Season 21
When Bachelorette Andi Dorfman said goodbye to Nick Viall just as he was preparing to pick out a ring for her, he was devastated. When Nick walked up to Kaitlyn Bristowe with an engagement ring in his pocket, only to be sent home, he was crushed. How could one man endure so much heartbreak?
If you believe that "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Nick Viall, 35, a technology salesman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is back stronger than ever, ready and eager to begin his search for true love on the 21st season of The Bachelor.
When Nick took another chance to find love on the latest instalment of Bachelor in Paradise, viewers were excited and truly happy for him. Unfortunately, once again, it wasn't meant to be, leaving everyone to wonder if the sensitive and self-made Midwestern salesman would ever find the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.
His journey on Bachelor in Paradise made him a fan favourite, with women and men across the country rooting for him to become the Bachelor and continue on his quest to find love.
After all these years, and all the heartbreak, it's finally Nick's turn to hand out the roses. Will he finally find that love he's craved? He believes in finding love on the series and hopes it is his time now.
As the season gets underway, a trio of popular former Bachelors - Sean Lowe, Chris Soules and Ben Higgins -offer their support and encouragement to Nick, who will face all-new pressures and responsibilities. Their words of wisdom calm him as limos start to arrive with women all eager to make a lasting first impression.
One confident woman is way ahead of the field - she steps out of the limo with none other than famed jeweler Neil Lane and points out the engagement ring she prefers. Another woman reveals her linguistic skills and still another exposes a quirky obsession.
A number of the ladies decide to wear red to stand out - but now, it backfires, as those in other colours are more prominent. Nick is blindsided by the arrival of a mysterious woman from his past. The secret they share threatens to derail his search for love. What are her intentions?
Once inside the mansion, the party really gets started, as the women compete to spark a special connection with the handsome Bachelor. A battle breaks out over which of the bachelorettes will land the first kiss. Although Nick tries his best to give all the women the attention they deserve, the women who haven't had any time with him begin to panic.
In the end, Nick's instant chemistry with one stunning bachelorette helps her capture the coveted first impression rose. The stakes are high and as the evening winds down, it's time for the first rose ceremony. Twenty-two lucky women will continue on the journey to win Nick's heart.
Romantic and adventurous dates will reach new heights this season, testing the ladies' perseverance in pursuing their romantic objective, along with fun, exciting and exotic dates that will elicit real and raw passions.
Nick's first group date looks into his possible future as 12 fortunate women get to try different bridal themes for a wedding photo shoot. Who will click first with the potential groom?
Another group date at Hollywood's Museum of Broken Relationships affords the opportunity for six bachelorettes to each perform a humorous "breakup" with Nick in front of a live audience.
Eleven women get the shock of their lives when they discover they will perform on the same stage as the world famous The Backstreet Boys and get a chance to show off their dance skills for Nick and a live concert audience.
Olympians Michelle Carter, Allyson Felix and Carl Lewis offer their expertise to bachelorettes participating in a track and field face-off, with the winner receiving special alone time with Nick.
Waukesha, Wisconsin - Nick's hometown - rolls out the red carpet to the remaining women. One special lady is treated to a concert by new country star Chris Lane. New Orleans plays host to the romantic group as Nick and the women tour the French Quarter and submerge themselves in the Big Easy's culture - including a group of voodoo dancers - and a VIP serenade by the soulful Lolo.
Tropical dreams await in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and in Bimini in the Bahamas, where women have the opportunity to swim with the sharks and one lucky woman is treated to a romantic beach concert by pop singer Adam Friedman.
The hometown dates are filled with emotional revelations, but in a 180-degree turn, the final three bachelorettes travel to Lapland, Finland, for the unpredictable overnight dates where the relationships have a chance to flourish and more surprises await the unsuspecting Bachelor.
Will Nick open his heart and find the woman of his dreams who will love him back?
As in the past, women will continue to be eliminated on a regular basis, but if at any point a woman should decide that she's no longer interested in the Bachelor, she can reject his invitation to continue dating.
Some lucky women will meet his family, and he will visit their hometowns for a slice of their lives in an effort to determine the woman with whom he is most compatible.
The 30 contestants this season are:
Alexis Waters, 23, aspiring dolphin trainer, Secaucus, New Jersey
Angela Amezcua, 26, model, Greenville, South Carolina
Astrid Loch, 26, plastic surgery office manager, Tampa, Florida
Briana Guertler, 28, surgical unit nurse, Salt Lake City, Utah
Brittany Farrar, 26, travel nurse, Santa Monica, California
Christen Whitney, 25, wedding videographer, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Corrine Olympios, 24, business owner, Miami, Florida
Danielle Lombard, 27, small business owner, Los Angeles, California
Danielle Maltby, 31, neonatal nurse, Nashville, Tennessee
Dominique Alexis, 25, restaurant server, Los Angeles, California
Elizabeth "Liz" Sandoz, 29, doula, Las Vegas, Nevada
Elizabeth Whitelaw, 24, marketing manager, Dallas, Texas
Hailey Merkt, 23, photographer, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Ida Marie DeLosSantos, 23, sales manager, Harlingen, Texas
Jaimi King, 28, chef, New Orleans, Louisiana
Jasmine Brown, 25, flight attendant, Tacoma, Washington
Jasmine Goode, 29, pro basketball dancer, San Francisco, California
Josephine Tutman, 24, unemployed nurse, Santa Cruz, California
Kristina Schulman, 24, dental hygienist, Lexington, Kentucky
Lacey Mark, 25, digital marketing manager, Manhattan, New York
Lauren Hussey, 30, law school graduate, Naples, Florida
Michelle Ramkissoon, 24, food truck owner, Los Angeles, California
Olivia Burnette, 25, apparel sales representative, Nashville, Tennessee
Rachel Lindsay, 31, attorney, Dallas, Texas
Raven Gates, 25, fashion boutique owner, Hoxie, Arkansas
Sarah Vendal, 26, grade school teacher, Newport Beach, California
Susannah Milan, 26, account manager, San Diego, California
Taylor Nolan, 23, mental health counselor, Seattle, Washington
Vanessa Grimaldi, 29, special education teacher, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Whitney Fransway, 25, Pilates instructor, Chanhassen, Minnesota
Hosted by Chris Harrison, The Bachelor is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss, Elan Gale, Bennett Graebner and Nicole Woods are the executive producers.