It turns out The Bachelors Australia 2023‘s Thomas Malucelli was a replacement Bachie after the original lead pulled out of the show at the last minute.
While it might be hard to imagine someone else in Thomas’ place (spoiler alert: we would’ve accepted literally ANYONE else), Channel Ten had a few other options up their sleeve.
So Dramatic! not only revealed that TV hunk Tony Armstrong almost signed on, but a handsome AF police officer was also in talks with producers.
However, as reported in episode 245 of the So Dramatic! podcast, the cop “pulled out of the show just 48 hours before filming was to commence”.
“They had already been speaking to Thomas as a potential option,” a source explained. “So they just swapped him in because he’s a similar age.”
Sloppy seconds, anyone?
Who is the police officer who was initially supposed to be on The Bachelors Australia 2023?
Throwback to May 2022 when we spilled the tea about single dad Heath, the policeman who turned down The Bachelors.
According to the Melburnian, he would have “loved” the experience but the logistics were too difficult.
“Honestly, I would have loved to do it and potentially find my person,” he told host Megan Pustetto. “But VICPOL didn’t like the idea and I would’ve missed my son like crazy being away from him for so long.”
Heath added that his son is a “beautiful kid” who was “so keen” for his dad to appear on the revamped dating series.
“Everything happens for a reason though,” he concluded.
Apparently, his job as a cop was a huge drawcard for producers.
“I think they wanted a single dad, and they said the uniform was the cherry on top.”
Welp, at least Heath wouldn’t have rejected his suitors for being mums…
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 245 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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