Nick Viall is the new 'Bachelor'

Nick Viall will be the leading man in season 21 of The Bachelor, the long-running franchise announced Tuesday during the spin-off talk show, After Paradise.

The Minnesota native, 35, is no stranger to the ABC dating universe. Viall was the runner up on both season 10 of The Bachelorette with Andi Dorfman and season 11 with Kaitlyn Bristowe. He was also on the cast of season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise this summer.

"I certainly have practice," Viall joked after the announcement. "I'm definitely ready for it, I'm very excited. I've had an interesting journey through this process. And I'm hoping this time around things will end up more positive."

Though the show typically taps a contestant from the prior season to fill the spot, few stars have appeared in so many iterations, and gone through as many ups and downs with fans as Viall.

At the conclusion of Dorfman's season, Viall faced backlash from viewers for revealing they were sexually intimate in the fantasy suite, a taboo for the generally buttoned-up show. He faced a similar situation on Bristowe's season, following a night shared in Bristowe's hotel room which led to complications with front-runner Shawn Booth, to whom she's still engaged.

Fans' affection seemed to grow during Bachelor in Paradise, a spin off set in Mexico that brings together single contestants from various seasons of The Bachelor and Bachelorette. Viall had forged a connection with Jen Saviano from Ben Higgins’ season of The Bachelor, and in the episode that aired immediately prior to the announcement, the couple appeared to be on the road to engagement. Though Viall gave no spoilers while talking to After Paradise hosts Sean Lowe and Michelle Collins, his role as the next Bachelor indicates he did not propose to Saviano in the final episode, which airs Sept. 6.

The Bachelor returns in early 2017.