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Is Ben Higgins Getting Another Shot On ‘The Bachelor’ 2018 After Split From Lauren Bushnell?

By Heather Tooley
Published on: 03:29 PST, May 18, 2017

Is Ben Higgins getting another shot at love by appearing as The Bachelor 2018 lead? He’s reportedly the most popular Bachelor in the franchise’s history based on “scientific proof,” according to E! News research. His breakup with fiancee, Lauren Bushnell, was announced last week.

E! News spoke with Bachelor host, Chris Harrison, about Ben Higgins’ breakup with Lauren Bushnell. He explained that he was upset like everyone else who heard the news, and it’s hard to have your personal life exposed on television. Harrison went on to say that besides being on television, Ben and Lauren are real people, and they’re both good friends of his. The Bachelor host added that it’s “brutal” for both of them right now.

Chris was asked if Ben Higgins is going to get another shot at finding love again on the show.

“I did not think that that would be the appropriate time! Or place. The body’s not even cold yet. … It’s so premature.”

Chris Harrison didn’t say it was out of the question for Ben to come back as The Bachelor, however. If no favorites are picked from Rachel Lindsay’s season of The Bachelorette, could Ben Higgins be the lead for 2018?

Elite Daily posted the statement both Ben and Lauren released following their split last week.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce our decision to go our separate ways. We feel fortunate for the time we had together, and will remain friends with much love and respect for one another. We wish nothing but the best for each other, and ask for your support and understanding at this time.”

The 29-year-old opened up about the breakup in a new podcast that won’t be unveiled until May 23, but excerpts of his interview have been obtained. Higgins said all the right things in the beginning about how he and Lauren will always be friends, and they learned a lot about themselves. He also revealed that life was “getting more difficult” for the two of them throughout their engagement.

“I think mutually Lauren and I saw that life was getting more difficult. I would say the joy that we felt toward our relationship at the beginning was — for some reason — slipping away, and we were both working very hard to bring that joy back. And it just never seemed to get there. So it was a long time coming but it wasn’t necessarily like we dragged it out.”

Ben said that he’s feeling “confused” and a little “lost” right now, but he knows brokenness can turn into something beautiful later on. He’s confident something positive will come of pain he’s currently going through. He added that there was “no real saving or redemption to be done” in the relationship. They gave it the best they could and found out they couldn’t make it work.

Higgins concluded in his interview that he and Bushnell have a “good season” ahead of them.

“I believe that Lauren and I both will come out of this with a whole new season that is going to be very good for the both of us.”

Does that hint to more reality television for Ben and Lauren? Possibly Bachelor in Paradise or something else?

Anything is possible with ABC after Nick Viall became The Bachelor 2017 lead over the favorite, Luke Pell. Don’t rule out Ben Higgins getting another chance at finding his soulmate on The Bachelor 2018, or any other season for that matter.

[Featured Image by David Becker/Getty Images for iHeartMedia]

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