Bachelor in Paradise is back, bringing fresh surprises for its highly anticipated tenth season.
During The Bachelor’s After the Final Rose special on Monday, March 24, host Jesse Palmer extended an invitation to Grant Ellis’ second runner-up, Zoe McGrady, to join the beachside adventure. (Grant, 31, ultimately proposed to Juliana Pasquarosa in the season finale.)
Jesse, 46, also introduced the first-ever Golden Bachelor in Paradise cast members: Leslie Fhima and Gary Levingston.
“So this is really happening. For the first time ever, Golden men and women will be hitting the beaches of Paradise alongside all of your Bachelor and Bachelorette favorites of seasons past,” Jesse announced.
“So how is this whole thing going to work? You’re going to have to tune in to find out when an all-new Bachelor in Paradise premieres this summer.”
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The Bachelor spinoff was renewed by ABC in 2024 after taking a year-long break from filming.
While details about the upcoming season had remained secret, Jesse hinted that new ideas were “being pitched around,” including incorporating contestants from The Golden Bachelor spinoff—this time with improved conditions.
“I mean, the cast from Gerry [Turner]’s season, the cast from Joan [Vassos]’ season, it’s incredible,” Jesse shared in 2024.
“And as long as it’s not Atlantic City or Naples, Florida—not a retirement place—it has to be a tropical beach. And personally, I think you should have air conditioning.”
Jesse continued, “I know there’s a lot of different stuff sort of in the Bachelor verse that they’re putting into this. It sounds like a lot of the old, and it sounds like there are some new ideas being floated in as well. I’m really excited. I really missed going to the beach this past year.”
Jesse also mentioned that he and bartender Wells Adams had recently caught up, expressing their enthusiasm for returning to the show.
“I can’t wait for that time to come,” Jesse said. “I just hope maybe there’s gonna be some sort of Golden iteration as well.”
Before the official announcement on Monday, only two contestants had been confirmed for the beach: Jonathan Johnson and Hakeem Moulton.
Both had appeared on Jenn Tran’s Bachelorette season 21 and were invited to Paradise during the Men Tell All episode in August 2024.
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“I honestly was shook [when they announced it tonight]. I had no expectation. Nobody warned me. I wish they would have so I didn’t just, like, freak out,” Jonathan told.
“Because, like, in my mind, I’m like, ‘I don’t know if I would ever do TV again,’ and then Jesse’s like, ‘So, there’s this thing on the beach that you’d be great for.’ And now, I’m just coming out of that mentality of like, I don’t ever want to miss again or hold myself back.”
He continued, “So, you’re sitting there with that mindset, and then somebody has this opportunity where there’s incredible women for you to meet. You’re like, ‘Well s—, OK. I guess I gotta say yes, I’ll be there.’”
Meanwhile, Hakeem admitted he was at a “loss for words” and shared exclusively with Us that he already has his sights set on a particular Bachelor Nation alum.
“Her name was Olivia Lewis. Last year, she was gorgeous, and I think she didn’t get the proper love that she deserved,” Hakeem said at the time.
“I think I have all that love to give to her, and she’s gorgeous, and she has an expressive personality just like me. So, I think I would mesh very well with her.”
