, Xavier, before their split in 2018. Photo: Instagram.
Harry and Kate with their son, Xavier, before their split in 2018. Photo: Instagram.

The couple’s hard work paid off and they finished in second place but sadly their relationship took a battering and they broke up in November 2017, shortly after the season wrapped.

Kate publically announced their split in early 2018, revealing that they’d put their family home that had been lovingly restored during the show on the market.

“We are both committed to co-parenting Xave, with his wellbeing as our number one priority,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

Today, Kate appears to be loved up with a new man, Alex Cathro, with whom she purchased a property back in April.

Kate has since found love with Alex Cathro. Photo: Instagram/katewhiting___.
Kate has since found love with Alex Cathro. Photo: Instagram/katewhiting___.

Meanwhile, Harry is making his reality TV return on The Bachelorette where he has his eye firmly on one half of Miles sisters ‘double Bachelorette duo,’ 25-year-old nurse Elly.

Eagle-eyed viewers took to Twitter after recognising the father-of-one from his previous stint on the small screen.

“Wait what was Harry on house rules?” one wrote.

“Harry came runner up on house rules with his ex wife, interesting,” said another.

Even host Osher Gunsberg was in on it, tweeting, “Do I need to explain the 'House Rules' to Harry?”

Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.

He certainly made a positive first impression, earning the coveted ‘Country Rose’ from Elly on night one affording him a special single date with one catch — he had to choose another bachelor to tag along.

Thinking strategically, Harry selected Shannon Karaka, 30, who clearly had a connection with Elly’s older sis, Becky, who was also going on the date.

Will Harry finally get his reality TV happily ever after? Only time will tell...

The Bachelorette Australia 2020 airs 7.30pm Wednesdays and Thursdays on Channel 10.

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