Bravo’s “Summer House” season 10 trailer is turning up the heat, promising fresh drama, beloved familiar faces, and six new cast members ready to have some fun in the Hamptons all summer long.
Among the newcomers is 38 year old Australian native Ben Waddell, whose handsome looks and charm are already stealing the spotlight. Unlike the other new cast members, Waddell is used to being on reality TV thanks to his Bachelor past. Here’s what else to know about the “Summer House” star.
1. Ben Waddell Appeared on ‘The Bachelor Australia’
Ben Waddell is one of the newest cast members ready to have a blast in the Hamptons on “Summer House” season 10. But, unlike the other five new faces, Waddell has a reality TV past.
Waddell starred on the final season 11 of “The Bachelor Australia” in 2023, which changed things up with three bachelors instead of one. Waddell’s journey to find love ended with him choosing contestant Mckenna Lea. However, the Daily Mail reported that the couple split just one day after the show’s finale.
On Instagram, Waddell shared that distance and their busy careers got in the way of their relationship. “In the end the distance was difficult; we both had extended commitments overseas in different times zones, which was challenging,” he wrote, adding that he and Lea parted on good terms.
2. Waddell Was Approached to Model
Before making his reality TV debut, Waddell worked as a professional model. According to his Ford Model’s profile, Waddell was discovered while studying in Australia, where he initially wanted to follow in his parents’ footsteps and become a teacher. However, life quickly changed for Waddell, and he got his big break modeling for GQ and French magazine L’Officiel Hommes. He later found himself in New York for work and became a regular face for Giorgio Armani, among other top designers.
Besides modeling, Australia’s Who magazine shared that Waddell worked as an environmental sustainability entrepreneur before joining “The Bachelor Australia.”
3. Waddell Connects With Amanda Batula on ‘Summer House’
Fans were at a loss for words when the “Summer House” season 10 trailer teased Waddell flirting with Amanda Batula. In the clip, he shares, “Amanda can walk into a room and light it up with her smile.” Another scene then showed Batula playing with Waddell’s hair.
In another jaw-dropping moment, a housemate tells Batula, “Ben definitely wants to sleep with you.” The revelation lands just as Batula, married to Kyle Cooke, seems to be struggling through a rocky chapter in their marriage.
4. Waddell’s Relationship Status
While viewers will have to tune in early next year to see whether anything unfolds between Waddell and Batula (fingers crossed it doesn’t), Waddell has since confirmed that he’s in a relationship with a woman named Sabrina. Sorry, ladies!
On a Sept. 23 Instagram post, Waddell captioned a video of himself, “You can always tell when a man gets a girlfriend… his IG goes from 0 to curated real quick.” The two made things official with a joint Instagram post in October, which showed the couple looking into each other’s eyes as they posed on a beach during a sunset.
“Number one girl 🌹,” Waddell captioned his sweet post.
5. He Is One of Six New Cast Members Joining ‘Summer House’ Season 10
“Summer House” season 10 will welcome back Cooke, Batula, Carl Radke, Lindsay Hubbard, Ciara Miller, Jesse Solomon, and West Wilson. However, they will be joined by six new faces.
The new housemates include Mia Calabrese, KJ Dillard, Dara Levitan, Levi Sebree, Bailey Taylor, and Waddell.
For Waddell, his “Summer House ” season 10 bio reads: “Ben Waddell enters the summer house with swagger, six-pack energy and Aussie humor. Originally from the Land Down Under, a brutal breakup and not much luck on “The Australian Bachelor” has left Ben searching for something else. This summer he’s open to fun, flings and perhaps even a special visitor, as long as they’ve got confidence, spark and a killer smile.”
“Summer House” season 10 premieres on Feb. 3, 2026, on Bravo.
