'Bachelor' host Chris Harrison divorces

Chris Harrison, the host of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, has separated from his wife, Gwen Jones.

The two were married for 18 years and have two children- Joshua, 9, and Taylor, 7.

“Though we have made this incredibly difficult decision to separate, our love and mutual respect remain, and we look forward to sharing in the lives of our wonderful children,” the couple said in a statement.

Although the high school sweethearts have been separated for some time, they kept in touch for the sake of their children.

“They are still really close and remain the best of friends,” a source said. “They’ve been taking turns with their kids so they can both see them as much as possible. it has been really amicable, with no other parties involved, and Chris has been a total professional while filming ‘The Bachelorette.’”

Harrison, 40, has hosted Bachelor for 16 years along with two seasons of Bachelor Pad.

In Bachelor‘s fifteenth season, Bachelor Brad Womack proposed to Emily Maynard (who is set to host the upcoming eighth season of The Bachelorette). however, Maynard did not wish to move to Texas with her fiancée.

“It’s absolutely easy for everybody in the magazines and radio and TV to say they’re going to break up,” Harrison said. “I mean, that’s just easy, and they’re easy to take shots at. Couples always are. I mean, statistically, your neighbors are going to get divorced tomorrow.”

'Bachelor' host Chris Harrison divorces