Jeffrey Dean Morgan Reveals How Hilarie Burton Persuaded Him to Host Destination X: ‘Time Waits for No One’ (Exclusive Insight)

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is stepping into new territory. He’s now the host of NBC’s competition series, Destination X. Surprising for a guy known for battling zombies on The Walking Dead, isn’t it? “When NBC called me, I thought they had the wrong person,” he admits. “I’m just a dad living on a farm.”

At 59, Morgan never considered hosting a show. “I never thought I’d be in this role,” he laughs. Unlike polished hosts like Ryan Seacrest, he’s known for his crass humor and down-to-earth vibe. “I didn’t picture myself taking on this kind of gig,” he says.

Destination X is based on a Belgian series and features players traveling across Europe on a bus, tackling challenges to figure out their location. The contestant who guesses the furthest from their true destination gets eliminated. It’s a bit like The Amazing Race meets Big Brother.

Initially, Morgan wasn’t sure about taking the job. He was busy filming a spinoff of Walking Dead while dealing with his father’s declining health. “I was overwhelmed,” he recalls. Despite these challenges, his wife, Hilarie Burton Morgan, encouraged him to go for it. Coming from a hosting background herself, she believed he had a unique charm that would resonate with audiences. “You’re not getting younger, and this might be fun for you,” she said.

Support came from unexpected places, even his father, who passed away in July 2024. “He said, ‘I’m not really a reality show guy,'” Morgan recalls. He pointed out that not being a typical host could make his approach even more interesting.

When producers insisted he be himself, Morgan agreed. “Just be a little edgy and fun,” they told him. This led him to give the role a shot, and he prepared by watching a few episodes of NBC’s Traitors, where he observed how engaging the host, Alan Cumming, was. “He’s a showman, which I’m not,” Morgan grins.

Despite these initial reservations, he dove into the role, embracing the adventure. “I spent a month and a half in Europe being a weird, fun host, and it was great,” Morgan reflects. “I truly enjoyed being the ringmaster of the circus.”

This opportunity highlights a trend: celebrities venturing into hosting roles. With the rise of platforms like Peacock, audiences are eager for authentic personalities. As Morgan himself puts it, “It’s an opportunity to try something new, and I relish that.”

With a fresh take on hosting, Morgan sat confidently, knowing he brought something special to Destination X. The show aired on May 27 and is available on NBC and Peacock.

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