Chilli & Matthew Lawrence To Host New Hallmark+ Reality Series Second Chance Love
Hallmark is stepping into a whole new kind of romance in 2026, and we are so here for it. PEOPLE exclusively revealed that Chilli (yes, TLC’s Chilli!) and actor Matthew Lawrence will host Second Chance Love, a brand-new unscripted series coming to Hallmark+ on January 1, 2026. Last year we looked for love in small towns, this year we’re looking back to the ones who got away.
What Is Second Chance Love About?
The series brings five couples who once dated anywhere from five to forty years ago. The couples range in age from 30 – 70 years old. Each pair gets the chance to explore whether the spark they once had is still there, all while spending time together in Sardinia, Italy. The gorgeous location will certainly push the romance vibes to 100.
Throughout the season, each couple will revisit shared history, experience new adventures, and peel back the layers of why things ended in the first place. And at the end of their journey, they’ll have to decide: Do we leave Italy together…or separately?
If you’re thinking this sounds like a Hallmark movie come to life, you’re exactly right.
Meet the Hosts: Chilli & Matthew Lawrence
This is the first hosting project the longtime couple has taken on together, and honestly? Inspired. They’re really hitting their core audience with some serious nineties nostalgia!
Chili said in a statement:
“I love what Hallmark stands for, and this project is special to Matthew and me for several reasons. As executive producers and hosts, we can’t wait to share the inspiration behind the pursuit of true love.”
Hallmark’s Next Era: Unscripted Romance
Second Chance Love is part of Hallmark’s push into unscripted storytelling, a branch they call “reality with heart.”
Hallmark has already dipped their toe into reality with Finding Mr. Christmas of course, Additional reality offerings from Hallmark Include:
- Celebrations with Lacey Chabert
- Baked with Love: Holiday
- Small Town Setup
- Ready, Set, Glow
- Home is Where the Heart Is
Is Hallmark Moving Its Reality Programming Back to Hallmark+?
With Second Chance Love heading straight to Hallmark+ in 2026, it definitely raises a big, buzzy question for Hallmark fans: Are we seeing the return of reality programming to the Hallmark+ platform?
Over the past couple years, Hallmark has tested reality concepts on the linear channel (Finding Mr. Christmas, Celebrations with Lacey Chabert), but Second Chance Love going to streaming feels like a shift back to the strategy they teased when Hallmark+ first launched. It’s a space for more experimental, lifestyle-driven, and unscripted content.
We think reality programming and streaming are a match made in heaven, honestly. We also suspect the audiences might align more closely than those who are holding on to their cable subscriptions to the bitter end.
We’ll be watching closely to see whether Second Chance Love is just the beginning…or the beginning of a whole new phase for Hallmark+.
Watch the Trailer for Second Chance Love
Why We’re Excited
We have talked endlessly about how much we love a second chance romance story. As women of a certain age we can’t always relate to the first and forever love storylines that are prevalent on the network. We love a little twist on the classic tale!
This show has everything we love about second-chance romance: big feelings, vulnerability, the “what if?” energy, and the possibility that decades later, two people might still find their way back to each other.
Plus, setting the whole thing in Sardinia? Chef’s kiss.
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