Nick Viall Spotted Filming ‘Bachelor In Paradise’ Date With One Of Ben Higgins’ Girls [Photos]

Filming for the third season of Bachelor in Paradise is underway, and at least two dozen cast members are already in Mexico trying to find a love connection with other Bachelor and Bachelorette castoffs.

Although ABC has yet to officially announce that Nick Viall is part of the cast, photos posted on Twitter on Friday afternoon confirm that Nick is in Mexico and has already snagged a date with one of Bachelor Ben Higgins’ ladies — Leah Block.

Earlier in the week, ABC released the names of the first round of Bachelor in Paradise Season 3 contestants and promised that more contestants would be revealed in the coming weeks. There is speculation that close to 30 contestants will show up in Paradise this summer, with an initial 15 to 16 on the August 2 season premiere.

Leah Block is on the confirmed cast list, but it may be weeks before the network announces additional cast members like Nick Viall — perhaps hoping to make it a big surprise for fans when he shows up this season.

Unfortunately, producers aren’t doing a very good job of keeping secrets about this season’s cast. Last week, Chad Johnson, the mega-villain from JoJo’s season of The Bachelorette, was spotted at the airport waiting to board a flight to Mexico.

If the photo of Nick and Leah didn’t leak out online, Nick’s arrival in Paradise may have been a shocker, especially since he made it clear that he was all done with finding love on TV after getting dumped by Kaitlyn last season.

“I think my time with The Bachelor franchise — although I have no regrets — my guess is that it’s probably past,” Nick told WetPaint in September. “I don’t see myself doing Bachelor in Paradise. I love it too much as a fan to ever be on it.”

Was the cash incentive for going on the show too good to turn down, or did Nick change his mind and come on the show because he loves the attention? Either way, there’s a good chance he’ll stick around in Paradise long enough to warrant months of shameless self-promotion on social media, including shirtless pics that show him gazing off into the distance with his morning coffee.

Whatever his reason is for joining the Bachelor in Paradise cast, there is no doubt that Nick will have an easier time with the ladies in Paradise than Chad will. Although Nick wasn’t welcomed with open arms by the guys on Kaitlyn’s season of The Bachelorette, he eventually made friends with some of the cast, including Ben Higgins, JJ Lane, and Tanner Tolbert.

If Nick’s date with Leah doesn’t go well, are there any other girls cast for the show who could be a potential match for the twice-dumped software sales rep-turned-Wilhelmina model?

In addition to Leah, there are eight girls currently confirmed to be on Bachelor in Paradise, and at least five more who may be showing up throughout the season.

• Confirmed — Leah Block, twins Emily and Haley Ferguson, Lace Morris, Amanda Stanton, Jubilee Sharpe, Izzy Goodkind (all from Ben’s season), Sarah Herron (Sean’s season, BIP 1), and Carly Waddell (Chris’ season, BIP 2)
• Rumored — Lauren Himle, Jennifer Saviano, Jami Letain, and Shushanna Mkrtychyan (all from Ben’s season), and Ashley Iaconetti (Chris Season, BIP 2).

Who do you think Nick will try to hookup with in Paradise this summer?

Watch the two-hour Bachelor in Paradise season premiere starting at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 2 on ABC. The popular summer reality show will then move to a two-night schedule (Monday/Tuesday) starting with Week 2 (August 8).

[Photo by David Becker/Getty Images]