In 2021, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette Australia delivered the most dismal ratings the franchise had EVER seen, and for this reason, The Bachelors Australia 2023 will include f*ck ton of WILD AF changes.
As previously reported, the bosses over at Warner Bros. and Ten are reinvigorating the franchise with some YUGE additions.
So Dramatic! exclusively revealed that there will be THREE Bachelors this year — Felix Von Hofe, Thomas Malucelli and Jed McIntosh, which Network Ten later *officially* announced on May 23.
Having been postponed to January 9, 2023, fans are gagging to learn what the revamped series entails, so strap in because we’ve got allll the tea.
There will be no red carpet, just first dates on The Bachelor Australia 2023
Farewell to the awks red carpet montage, because in 2023, the Bachelors will meet their new baes on a first date!
“[It’s] kinda like the First Dates [show] scenario,” one source told So Dramatic!. “The contestants will have an actual one-on-one date with the Bachelor before going to the mansion.”
According to the same source, the suitors get to decide on where the date will be and what they will be doing together, and they can choose to go ANYWHERE in the country! WTAF!
“Producers have been asking contestants to come up with the date idea themselves,” the source dished. “Nothing is off-limits — they just ask that it shows off their personality.
“It’s a chance for them to show the Bachelor who they are and what they’re all about and to see if they have a genuine connection or chemistry together,” they added.
Bachelors spending quality time with their potential boo? We LOVE to see it!
In another twist, the suitors can also pull out of the running, meaning they can say “yes” or “no” to going into the mansion.
The Bachelor can also choose not to invite their date to the house if he’s not “vibing” her, and frankly, this sounds absolutely BONKERS!
The first dates on The Bachelor Australia 2023 were filmed over seven days
As reported in episode 186 of the So Dramatic! podcast, the dates were filmed across seven days.
According to a sneaky insider, the three guys were doing “four to five dates per day, all over Australia” — however, mainly in Sydney and on the Gold Coast.
“The Bachelors had to fly to 2-3 different states each day,” the source dished. “Each girl only got to spend a maximum of 20 mins with their Bachelor in a speed dating format.”
The source also revealed that the contestants entered the new and improved Bachelor mansion on May 23, with each guy choosing six to eight women. Sounds like Farmer Wants a Wife if you ask us!
Oh, and there are also going to be intruders at some point. Fingers crossed, the girls try to switch Bachie babes too — then maybe it will be worth watching…
The Bachelors Australia 2023 contestants can SWAP Bachelors
As unveiled in episode 238 of the So Dramatic! podcast, we can say goodbye to at least a portion of the deep-rooted sexism of The Bachelor franchise.
Yup, for the first time, the women will hold a fair bit of power in their love story.
One contestant explained that at the first cocktail party, it was a “free roam” of the Bachies, despite “initially getting assigned to a Bachelor”.
“You can switch between Bachelors if you want,” they dished. “They had every right to explore the other Bachelors [and] they could talk to all of the men.”
Apparently, host Osher Günsberg‘s analogy was “ride every ride at the show until you find the one that you want to stay on all day”. Sorry… say what?!
What’s more, is that the leading men were allowed to “explore women assigned to another Bachelor” too.
We sense a sh*t-ton of drama on the horizon…
The Bachelors Australia 2023 is introducing Fantasy Suites
In another shake-up to the series, the new season of The Bachelor will be introducing a popular US franchise addition — the Fantasy Suite!
For those of you who don’t know what that is, the final three contestants get to stay the night with the Bachelor or Bachelorette. And, as a bonus, they can have sex if they want to.
Normal behaviour for when you have been dating someone for three months, right?
A very well-placed source told So Dramatic! that her BFF auditioned for the show and “made it through to the next round”.
“Best news! This year there will be fantasy suites!” they said. “The producers probed her re: her sex life for this season. Thought you might like to know.”
Yes, thank you. We do want to know!
In episode 238 of the So Dramatic! podcast, it was later revealed that the Fantasy Suite isn’t just on offer for the last women standing.
One source told host Megan Pustetto: “All the women have the option to sleep with the Bachelors if you both consent.
“Osher also made this announcement to the group during the first group date,” they continued.
“You then go up to the Bach pad and do it if you want.” WTAF?!
Okaaaaay, so how much of this canoodling bizzo do we actually get to see onscreen?
“Basically, how it works is that they will film the couple going into a room and then film the door being shut,” an insider explained.
“The rest will be up to the audience’s imagination.”
The source also reiterated the contestants are NOT filmed “getting intimate”.
The format of Rose Ceremonies has changed for The Bachelors Australia 2023
Another format change coming to The Bachelors 2023 affects how the anticipated Rose Ceremonies play out.
In the past, the Bachelor used cocktail parties to determine who received a rose and who didn’t.
However, So Dramatic! can exclusively reveal that in 2023, only the women who go on the group dates are up for elimination.
“If you don’t get invited on a group date that week, you’re safe,” one contestant revealed.
Given three men are handing out roses, expect the ceremonies to be more prolonged than usual.
“They take turns giving out the roses,” the contestant continued. “For example, Felix will give out one rose, then Thomas will give out one rose.
“Then Jed will give out one rose and then it’s just a continual pattern from there.”
Yikes, we hope Channel 10 have a longer time slot this time around!
Casting and filming for The Bachelors Australia 2023 was VERY different to past seasons
Unlike previous years when filming of The Bachelor started in March, a source previously revealed that filming started on May 15, 2022, with the first dates being filmed all over Australia during that week.
As for casting — which began in January 2022, “single women and men between the ages of 21 and 50” were invited to apply. Wait, does this mean a bi-Bachelor??
And in 2022, it seemed like casting producers were despo for a lot of new candidates due to the new format!
In the following months, Warner Bros posted a number of call-outs on social media and on top of that, have been emailing people asking them to apply!
Once they fine-tuned their list of victims candidates, they then held a casting call on April 5 and we managed to get our hands on the official email!
“Dress as if you are going for a lunch with the girls. Something that represents you & your personality! [sic]” the email read. Sounds fun!
There’s a brand-new mansion and filming location for The Bachelor Australia 2023
Say au revoir to Le Chateau because now that the show has been moved to the Gold Coast, we’re also getting a hot new mansion!
The Jared Poole-designed home is located in Broadbeach Waters along the Nerang River, Queensland and since it sits across a 2,390 m2 double block, it will have oodles of room for ALL the suitors of our Bachelors.
Back in 2014, the mansion was sold for an eye-watering $2,680,000, however, it is now reportedly worth $14.5million… there are just no words.
According to its official listing on RealEstate.com.au, the new home is the “ultimate [in] luxury lifestyle with a modern charm” and boasts waterfront and expansive city skyline views.
It also has a variety of living spaces “around a central manicured lawn” and a spectacular waterfront pool.
To top off the outdoor area, it also has the ultimate alfresco entertaining centre which includes an inbuilt wet bar, barbecue and an open fireplace.
The perfect backdrop for some dra-mah!
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 238 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
