It's been rumored for weeks, after a contestant from the yet-to-be-taped show spilled the beans (as did our man Reality Steve), and now it's been confirmed:

Jake Pavelka will be the next star of The Bachelor!

Brittney Gammel, a Learjet pilot, told a Tennessee radio station that the show's 14th season begins taping in November and that Jake is handing out roses.

Looks like she was right.

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

Jake Pavelka, who did some acting earlier in life as Jake Landrum, is best known for being a commercial jet pilot - and for being sooooo nice and handsome!

Jake Pavelka's Bachelor announcement came Tuesday night from ABC.

If you are not familiar with The Bachelor or Jake, he hails from Dallas, and was one of the contestants on The Bachelorette last season, featuring Jillian Harris.

Jake made it kind of far but failed to win Jillian's heart. He did, however, win praise - and no small amount of criticism - when he returned to the show after being sent packing to warn Jillian about fellow contestant Wes Hayden's intentions.

Basically, Jake said Wes had a girlfriend named Laurel Kagay back home and was a liar. So he's either a rat or a liar, but some people lauded Jake's heroics.

In any case, he beat out fellow Jillian castoffs Reid Rosenthal and Kiptyn Locke for the job (Ed Swiderski was picked as the winner). So ... goooo Jake!

Are you excited to see Jake Pavelka as The Bachelor?