It’s the reality show that flipped the script on what a TV dating competition is supposed to be – winning fans for its warmth and sensitivity.
Now two of the ladies, Bianca and Catherine from The Golden Bachelor, have opened up to reveal their secrets from the hit show in an exclusive chat with Daily Mail.
And each agrees that viewers, for once, can believe what they see.
The mature women seeking a match with Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden, they say, were out looking for love – and not a career in social media.
‘A lot of my friends in the media told me that the media is dying and I probably wouldn’t get a job out of [appearing on the show],’ Bianca Dye said with a laugh.
The 51-year-old funny woman, who made a tearful exit on episode five of the series, candidly admits she has experienced loneliness – and disappointment in the dating scene.
The Golden Bachelor’s Bianca Dye has revealed what life was REALLY like on set. (Pictured)
Meanwhile, Catherine Kirwan has hit back at her ‘villain’ label
‘This is how I looked at it, I know people who have met on these shows and they are still together and they are very happy,’ she said, explaining why she went on the show.
‘I thought, “What if I go for this and this guy is really into me and it ends in a fairytale”… but I’m not delusional and I’ve been in the media for 32 years.’
The radio host shared that she does not get approached because ‘men are terrified’ because she has a profile: ‘They are scared we are going to use them for content. And they’re right!’ she joked.
‘I’m lonely,’ Bianca confessed, and said the same was true of the other cast members.
‘Every one of those women, as far as I know, unless they are f***ing great actresses, every one of them was genuinely hoping [to find love].
‘I was too, I walked up that red carpet and thought, “You’re handsome – this is real”‘.
Bianca also addressed the show’s unique atmosphere, which sets it apart from the nasty infighting of something like Married at First Sight.
Though it was a competition to win Bear’s heart, Bianca said the cast of 20 women quickly bonded.
On Sunday night Bear rejected a disappointed Janette (pictured)
Sunny (pictured) won his heart in the end
She revealed that the producers encouraged a ‘positive’, calm and ‘happy’ mood on set.
‘We were told no one wants to see a 52–year–old and 62–year–old having a bitch fight on TV,’ she revealed.
Catherine Kirwan agrees: ‘The show had two themes to it – obviously the love story between the bachelor and the women, but it was also the love story between the women.’
Divorced three years ago, the 57-year-old mother-of-two said she decided to appear on The Golden Bachelor after taking up bodybuilding.
‘As I was building my body, I was building my confidence… I started to share my story a little bit.
‘I started getting a response from women who said, “You haven’t put a limitation on yourself by your age”.’
She adds: ‘I wanted to do it for my boys, show them that you have to get out of your comfort zone, you have to try new things no matter how scary they might seem.’
Catherine also responded to her online critics who dubbed her a ‘villain’ after she was seen snatching some one-on-one time with Bear early in the season – defying rules set by the other ladies.
‘Look, I think the traditional description of a “villain” in a reality show is quite vindictive and [they are seen as] digging at the other contestants and cast members.
‘I love you, Bear!’ Sunny gasped, and Bear said in turn, ‘I love you, Sunny!’
‘And I don’t feel like I was like that at all.
‘It’s an elimination game I was competing with myself – I set myself a goal to spend some time with him, and the only way to do it is to go for it.’
Catherine said her behaviour was ‘respectful competition’ and adds: ‘As I saw [Bear] connecting with other women, I really started to sit back.’
Asked whether she would return to reality TV, Catherine said she would not do another dating show. But she would consider a podcast – if the opportunity came up.
‘If it were about inspiring people my age to better themselves, I would love to do something like that.’
Meanwhile, Bianca says she would ‘jump’ at the chance of doing a ‘Golden Bachelorette’ if the offer came up.
She’s also considering getting into stand-up comedy after doing a five-minute routine during The Golden Bachelor’s gala.
‘All the women voted for me to the stand-up comedy routine, and I’ve always wanted to do stand-up comedy
‘I sh** myself at the idea of stand up… and I conquered that fear in front of all the Nine celebs and I had them all laughing and I floated off that stage.’
It comes after The Golden Bachelor came to a dramatic close on Sunday night.
Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden chose between Janette, 61, a Pilates instructor from Victoria and Sunny, 58, a CEO from NSW.
The final episode saw Bear choose Sunny during a romantic trip to South Africa.
However, rejected contestant Janette was not humble in defeat, storming off while Bear tried to comfort her.
