The Bachelor Australia could be getting its first bisexual bachelor
"Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole is so 2020."
Words: Alastair James; Image: Pexels (posed by models)
A spokesperson for the Australian TV network, Network 10, has teased the possibility that The Bachelor could be getting a bisexual male bachelor for its upcoming series.
It follows a casting call announcement from the network which mentioned that both single men and women could apply for the reality series, which sees a series of suitors – usually exclusively women – attempt to win the affections of an eligible single man.
An executive at Channel 10 previously said that both The Bachelor and its female-led counterpart The Bachelorette need “work”.
“Love is love”
Asked about whether the casting call means that the Australian show’s tenth bachelor will be LGBTQ by Daily Mail Australia, a spokesperson said they were keeping things open for their leading man.
“Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole is so 2020. Love is love and we look forward to casting our next Bachelor, whoever they may be.”
The page leading to the application process reads: “Are you searching for that special someone but just can’t seem to find them? Well this could be the beginning of your very own love story!”
It says the shows looking for “Single Women and Men between the ages of 23-40,” adding applicants “must be willing and available to be filmed for the duration of the series,” which will take place roughly between May and July.
View this post on Instagram
Beverley McGarvey, the executive vice president, and chief content officer of ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, told Mediaweek in November she was looking into ways to get The Bachelor back to its “glory days”.
Australia’s The Bachelorette previously featured a bisexual lead, Brooke Blurton, but the series was marred by low viewing figures. The fact that the Australian network seems willing to feature LGBTQ people in its reality programming is in stark contrast to attitudes seen on our side of the globe.
One boss of ITV’s Love Island said last year that including LGBTQ contestants would present a “logistical difficulty”. Another exec defended the show’s lack of LGBTQ inclusion saying the show is about “boys and girls coupling up.”
Last year, contestant Sharon Gaffka claimed she came out as bisexual to fellow contestants while on the show, but the conversation was never aired.
However, speaking to Attitude at the 2021 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore said she was “all about” diversity.
The Attitude February issue is out now.
Subscribe in print and get your first three issues for just £1 each, or digitally for just over £1.50 per issue.
