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The Golden Bachelor

The Golden Bachelor
GenreDating game show
Presented byJesse Palmer
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (including 1 special)
Production
Production companyWarner Horizon Unscripted Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 28, 2023 (2023-09-28) –
present
Related
The Bachelor franchise

The Golden Bachelor is an American dating reality television series that premiered September 28, 2023 on ABC. A spin-off of The Bachelor, it features seniors as contestants. The second season is slated to premiere on September 24, 2025.

History

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In January 2020, a casting call was issued by the producers of The Bachelor for a new dating show featuring men and women aged 65 and older.[1] In July 2020, Variety reported that production on the series and other Bachelor spin-offs had been paused due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to prioritize production of the next seasons of The Bachelorette and The Bachelor. ABC unscripted executive Rob Mills told Variety that the response to the initial call had been "rabid", and that some of the casting interviews were "touching". He stated that the network planned to prioritize Bachelor in Paradise next, but that "we absolutely want to get [the senior spin-off] done, but we want to do it right, do it safely and not at the expense of the other Bachelor cycles."[2][3]

On May 16, 2023, ABC ordered The Golden Bachelor to series.[4] On July 17, 2023, ABC announced 72-year-old Gerry Turner as the inaugural lead for season 1.[5] Filming began in August 2023 in Los Angeles, and concluded in Costa Rica.[6] As a result of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, the first season aired on Thursday nights followed by the ninth season of Bachelor in Paradise instead of on its originally intended Monday-night scheduling, to fill timeslots left vacant by scripted shows.[7]

The series premiere of The Golden Bachelor was the highest-rated season premiere in the overall Bachelor franchise since 2021, while ABC stated that it was the network's most-streamed non-scripted program on Hulu.[8][9] Its season finale was the most-watched episode of the Bachelor franchise since The Bachelor's season 25 finale in 2021.[10]

In February 2024, ABC ordered The Golden Bachelorette, an equivalent spin-off for The Bachelorette.[11] On April 22, 2025, ABC renewed The Golden Bachelor for a second season, and announced 66-year-old retired football player Mel Owens as its lead.[12]

Seasons

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Season Original run Bachelor Winner Runner(s)-up Proposal Still together? Relationship status
1 September 28 – November 30, 2023 Gerry Turner Theresa Nist Leslie Fhima Yes No Nist married Turner in a live The Golden Wedding special broadcast by ABC on January 4, 2024, but they filed for divorce three months later.[13][14]
2 September 24, 2025[15] Mel Owens

International versions

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Australia

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In late 2024, it was reported that an Australian version has been commissioned for the Nine Network. This will be the first Australian iteration of the Bachelor franchise to not be aired on Network 10, who have aired the Australian versions of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise.[16] In October 2024, the series was confirmed by Nine at their 2025 Upfronts, with Samantha Armytage to host the series and produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia.[17][18]

The Netherlands

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On August 10, 2024, a Dutch version was announced to air early 2025 on Dutch streaming service Videoland, produced by Warner Bros. International TV Productions. Chantal Janzen is set to host the series.[19] The Bachelor is 72-year-old entrepreneur Gerard.[20]

References

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  1. ^ Boucher, Ashley (January 27, 2020). "Producers of The Bachelor Now Casting Seniors Looking for Love for a 'New Exciting Dating Show'". People. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (July 8, 2020). "The Bachelor Senior Citizen Spinoff Still in the Works at ABC (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (April 28, 2022). "The Bachelor: Who's Hosting Paradise, Is Senior Citizens Happening and Could Bachelor Pad Return? (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (May 16, 2023). "The Golden Bachelor Dating Series, Starring Senior Citizens, a Go at ABC". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  5. ^ Baldwin, Kristen (July 17, 2023). "Meet The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Stahl, Jay (August 8, 2023). "Iowa native begins filming The Golden Bachelor dating series featuring seniors on ABC". The Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Campione, Katie (August 21, 2023). "The Golden Bachelor & Bachelor In Paradise Season 9 Get ABC Premiere Dates". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Horton, Adrian (30 November 2023). "The Golden Bachelor's older singletons have saved a franchise". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  9. ^ Porter, Rick (2023-10-11). "'Golden Bachelor' Sparks With Streaming Viewers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  10. ^ Hailu, Selome (1 December 2023). "'Golden Bachelor' Finale Reaches 6.1 Million Viewers, Biggest 'Bachelor' Episode in Nearly Three Years". Variety. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  11. ^ Campione, Katie (February 10, 2024). "'The Golden Bachelorette' Set For Fall Premiere At ABC; 'The Bachelorette' To Return In Summer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Campione, Katie (April 22, 2025). "'The Golden Bachelor' Gets Official Season 2 Renewal, Sets New Leading Man". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  13. ^ Dupre, Elyse (January 4, 2024). "Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner Marries Theresa Nist in Live TV Wedding". E! News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Holtermann, Callie (April 12, 2024). "The 'Golden Bachelor' Is Getting a Divorce". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (July 17, 2025i). "ABC Fall Premiere Dates: '9-1-1' Franchise, 'High Potential', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Dancing' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  16. ^ https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2024/08/28/exclusive-the-golden-bachelor-is-coming-to-australia/
  17. ^ Knox, David (24 October 2024). "Upfronts 2025: Nine Network: The Floor, Golden Bachelor, Château DIY Aust". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  18. ^ Laidlaw, Kyle (24 October 2024). "Nine Upfronts: The Floor and The Golden Bachelor Australia Confirmed for 2025 Lineup". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  19. ^ https://www.nu.nl/media/6330016/chantal-janzen-presenteert-the-golden-bachelor-paradise-hotel-keert-terug.html
  20. ^ https://www.rtl.nl/pers/persberichten/gerard-is-de-golden-bachelor-op-zoek-naar-zijn-droomvrouw/Zq0YJRIAACUA-4pb
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