Tan France Says Queer Eye Dynamic Will Be ‘Interesting’ After Jeremiah Brent Replaced Bobby Berk (Exclusive)

Tan France can't wait to see how Jeremiah Brent fits in with the Queer Eye cast!

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the British-American fashion designer, 40, was happy to discuss how season 9 of the hit Netflix makeover series will be “really interesting” with the casting change. 

Brent was announced as the show's new interior design pro in February, replacing Bobby Berk, who announced he would leave the show after season eight in November — the only member from the reboot to do so. France insisted that it’s nothing the Fab Five can’t handle. 

“It’s going to be really interesting to see how this dynamic is with a new cast member," he told PEOPLE at the launch of Citi's Citi Shop. "However we all know [Jeremiah], we all love him, so we’re feeling really confident about this season. I think it’s going to be fab,”

As the host of HGTV's Nate & Jeremiah by Design and Nate and Jeremiah Design, Project in which he stars alongside husband Nate Berkus, Brent, 39, is no stranger to makeover shows. 

“He’s the best,” France tells PEOPLE of Queer Eye’s new costar. “Love him so much. We’re so excited about him. We haven’t all had a chance to get together, but we will next week, and I’m really excited.”

According to the Naturally Tan author, when filming begins “in like a week,” it will be the cast's — which also includes Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness — first time getting a chance to be all together since Berk’s exit. 

In a wide-ranging interview with Vanity Fair published in January, Berk, 42, addressed rumors that there were ongoing issues between him and France. 

“Tan and I had a moment. There was a situation, and that’s between Tan and I, and it has nothing to do with the show. It was something personal that had been brewing — and nothing romantic, just to clarify that,” Berk said at the time. 

“We became like siblings — and siblings are always going to fight.”

After Rolling Stone published a story that included accusations that France and Porowski campaigned to have Brent replace Berk, according to three unnamed sources, the fashion expert spoke out about the situation on Instagram.

“Yes I’ve heard what’s going on and I just want to address one point, real quick,” France said in an Instagram Ree. “My former colleague getting fired had nothing to do with me trying to get my friend hired. Netflix, the production companies, did a full on casting. I didn’t pop my friend up for the job.”

Brent was, according to France, chosen because he’s “the best person for the job." 

The Queer Eye cast are looking forward to heading to Las Vegas after spending the past two seasons in New Orleans, France told PEOPLE, and not just for the sake of the new "heroes" they'll be helping.

“We were there for a long time," he shared. "But we’re always somewhere hot and humid, so at least this is somewhere hot and not humid this time, it’ll be so nice."