Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman TeaseFinding Mr. ChristmasFinale, Say Fans Will 'Fall In Love' with Winner (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman attend Hallmark’s Premiere Screening of ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’ on November 30, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.Photo:Jason Davis/Getty

Jason Davis/Getty

As fans grow one step closer toFinding Mr. Christmas,Jonathan BennettandMelissa Petermanare opening up about the show’s highly-anticipated finale.In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE at Hallmark’sHoliday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Storypremiere, the duo gave fans a few clues as to who the network’s inauguralFinding Mr. Christmaswinner could be.“People really need to step back and look at the contestants and say which one of these do I want to be the next Hallmark leading man? Because they all have so many amazing qualities,” Bennett, 43, teased. “But there is one that just has that thing about him and I think people are starting to pick up on who it could be.“With only Elijah Malcomb, Ezra Moreland and Hayden Maher remaining in the competition, Peterman shared that she’s “loved” how fans have gone on the “same journey I went on” with their frontrunners, adding that she’s “changed my mind” on her pick every day.“I love them all, but some days, someone had a better day or a different or they showed us something they hadn’t shown us before,” she explained.“Honestly, I was surprised,” Peterman continued of the winner. “And what I think will be interesting is … there was somebody for everyone to fall in love with. So some people will be, ‘Oh, shoot!’ and some people will be there. But ultimately, I think they will fall in love with the winner.“Ezra Moreland on Finding Mr. Christmas.Hallmark Media"We picked the right guy,” Bennett added.Finding Mr. Christmas, Hallmark’s first-ever reality competition series, sees host Bennett bring together 10 aspiring actors to “compete in a variety of entertaining challenges, with a Hallmark twist, to be crowned Hallmark’s next leading man and take home the title of ‘Mr. Christmas.'” Peterman also serves as the competition’s lead judge.The winner will star alongside Jessica Lowndes inHappy Howlidays, which premieres on Dec. 21 on Hallmark Channel.Jonathan Bennett and the cast of Finding Mr. Christmas.Hallmark MediaWhile the duo thought all of the guys “deserved a moment,” Bennett and Peterman admitted there was a lot of “back and forth” on whether or not they should award the top three finalists with cameo appearances.However, Bennett explained that they stuck to the original idea of just one aspiring actor appearing in the movie because “it kind of took away the magic of the winner. Because if everyone gets a trophy, the winner’s trophy isn’t as special. We can only have one winner.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheFinding Mr. Christmasseason finale can be streamed on Hallmark+ starting Thursday, Dec. 12.

As fans grow one step closer toFinding Mr. Christmas,Jonathan BennettandMelissa Petermanare opening up about the show’s highly-anticipated finale.

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE at Hallmark’sHoliday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Storypremiere, the duo gave fans a few clues as to who the network’s inauguralFinding Mr. Christmaswinner could be.

“People really need to step back and look at the contestants and say which one of these do I want to be the next Hallmark leading man? Because they all have so many amazing qualities,” Bennett, 43, teased. “But there is one that just has that thing about him and I think people are starting to pick up on who it could be.”

With only Elijah Malcomb, Ezra Moreland and Hayden Maher remaining in the competition, Peterman shared that she’s “loved” how fans have gone on the “same journey I went on” with their frontrunners, adding that she’s “changed my mind” on her pick every day.

“I love them all, but some days, someone had a better day or a different or they showed us something they hadn’t shown us before,” she explained.

“Honestly, I was surprised,” Peterman continued of the winner. “And what I think will be interesting is … there was somebody for everyone to fall in love with. So some people will be, ‘Oh, shoot!’ and some people will be there. But ultimately, I think they will fall in love with the winner.”

Ezra Moreland on Finding Mr. Christmas.Hallmark Media

Hallmark Media

“We picked the right guy,” Bennett added.

Finding Mr. Christmas, Hallmark’s first-ever reality competition series, sees host Bennett bring together 10 aspiring actors to “compete in a variety of entertaining challenges, with a Hallmark twist, to be crowned Hallmark’s next leading man and take home the title of ‘Mr. Christmas.'” Peterman also serves as the competition’s lead judge.

The winner will star alongside Jessica Lowndes inHappy Howlidays, which premieres on Dec. 21 on Hallmark Channel.

Jonathan Bennett and the cast of Finding Mr. Christmas.Hallmark Media

While the duo thought all of the guys “deserved a moment,” Bennett and Peterman admitted there was a lot of “back and forth” on whether or not they should award the top three finalists with cameo appearances.

However, Bennett explained that they stuck to the original idea of just one aspiring actor appearing in the movie because “it kind of took away the magic of the winner. Because if everyone gets a trophy, the winner’s trophy isn’t as special. We can only have one winner.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

TheFinding Mr. Christmasseason finale can be streamed on Hallmark+ starting Thursday, Dec. 12.

source: people.com