Bachelor in Paradise returns this summer with a few surprises for fans

ABC Television Network
ABC Television Network

Bachelor in Paradise will return for its 5th season this summer. Big changes are in store for fans of ABC’s summer reality show.

Becca’s season of The Bachelorette begins on May 28, right around the time the cast for Bachelor in Paradise Season 5 will be packing their bags and heading to Mexico.

Of course, there will be a slew of Becca’s rejected suitors heading to Paradise, along with some of Arie’s girls. But don’t expect things to be the same as past seasons when the show premieres in August. Here’s what we know so far about BiP season 5.

If you enjoyed the Bachelor Winter Games, you’ll probably like the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise. Although we’ll see the usual lineup of contestants from past seasons of the Bachelor and Bachelorette, several international contestants are expected to join the 2018 cast.

Robert Mills, the senior VP of ABC’s alternative programming, tells ET that fans can expect to see some changes based on the success of the Winter Games spinoff.

“There were a lot of learnings from Winter Games, where it wasn’t a show where you were bringing in people every week,” Mills recently told ET. “There will certainly be the hallmarks of Bachelor in Paradise, but I think we will definitely take into account the stuff from Winter Games, where it definitely seemed to form some really strong couples and at the end of the day that’s the goal.”

Mills went on to say that while producers plan to add international contestants to the cast, there won’t be “too many.” In other words, he wants to make sure fans see mostly familiar faces.

“I definitely think you’ll see some international faces, but not sure how many or where they are going to come from … we’d want people that you’re familiar with from Winter Games unless there are people that are absolutely fantastic.”

Cast confirmation — and rumors

So far, we know Bekah from Arie’s season will be there.

And you can count on seeing more of Arie’s ex’s on the show as well including Chelsea, Caroline, Seinne, Kendall, Tia, and — of course — Krystal.

Oh, and don’t count out some contestants that we haven’t seen in awhile.

Robert Mills said he’d like to see Roberto Martinez, who was engaged to Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky (Season 6), on Paradise this summer.

Roberto Ali
Roberto Ali

“I think he’s absolutely fantastic,” Mills said. “A super nice guy and a stunning looking human being as well. He would be very popular there!”

Now, that’s a blast from the past!

And there are other surprises in store. When asked if Wells would be returning to tend bar, Mills hinted that we may see someone new. Or maybe it’s two bartenders?

"“I think you’re going to see some surprises behind the bar, let’s just say that.”"

Hopefully, the changes to the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise will also include the addition of some competitive games. It was fun to watch on the Winter Games so we’d love to watch some maybe some beachfront competition!