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Image: Ben Flajnik
Craig Sjodin  /  ABC
Viewers shared the heartbreak of Ben Flajnik when his proposal was rejected by Ashley Hebert in the finale of last season's "The Bachelorette."
Access Hollywood
updated 9/6/2011 8:26:18 PM ET 2011-09-07T00:26:18

Ben Flajnik may have left “The Bachelorette” broken-hearted after Ashley Hebert rejected his proposal, but he’s getting his own chance to find love again.

ABC officially confirmed on Tuesday that Flajnik is the new “Bachelor.”

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Flajnik will star in the sixteenth installment in the franchise, which will debut in January 2012. The last “Bachelor” was Brad Womack, who came back for a second shot at love earlier this year.

Flajnik, a 28-year-old winemaker from Sonoma, Calif., will make his first official appearance as the new “Bachelor” during the season finale of the “Bachelor Pad” on Sept. 12.

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During his run on “The Bachelorette,” Flajnik was never shy about his search for not only love, but for a woman to start a family with.

The winemaker loves his hobbies, including crab fishing, sailing, golf, skateboarding, surfing, playing piano and singing in a tribute band.

Potential candidates should know that Flajnik has a very special place in his heart and his life for his Jack Russell Terrier, Scotch.

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On the “Bachelorette” season finale, Hebert chose JP Rosenbaum over Flajnik — however, romance rumors quickly swirled for the rejected suitor with another notable name: Jennifer Love Hewitt.

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The actress caused quite a stir on Twitter in July when she wrote, ““Watching ‘The Bachelorette’! I love u Ben!! Take this rose I have for u! Choose me!!!!:).”

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However, the former “Ghost Whisperer” star quickly shot down any whispers of a blossoming romance.

“I was looking for something pop culture to sort of tweet about — I’m new to the Twitter situation. I wanted to have fun with the tweeters out there in the world,” Love Hewitt told Ryan Seacrest in an interview recently, when asked if she and Flajnik were dating. “So, I sent out funny tweets about Ben F., and then it got all sort of like, blown out of proportion or whatever, and now it’s like — the rumor mill is crazy.”

Despite her denial, Hewitt and Flajnik were spotted in San Francisco in early August — a meeting which the actress claimed was “totally by coincidence.”

Is he a good choice? Share your thoughts on the Facebook page for our TV blog, The Clicker.

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