Welcome to another week of romance, roses and incredible gowns – it’s Golden Bachelor time.

We begin tonight a long way from the mansion, with host Samantha Armytage and the Golden Bach himself, Bear, enjoying a leisurely horse ride.

Ah, we’re on our way to a group date!
Oh hay! (Nine)

Group date

Bear grew up horse riding and thinks it shows an ability to ‘let go’, so off we trot! And by we, I mean Terri, Laura, Katrina, Bianca, Lauren and Kim.

Lauren, who need I remind you arrived to the mansion on a stallion, thinks she’s a shoo in for some one-on-one time after this!

But just to be really sure, Lauren’s got her bikini on under her shirt and is willing to take measures into her own hands.

“I’m going to take my top off and see if I can get his attention,” she explains – and that she does!
Gotta do what you gotta do! (Nine)
Then comes a chance to, uh, muster cattle? A real curveball in what is meant to be a romantic stroll, but sure.

Bianca, whose mustering experience simmers down to putting mustard on a burger, has absolutely no idea what she’s doing.

She spends her time making unconventional noises and wondering why her animal isn’t moving how she wants it to.
“CH-CH-CH-CHAAA!” (Nine)
“My horse clearly hates love,” she laments.

But she keeps trying and yeehawing to the end, which impresses Bear enough to secure her alone time.

Thankfully, she has time to brush her helmet hair before they sit down in a very romantic spot underneath the stars.

Bear loves that he can have a joke with Bianca, but is hoping some alone time will help them go a little deeper.

She totally gets that and opens up about using humour as a deflection tactic, before revealing her decade-long journey with IVF.

“Why did you want to have a one-on-one date?” she finally asks. “There’s so many women in this mansion who could possibly make you really happy.”

“And you’re one of them,” he replies.
Stop it, we’re blushing! (Nine)
Bear thinks Bianca is special, even if she doesn’t always see it herself, and to prove that he presents her with a rose.

And a kiss! Weee!

Single date

We spy a Bachelor with his guns out!

Bear’s organised a single date with Gera, a successful career woman who wants to find someone to share life with.

The plan is yoga, but not just any yoga:
PUPPIES. (Nine)
Once they’ve enjoyed the dogs and the downward dog, they settle for a picnic under a tree. Bear sure is enjoying his fair share of picnics, isn’t he?

Gera doesn’t have children and has focused a lot on her career, so she’s a little worried about their different life experiences.

But Bear respects that, and they’re now both here in the same place looking for the same thing!

It ends with a gift.

Not a puppy, sadly, but a rose (and another kiss).

Ladies’ lunch

While Bear and Gera get their yoga on, Sam pops into the mansion for a ladies lunch.

Time for wine, cheese and some D&Ms.

After horror dating stories, talk turns to first loves and Terri says she used to think her ex-husband was her “forever”.

But one day, her sons came home from a day at the Royal Melbourne Show and said: “Mum, we met dad’s girlfriend today”.
Ooof. (Nine)
She remembered how she would wake up, drop her children at school then return home to hide in her “safe space” wardrobe until it was time to pick them up again.

“Then I had a lightbulb moment, going ‘I deserve more than what he was doing,’” she says.
(Nine)
The tale gets even Sam teary.

“Everybody goes through s–t, and life is hard and messy and there’s not a person on the planet who doesn’t feel like that or go through that,” she says.
The ladies lunch gets emotional. (Nine)
“You kind of wear it like a badge of honour. I know I wear some of my grief now like a badge of honour. You’ve been through crap, you’ve survived it.”

Jan can relate too, as she recounts an ex’s three-year affair.

On her 40th birthday, he promised the affair was over for good, but then he went away and when Jan called the hotel, she learned that wasn’t true.

As more stories are shared, Sam points out “there’s no instruction guide on how to leave a marriage, I’m saying this from first hand”.

From sharing tears to laughing over Katrina’s incredible final gift from her ex-husband, the camaraderie in the room is BEAUTIFUL.
Grab me a wine, I want to join! (Nine)
It’s especially touching to Sunny, who as the only woman in her family is not used to seeing it.

She’s also not used to being vulnerable, but this is as safe a space as any to share!

Sunny recalls the end of her 15-year relationship after she returned to South Korea to look after her ailing mother, who sadly passed in January.

“When I came back, my partner already packed up and he’s gone out of my life,” she explains.

The group’s support in that moment is so special to her.

“I don’t have any sisters but they’ve become my sisters,” she sobs.

Cocktail party

Gera arrives late with a rose in hand, instantly sending the group into a frenzy.

She recaps the puppies, the Bear, the guns – it’s a lot.

Bear arrives and to their disappointment, he’s covered the arms in an (albeit dashing) suit.

Katrina is feeling especially nervous today and is desperate to pull Bear for a conversation.

As she makes her move, Jan swoops in and accidentally “c–kblocks”.
“I’m gonna need a champagne.” (Nine)
Bear grabs Sunny, giving her the chance to reveal some of her past.

She tells him about her mother who only recently past, and Bear tells her about losing his mum in the same year as his wife.

Sunny feels seen, heard, and like their connection is deepening yet again.

The women who went on the horse-riding date have a few added challenges tonight: walking, and sitting, and just generally anything that involves, as Kim puts it, “the part of your anatomy that has been bereft of that for sometime”.
Ouch. (Nine)
Finally, it’s Katrina’s time.

Unfortunately, that time requires a treacherous trek across vast lands, which does look a lot like the mansion’s outdoor stairs.

Her nerves definitely get the better of her, as their chat is more awkward giggle than meaningful conversation.

Rose ceremony

Katrina isn’t super confident that her and Bear’s arduous hike is enough to keep her safe tonight.

He has 12 roses, and since Bianca and Gera already have one each, one lady will be packing her bags.

As the names are called, Katrina and Hamidah’s fears intensify.

With just one to go, Bear calls “Katrina”.

Sadly, it is Hamidah’s time to go but she’s leaving with her head held high and a smile on her face.
Iconic! (Nine)
Tomorrow night, it’s the first annual Golden Bachie charity gala!

Tune in to see all the women put on a show – lycra not required, but highly encouraged.