Jillian's Ex to Star as The Bachelor

The new season of The Bachelor will premiere January 2010

Former Jillian suitor Jake Pavelka will be the next heartbreaker on ABC's Bachelor, according to an announcement made on Tuesday night's episode of Dancing With the Stars.

The 31-year-old pilot from Dallas was rejected by former Bachelorette Jillian Harris, who moved on to accept a marriage proposal by Chicagoan Ed Swiderski.

"Jake has a huge heart and he's very sensitive," Jillian said.  "He isn't afraid to show his emotions.  The world will see how far he is willing to go to find the right person," she said.

The new season will begin taping in a few days, and Jake says he's more than ready to get his love on with the 25 eligible women, People magazine reports.

"I've dated some really amazing girls, but I've never been successful at finding that one girl,' Jake said, "and I saw how the whole thing comes together, the process with Jillian.  I saw how the process works and I believe in it.  That's a unique way to meet somebody," he said.

The Bachelor's parents said he will probably chose a woman that is as adventurous as he is.  "He likes a girl that is spontaneous," said mom Sallie.  "The way he put it to me, he would like a girl that can work in the yard and then put on a pretty dress and go out to dinner."

"He likes scuba diving and snow skiing," dad Jim added.

But loverboy was all about describing qualities he likes -- in himself.

“I fly on the weekends, play golf, go to a movie, but I’m not a couch potato. That’s the one thing I have to make these girls understand -- I have a lot of energy," Jake said.  "I love salsa dancing. Country dancing on a Thursday night in Dallas is really fun, too. I enjoy working with my hands, creating or building something, landscaping and doing garden work," he said.

"Even if [a woman] didn’t enjoy doing the things that I do, I would want her to be a part of them because I love them so much," he added.

How sweet.

“I want to do things with her that make her happy," Jake added -- thankfully.  "That’s something I’ll definitely offer her.  I really want to find somebody," he said.  "I have a really good life now, but I would love to share it with someone.”

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