What on earth is going on with The Bachelor Australia? Here’s everything we know.

The Bachelor used to be one of Australia’s most successful reality TV shows, but in recent years, the popularity of the franchise has been on a downward spiral.

While over one million viewers tuned in to watch Tim Robards choose Anna Heinrich at the end of the show’s first season, only 482,000 tuned in to watch Jimmy Nicholson’s season nine premiere back in 2021, and 629,000 watched him pick Holly Kingston as his winner.

While people still love the institution that is The Bachelor, and the many couples and families that have grown out of the franchise, it seems to be missing its magic in recent years.

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While 2022 was supposed to see a revamped version of the hit show, it’s nearly December and we’re still waiting. 

Here’s everything we know about the next season of The Bachelor.

When will The Bachelor air in Australia?

Channel 10 decided to shake things up for 2022, creating The Bachelors and choosing three men to lead the show, instead of just one.

While the initial decision was met with backlash, given the three leads lacked any obvious diversity, viewers still waited patiently to see how else the show might have been updated. Unfortunately, we’re still waiting.

While the revamped series was supposed to be airing in October 2022, it was revealed at the Channel 10 Upfronts that the series had been pushed back until 2023.

The Bachelors will air on January 9, 2023. It’s been given the slot that usually goes to I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!, which we assume will air later in the year.

Channel 10 confirmed the date with a statement.

"With the glitzy backdrop of the Gold Coast, there will be an exciting world first with triple the bachelors, triple the romance, and triple the engagement rings," it read, hinting at a successful romance.

"As the temperature heats up this January, so too will the Bachelors' journey for true love. Join Bachelors Felix, Jed, and Thomas as they begin their quest for their happily ever after in The Bachelors Australia."

Jed McIntosh, Felix Von Hofe, and Thomas Malucelli. Image: Channel 10.

Who are the bachelors?

Fans have been calling for a more interesting Bachelor lead for some time now, but next year, we’ll have three hoping to impress their chosen ladies.

Felix Von Hofe

Bachelor number one is Felix Von Hofe, a Victorian marketing manager who has also had some success in professional basketball (he’s 6 feet, 6 inches tall).

A self-confessed family man, Felix has shared he’s craving face-to-face connection, and someone to make him laugh.

"For me, the most attractive quality a girl can have is a good sense of humour. My dream date would be anything where it ends up hurting to laugh, because if we’re both laughing the whole time then it can’t get much better," he told Channel 10.

Thomas Malucelli

Felix is joined by 35-year-old Thomas Malucelli, who calls himself a 'hopeless romantic'.

Thomas hails from Florence, Italy, and is now a restaurant manager. While he’s an outdoorsy type and an adrenaline junkie, he also makes time to practise mindfulness through meditation.

He’s looking for someone who is confident, honest, and a great communicator.

"The idea of finding the love of my life in a context that is so out of my comfort zone really excites me," Thomas has said.

Jed McIntosh

Jed McIntosh, 25, is also from Victoria and makes a living out of his music career.

A lead drummer and songwriter, Jed has performed with some big industry names such as Kylie Minogue, Pharrell Williams, T-Pain and Sean Paul. He currently plays with the band Mood Monroe.

Describing himself as 'a sensitive man with a very big heart', Jed has said that "a woman willing to find love on a public platform is the confidence I need in a partner".

We'll see Felix, Jed, and Thomas in January 2023.

What else is different this year?

Filming of The Bachelors took place in mid-2022, this time set on Queensland’s Gold Coast, rather than in Sydney’s north-west.

However, the host with the most, Osher Günsberg will return to host the show.

"We find love and celebrate love better than anyone. And it all happens in our glamorous new home on the Gold Coast," he said.

"There’s a lot that’s going to look and feel very different. I mean, the name of the show for starters. It’s The Bachelors. Plural. There’s three of them - an abundance of bachelors," he continued.

"Joining these three eligible young men from across the country are smart, powerful, beautiful women who - like our Bachelors - are over the dating apps, the ghosting, and the inability to commit."

Feature Image: Channel 10/Mamamia.