FAN FAVORITE BEN FLAJNIK RETURNS TO FIND LOVE AGAIN ON ABC'S HIT ROMANCE REALITY SERIES, "THE BACHELOR," WHEN IT RETURNS TO ABC IN JANUARY 2012

Watch Ben's First Public Appearance as the New Bachelor During the Season Finale of "Bachelor Pad," Monday, September 12

Millions of viewers shared the heartbreak of Ben Flajnik (pronounced Flannick) when his soulful and heartfelt proposal was rejected by Ashley Hebert in the emotional finale of last season's "The Bachelorette." Now Ben is ready to put all the disappointment and hurt behind him in order to move on with his life, his phenomenal success as a businessman and his search for the right woman to be his wife and to start a family with, as he stars in the next edition of ABC's hit romance reality series, "The Bachelor," when it returns to ABC in January 2012.

The 28-year-old bachelor has fallen in love three times (Ashley being the third), but has only proposed the one time; that one failed proposal won't stop him from trying again. He is confident that, having found love on "The Bachelorette," he will find his soul mate and a lasting, love-filled relationship this time on "The Bachelor."

Ben, whose easy going charm and sense of humor made him so popular and relatable to viewers, is part of a very close knit family, including his mother and sister. Unfortunately his father, Joseph, with whom Ben was best friends, died almost four years ago. Always supportive, his father personified the kind of husband and father Ben wanted to be. Ben grew up in Sonoma, California, leaving for Tucson before he started high school because of his dad's work. His mother is a teacher of third grade "gifted students." Ben stayed in Arizona to attend the University of Arizona, majoring in music production with a minor in business. He quickly found success in the business world, working in Internet advertising after he graduated college. After his father died in 2007, Ben moved back to California, and he plans to stay in northern California for the foreseeable future.

A rare, modern Renaissance man, Ben dabbles in a lot of hobbies and crafts, such as crab fishing, sailing, golf, skate boarding, surfing, playing piano and singing in a tribute band. He is also quite handy with a hammer and saw, and loves fixing and building things, as well as landscaping. The woman who will share his life will also have to share one of his other great loves: his Jack Russell Terrier, Scotch.

Hosted by Chris Harrison, "The Bachelor" is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers.