Next season’s Bachelor will be Ben Higgins, the franchise announced, confirming much speculation and many rumors on the topic, during Monday night’s live episode of After Paradise. The 26-year-old, Indiana-bred software salesman was the second runner-up during Kaitlyn Bristowe’s Bachelorette run, which aired earlier this summer. Host Chris Harrison made the announcement, after briefly messing with viewers and chatting with Nick Viall instead. It will indeed be Ben, however, at the center of The Bachelor’s 20th season (20th!), which kicks off in January on ABC. Here’s a message from the man himself:
