Senior, single and ready to mingle!

Single seniors and ‘glam-mas’ of Oz, get ready – The Golden Bachelor is headed Down Under! Channel Nine have officially confirmed the news that the hit US spin-off series of the mega-popular The Bachelor TV show is a go for Australia.

The network has confirmed that Bear Myrden will be looking for love on the inaugural season of the show.
(Credit: Channel 9)

The original Golden Bachelor

First introduced by ABC, the series cast 72-year-old widower Gerry Turner as its premier ‘Golden Bachelor’. And audiences loved it!

They fell in love with the endearing silver fox. “I mean, I haven’t dated in 45 years,” Gerry sweetly told Entertainment Tonight before the show aired.

Whatever the former restaurateur was dishing out, viewers were eating it up – the two-plus-hour finale in December 2023 drew in 6.1-million viewers, making it the biggest Bachelor episode in three years.
Gerry was the first Golden Bachelor on ABC in the US. (Image: ABC)
Naturally, ABC capitalised on its success, airing Gerry and his fiance 70-year-old Theresa Nist’s wedding in a live special called The Golden Wedding. Unfortunately, all the bravado didn’t lead to a ‘happily ever after’ – the couple divorced only three short months later.

The rumour mill was rife with reasons why the couple split. The Hollywood Reporter, for one, claimed that Gerry was actually in a long-term, live-in relationship with another woman after the death of his wife, whom he was married to for 43 years.

Other drama was brought up around his true employment. The dirt that was uncovered painted a very different picture of Gerry – one that was a stark contrast to the wholesome image that was portrayed on screen.

Who is hosting The Golden Bachelor?

Drama aside, things could be different for the lovebirds in Oz. And you’ll have a chance to find out on Channel 9, who picked up the series spin-off.

As far as who will be hosting, former Channel 7 presenter and Farmer Wants A Wife host Samantha Armytage has officially been confirmed to be joining the show!
Sam will officially be taking on the hosting role. (Image: Getty)

Where to watch The Golden Bachelor in Australia:

Nine formally announced The Golden Bachelor at its annual UPFRONTS event on 24 October 2024, however there’s been no airdate confirmed as of yet.

Stay tuned for updates!