Ten has announced the industry rope technician from the first season of The Bachelorette Australia, Richie Strahan, as The Bachelor Australia for the fourth season of the dating reality show.
Strahan was the second runner up in The Bachelorette Australia behind soccer player Michael Turnbull, and the winner of Sam Frost‘s heart Sasha Mielczarek.
Strahan won over Australian audiences when he was chosen by Frost to go on a “growing old date”, in which special effects transformed the pair into a couple in their 80s.
The date at the local lawn bowls club, which saw the pair play bingo and dance the afternoon away, cemented Strahan as a favourite to win Frost’s heart.
Unfortunately bingo and dancing were not enough, Richie failed to receive a rose in an emotional penultimate episode.
Describing himself as a genuine Aussie bloke, Strahan is looking for an easy-going, down-to-earth woman who loves life, has a great sense of humour and is comfortable in her own skin.
He said: “I am feeling excited, nervous but mostly thrilled about potentially meeting the woman of my dreams.
“I am hoping that through this experience I will meet someone who shares my passion for life, someone that I can wake up to every morning and know I have found that special person that I can spend the rest of my life with.”
Osher Günsberg will once again return as host for the new series. He said: “I could not think of anybody better. Of course I am biased because I got to know Richie quite well in 2015, however I know that I share the sentiment of anyone that watched The Bachelorette Australia when I say, all I want is for him to find the right person.
“I am very excited for this season because Australia is already behind Richie. In 2016, we get to help him find love. How good is that?”
The Bachelor Australia is produced by Warner Bros. International Production Australia for Ten.