Welcome Australia, to the nation’s newest journey for love – The Golden Bachelor.
You’re about to watch along as one man searches to find a second great love story in his golden years, with one of 20 beautiful, fascinating women.
There will be tears, laughter, sisterhood and romance, and at the end of the journey, love.
Stream episode of The Golden Bachelor Australia on 9Now.
Without further ado, let’s get to know everyone, shall we?!
First, meet Bear.
Hello! (Nine)
Our Golden Bachelor with the Canadian accent has called Sydney home for more than 20 years.
The 61-year-old is the father of three boys with his late wife Audrey, whose life was sadly cut short by an aggressive brain cancer.
After 14 years of focusing on his “driving force”, his sons, Bear’s ready to find love again.
EXCLUSIVE: Bear reveals heartbreaking double loss of his wife and mother in the same year
To help him with that, he’s about to welcome 20 ladies to the Bachelor mansion.
In Pictures
In pictures: Meet the women pursuing love later in life on The Golden Bachelor Australia 2025
Familiar faces, mothers, a radio personality and a doctor.
Our first arrival is Janette, a 61-year-old grandmother who’s seeking that same companionship.
She has butterflies in her stomach and a poem in her hand.
Meet Janette. (Nine)
Sixty-year-old Shamse is next and in a serendipitous moment, the two bond over their mutual Canadian-ness, eh.
It’s just the start of a carousel of beautiful, romantic and quirky entrances.
There’s Brazilian dancer Elizete, whose hips are in constant movement, and horse fan Lauren (pronounced Lo-ren, don’t you forget it) who already has one stallion in her life.
EXCLUSIVE: Abbie Chatfield’s tearful send-off for mum Laura before she drops dating bombshell in unseen video
Two entrances we won’t be forgetting any time soon! (Nine)
Bear notices that property investor Terri is very, very nervous, so he introduces her to a method he uses to calm himself down: touching grass.
Literally.
Well this is, grounding. (Nine)
The whirlwind introductions continue, featuring selfies, arm wrestles and one very, very long hug.
Sunny, a 58-year-old tech CEO who arrives with golf club in hand and golf balls down the front of her dress, makes quite the impression as she coaches Bear on his swing.
She thinks he has a lot to learn. (Nine)
But not before spanking him, because hey, if you can’t shoot your shot here then where can you?!
“Sunny is literally a ray of sunshine,” he reacts.
Last up is 66-year-old Jan with a gold bottle of champagne, and before long, they’re dancing.
Do you see those sparks?!
In Pictures
Every show-stopping Cocktail Party look from The Golden Bachelor 2025
The first night looks make a huge impression.
View GalleryCocktail Party
Host Samantha Armitage welcomes the ladies to their first cocktail party before welcoming Bear down to hang out.
Or be pounced on.
Sunny is the first to make a serious move, pulling him away for a private chat that is soon rudely interrupted.
BEEP BEEP! (Nine)
Suddenly, a very fast car comes screeching into the driveway and a very glam woman gets out of it.
Her name is Kim, a military doctor and race car driver who has loved, lost and desperately wants to love again.
“You’re not going to go, we’re talking,” Sunny reacts, but to no avail as she admits she’s “annoyed” he left.
In Pictures
Every wild, romantic and unseen red carpet entrance on The Golden Bachelor 2025
The women have arrived!
After having enough of awkwardly watching on as the pair get acquainted, Sunny joins the conversation only to make things even more uncomfortable.
The awkwardness peaks as Bear then has to chaperone them both back down the stairs to the group.
Check out this ride! (Nine)
This is not the third wheel we were expecting. (Nine)
Finally in a Sunny-less chat, Kim and Bear learn that they’ve both grieved former loves.
Kim has lost two husbands, one during a military helicopter accident and the second to cancer.
“I felt a connection, and a sorrow and a joy at the same time. I actually just wanted to hug him,” she says of their shared experience.
Do we feel a connection growing? (Nine)
Meanwhile, the conversations between the women are mostly about bunions.
Among the ladies is Laura, 64, the mother of media personality and Bachelor alumni Abbie Chatfield, who says her daughter encouraged her to take the leap to join the show.
Radio DJ Bianca, 51, is very much in her head about needing to pull Bear for a chat, feeling every rejection she’s ever experienced come to the surface.
She could stand to take a leaf out of Elizete’s book, which simply reads ‘dance’.
Work! (Nine)
Bear’s last chat of the night is with Jan, who opens up about coming to terms with not having children.
“I went from being shattered and devastated to…” she says.
“Strong and powerful,” Bear finishes her sentence.
There’s those sparks again! (Nine)
He is honoured that Jan was willing to share that with him, which bodes well as Samantha returns with an important announcement.
She introduces the first impression rose, which Bear must give to the lady who stood out the most tonight.
Cue panic, before Bear delivers it to Jan.
”I didn’t think I was that much of a standout,” she reacts with shock.
She didn’t see that coming (but the rest of us did!) (Nine)
She promises to share more stories in the future, and she will get the chance as the rose keeps her safe.
Of course, the other women are on high alert after that – as 56-year-old interior designer (and our new fitness inspiration) Catherine immediately declares Jan the favourite.
Rose ceremony
Yes, there IS a rose ceremony on the first night. Brutal!
There are 16 roses, meaning that three women will be sent home before they’ve even unpacked their suitcases.
Bianca, who wasn’t able to overcome her fears to pull Bear away, is devastated that she’s at risk of leaving already – but then her name is called for the final rose.
Phew! (Nine)
Sadly, that means we say goodbye to Jane, Shana and Angela.
What a start it has been! We can’t wait to see what the rest of Bear’s journey has in store, starting tomorrow night!
Things get real as Bear invites one lady out on the first single date, before a group date ends with a runaway bride.
The Golden Bachelor airs Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm Channel 9 and 9Now.
Stream episode of The Golden Bachelor Australia on 9Now.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest news from your favourite shows via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.