Who Is New QVC Host John Battagliase? See Photos, Read Bio

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QVC is ringing in the holiday season with a new host, and to hear him tell it, there's never been a better time to shop on TV — or online.

John Battagliese debuted on QVC in October, as one of the newest — and youngest — faces of the venerable TV network. The actor and singer now hosts four days a week, and has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to his approachable style and social media savvy, which Battagliase says uniquely positions him to “meet the customer wherever they are.”

The Pennsylvania native grew up just down the street from the QVC studios in Chester County, and Battagliese says when he had trouble falling asleep as a kid, his parents would put the channel on in the background, hoping it would lull him to slumber. But: “It had the opposite effect,” he says. “I'd stay up all night, captivated by the hosts, memorizing the Today's Special Value, and talking nonstop about my love of Joan Rivers. I loved how QVC created a warm, welcoming world that felt like a safe escape,” he shares, “and even as a kid, I knew I wanted to be part of it someday.”

Battagliese first auditioned for the role in February, while he was on the road with the Broadway National Tour of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. “My audition tape was filmed on my iPhone out of my hotel room in Greenville, SC,” he recalls.

A second round of “virtual selling” took place in May, before Battagliese was flown to the QVC studios over the summer with a pool of other contenders for a two-day “bootcamp.” Just under a month later, the aspiring host got the call that he had landed his dream gig.

Now officially a QVC “Program Host,” Battagliese says his role on-air is not dissimilar from singing and dancing on Broadway. “It requires that same live energy and adaptation to things in real time as you would on stage,” he explains, adding that “I apply the same storytelling skills I used while working in theater, but now I am sharing real-life anecdotes that I believe it will resonate with viewers. At the end of the day, both roles are all about connecting with people.”

QVC has been a leader in live video commerce for nearly 40 years, and the brand continues to evolve with not just TV programming, but online livestreams as well. The 31-year-old Battagliese says he hopes to inspire a new generation of shoppers, who will see QVC as a place to find conversation, community, and maybe score a deal too. As marketing classes will tell you, it's all about creating value for the consumer, whatever way they find it (“QVC” of course, also stands for Quality, Value and Convenience).

“My goal is to create a QVC experience that's vibrant, relatable, and makes customers of all ages feel welcome, connected, and inspired to tune in and shop,” Battagliese says. “My goal has always been to make people feel seen, valued, and included,” he adds, “whether I was on stage, or now across many platforms from TV to digital and streaming — I have always wanted to leave a lasting impact that brightens people's days.”

Ahead of the holidays, Rolling Stone asked Battagliese for ten of his favorite products to shop on QVC.com right now. Here are his top gifting picks.