The Bachelor is back – but with a golden twist! After nearly two years off Aussie screens, the beloved dating show is making a return with The Golden Bachelor, a heartwarming spin-off starring older contestants in search of love.
Hosting the show is Sunrise star Samantha Armytage, who hit the Logies red carpet with leading man Barry “Bear” Myrden to tease the feel-good new series.
“He’s gorgeous, but he’s also a really nice man. He’s a very kind man,” Sam told Yahoo Lifestyle. “I think we’ve found a wonderful person to be our first ever Golden Bachelor, and he’s looking for love again.
“He’s been widowed, and he’s got three wonderful boys who have grown up. So he feels like it’s time for him to try and meet someone again. So we’re going to try and help him do that!”
The show will feature 20 women who are looking for love, each with their own inspiring stories.
“The ladies are spectacular, you are going to love them. They are really accomplished, really beautiful, but really powerful in their own way. And they’ve all got wonderful stories to tell,” Sam added.
“It’s silly and it’s funny, but I think the difference here is that it’s got some really meaningful moments, and some really powerful stuff happens.”
When asked whether there’ll be drama, Sam replied: “Yes! Come on, it’s reality. Bring the drama. Who doesn’t want the drama?”
So, who is Bear? This year’s Golden Bachelor is a widowed father of three and a mid-50s infrastructure engineer, he’s also a proud Canadian and keen sailor.
“I’m Canadian, for one,” he said. “I’m just fun-loving, I love excitement, I love outdoors, fitness, and this is incorporating a bit of that excitement, for sure.”
While the full cast is still under wraps, it’s already been leaked that Abbie Chatfield’s 65-year-old mum, Laura, will be among the cast.
And former Bachelor Matty J revealed his own mum was approached for the show too.
“She was asked, and I wanted her to do it. I wanted a new daddy!… She’s 73… so she said she was too old,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle.
The Golden Bachelor started filming in March and is rumoured to air on Channel 9 after The Block wraps up in October.
Images: Channel 9
