Bachelor Nation viewers who have been concerned about the return of Bachelor in Paradise need worry no longer, because the popular spin-off of The Bachelor has been renewed for this year. Once The Bachelor franchise got established, ABC started producing spin-offs, and one of the most popular was Bachelor in Paradise. The tropical dating show features eliminated contestants from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette who mix and mingle on a beach in Sayulito, Mexico.
Many prominent Bachelor Nation couples met and fell in love on BIP, including Jade Roper and Tanner Tolbert; Dylan Barbour and Hannah Godwin; and Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt. The spin-off has been responsible for several marriages and even a few children. Viewers love BIP because of its high(ish) success rate, cheeky attitude, and overall more laid-back vibes than the other shows in The Bachelor franchise. BIP doesn’t take itself as seriously and many say it’s a better show because of that. However, there have been concerns among Bachelor Nation devotees that the beloved spin-off wouldn’t return this summer due to scheduling issues.
BIP typically runs from August through September, but when it was announced that Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia’s season of The Bachelorette would premier on July 11, viewers wondered what that would mean for the summer spin-off. But fear not, because the official BIP Twitter account revealed that the show would definitely be getting an eighth season. In a beachy video clip, the tweet informed fans that BIP is indeed “returning for another season.” Commenters were thrilled to hear the news and already began talking about which Bachelor Nation alum they want on BIP next season.
However, the question remains—when will BIP return with season 8? The Bachelorette will be overlapping with BIP’s usual time slot, so that means BIP will have to air either before or after. Because BIP is so closely tied to summer, it seems doubtful that ABC will release season 8 in the fall after The Bachelorette concludes. BIP would feel very out of place in the fall, and might throw off the rest of the franchise’s schedule. So it’s very possible that viewers will get BIP season 8 before Gabby and Rachel’s season of The Bachelorette. It’s great news for fans, though not such great news for Gabby and Rachel’s Bachelorette contestants, because they’ll have to wait another year for their chance to hit the beach on BIP.
It’s no wonder that franchise fans are so thrilled about the return of BIP. For years viewers have complained about The Bachelor and The Bachelorette because of all the failed relationships. BIP is unique because unlike the franchise’s two core shows, on the beach in Mexico, Bachelor Nation singles have a lot of time to sit around and talk about what’s important with their potential partners. Far more successful couples have come out of Bachelor in Paradise thanks to the spin-off’s unique format, and viewers are excited to see more love stories that will actually last.
Source: Bachelor In Paradise ABC/Twitter