The countdown is over – the very first season of The Golden Bachelor in Australia has begun!
The newest instalment of The Bachelor made its debut in the US in 2023 and is dedicated to helping older singles find love.
The Bachelor franchise, which has resulted in many long-lasting love stories, was axed from Channel 10 in 2024. But never fear, because it started on October 20 Down Under.
Scroll to find out what you can expect from the show, and which lucky gentleman will be putting his heart on the line.
What is The Golden Bachelor?
When the initial casting call for the US season was issued in 2020, it called for men and women aged 65 and above, proving to cast a very different age bracket compared to the original Bachelor series we all know and love.
So far, the US series has only aired one season, casting 72-year-old Gerry Turner, a retired restaurateur and widower, as the Bachelor.
The Golden Bachelor proved very successful, with the finale reaching 6.1 million viewers, making it the biggest ‘Bachelor’ episode in three years.
The show ended with him marrying Theresa Nist in a TV special, but they divorced mere months later.
The Bachelor was previously hosted by Osher Gunsberg; however, after weeks of talks, Channel Nine confirmed that former Farmer Wants A Wife host Sam Armytage would be the host of the Down Under spin-off in late 2024.
Who is Australia’s Golden Bachelor?
On August 1, Channel Nine confirmed that Barry “Bear” Myrden is our Golden Bachelor!
“Australia, meet your first-ever Golden Bachelor, Bear!” the social media post said at the time.
However, we already knew this!
In March, The Daily Mail revealed his identity after Barry was spotted filming the series.
Originally from Canada, he’s a widowed father of Charlie, Jack, and Declan, who are all between the ages of 17 and 21.
Chattr reported that he was first married to Audrey Myrden, who was diagnosed with a very aggressive malignant brain tumour in 2009 and passed away two years later.
“Bear is not your usual reality TV type,” an insider source told the Daily Mail when they broke the news of his casting.
“He’s charming, intelligent, and has really lived a full life. He’s been through love and loss, and now he’s ready to open his heart again. Women are going to adore him.”
According to LinkedIn, he’s based in Sydney and is an infrastructure engineer for the Woolworths Group, and an advisor and inventor for BlockScribe, which protects digital assets.
In his downtime, he is also a passionate sailor and has even competed in races such as the Sydney to Hobart.
Read our exclusive interview with him here.
Who are The Golden Bachelor Australia contestants?
Twenty glamorous women have been selected to try and help silver fox Bear find his second chance at love.
Leading the line-up is Abbie Chatfield’s mother, Laura, 64.
Abbie rose to fame on The Bachelor, and now, Laura is trying her hand at finding love on The Golden Bachelor.
Radio star Bianca Dye is also looking for love on the show, hoping to find a partner to head off on spontaneous road trips with.
Also among the line-up are a military doctor, a hoist operator, and a twice-divorced singer – as they all hope to find their happily ever after.
See the full cast here.
Where and when was The Golden Bachelor Australia filmed?
Sydney Confidential has revealed that the harbour front home Tresco, in Elizabeth Bay, is one of the secret locations used for filming The Golden Bachelor Australia.
A Sydney City Council spokesperson told the publication that the production crew inquired about using one of the heritage-listed home’s rooms for the show.
Although there were challenges recruiting older Australians for reality TV, filming began for the reality TV dating series in March.
Who is hosting The Golden Bachelor Australia?
The show will be hosted by Samantha Armytage.
“I think you’re all going to love this. It’s love for the golden ages,” she told 9Entertainment when the news of her hosting gig was first made public.
“It’s something that we haven’t seen here before, so it’s very exciting,” she added.
Where can I watch The Golden Bachelor Australia?
The Golden Bachelor is now available to watch on Channel Nine and 9NOW.
