The first season of The Golden Bachelor premiered on September 28, 2023. The season features 72-year-old Gerry Turner.
Filming and development[]
In January 2020, a casting call was issued for men and women aged 65 and older, for an edition of The Bachelor that would star senior citizens and was planned to air on Tuesday nights in the 2020-21 TV schedule. However, the series was delayed by several years due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its intended schedule was filled by season 16 of The Bachelorette, which was also delayed due to the same reason.
"After more than 20 years of fostering young love on The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise, The Golden Bachelor showcases a whole new kind of love story - one for the golden years," ABC said Tuesday in a press release announcing the upcoming reality series.
According to the press release, "one hopeless romantic" will be "given a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life."
"The women arriving at the mansion have a lifetime of experience, living through love, loss and laughter, hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities," the release continued. "In the end, will our Golden man turn the page to start a new chapter with the woman of his dreams?"
Casting and contestants[]
Gerry Turner was announced as the first Golden Bachelor on July 17, 2023.
One of the women featured is former Bachelor Matt James’s mother, Patty James.
Contestants[]
The season began with 22 contestants.
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.jpeg "Joan (Golden Bachelor).jpeg (2.84 MB)")
.jpeg "Jeanie (Golden Bachelor).jpeg (109 KB)")
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.jpeg "Peggy (Golden Bachelor).jpeg (123 KB)")
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Call-out order[]
| Order | Bachelorettes | Week | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7/8 | ||||||||
| 1 | Edith | Faith | Theresa | Ellen | Sandra | Faith | Leslie | Theresa | ||||||
| 2 | Ellen | Ellen | Nancy | Kathy | Leslie | Leslie | Theresa | Leslie | ||||||
| 3 | Sandra | Theresa | Leslie | Faith | Ellen | Theresa | Faith | |||||||
| 4 | Leslie | Joan | Joan | Sandra | Faith | Ellen Sandra Susan |
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| 5 | Marina | Natascha | Edith | Leslie | Sandra | |||||||||
| 6 | Christina | Leslie | Ellen | Nancy | Theresa | |||||||||
| 7 | Joan | Christina | Sandra | Susan | April Kathy |
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| 8 | Natascha | Edith | Susan | April | ||||||||||
| 9 | Peggy | Nancy | Christina | Theresa | Nancy | |||||||||
| 10 | Pamela | April | Faith | Christina Edith |
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| 11 | Kathy | Sandra | April | |||||||||||
| 12 | Nancy | Jeanie | Kathy | Joan | ||||||||||
| 13 | Theresa | Kathy | Jeanie Natascha Peggy |
|||||||||||
| 14 | April | Marina | ||||||||||||
| 15 | Renee | Peggy | ||||||||||||
| 16 | Maria | Susan | Marina | |||||||||||
| 17 | Anna | Anna Maria Pamela Patty Renee Sylvia |
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| 18 | Susan | |||||||||||||
| 19 | Patty | |||||||||||||
| 20 | Sylvia | |||||||||||||
| 21 | Jeanie | |||||||||||||
| 22 | Faith | |||||||||||||
| The contestant received the first impression rose. | |
| The contestant received a rose during the date. | |
| The contestant received a rose outside of a rose ceremony or date | |
| The contestant was eliminated. | |
| The contestant was eliminated during the date. | |
| The contestant was eliminated outside the rose ceremony. | |
| The contestant quit the competition. | |
| The contestant received a rose during a date, but later quit the competition. | |
| The contestant won the competition. |
Episodes[]
| No. in season | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Week 1: Limo Arrivals" | September 28, 2023 |
| For the first time in Bachelor franchise history, 22 incredible women in the prime of their lives will roll up their stockings and step into the spotlight, hoping to find lasting love with Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner. Ranging in age from 60 to 75, these accomplished golden ladies will take time away from their established home lives, friends and family, in the quest to rediscover love – and perhaps even themselves – in the process. | ||
| 2 | "Week 2" | October 5, 2023 |
| It’s a week of firsts for Gerry Turner and his golden gals! After the women move into the mansion and assess their sleeping situations, the series’ first date card arrives— not without a bit of explaining from host Jesse Palmer. Later, there is a magical, musical one-on-one date; a group photoshoot date that has the ladies looking romance-ready for fan-favorite photographer, Franco; and a 72nd birthday to remember for Gerry. Plus, a rose ceremony that proves no less emotional than the first. | ||
| 3 | "Week 3" | October 12, 2023 |
| It’s a whirlwind week three for Gerry Turner! First up, a group date that has all 12 remaining women showing off their skills to Gerry as well as host Jesse Palmer and special guest –former Bachelorette and “Dancing with the Stars” Mirrorball champion – Kaitlyn Bristowe, in a talent show like none other. Then, one woman’s refreshingly vulnerable showcase makes her the recipient of some well-deserved romantic one-on-one time with Gerry; and later, another golden lady gets the full one-on-one fairy-tale experience. Plus, an unexpected decision shakes up the house before the rose ceremony and the women establish that not only are real feelings for Gerry forming, but real friendships are too. | ||
| 4 | "Week 4" | October 19, 2023 |
| Gerry’s journey to love continues. Kicking off this week is the group date everyone’s been waiting for – pickleball! To make the long-awaited day even more special, first-ever Bachelorette Trista Sutter joins Gerry and host Jesse Palmer behind the desk while the upcoming Bachelor, Joey Graziadei, takes to the umpire chair to call the exciting matches. Then, a thrilling one-on-one date has Gerry and one lucky lady blazing new trails and getting cozy in the California sunset. Later, one woman finds herself falling behind in her connection with Gerry, and nerves soar in the house as the high-energy, high-stakes week comes to a close with a rose ceremony full of heartbreak but also hope. | ||
| 5 | "Week 5" | October 26, 2023 |
| Hometowns are on the horizon. With only three roses to hand out, Gerry has a week of important moments ahead of him that will lead to his toughest decisions so far. First, one free-spirited woman is whisked away for a breathtaking once-in-a-lifetime date and finds herself opening up in unexpected ways. Then, the remaining women make their way to the final group date of the season – an evening of fun and games at the iconic Santa Monica Pier – but not before the pressure of the moment causes cracks to form in one woman’s cool and confident demeanor. With the stakes higher than ever before and the weight of Gerry potentially meeting their families looming, several women make bold and heartfelt confessions, but they’ll all need to face the possibility that their fairytale story with Gerry may not have a happy ending with the most intense and emotional rose ceremony yet. | ||
| 6 | "Week 6: Hometowns" | November 2, 2023 |
| Gerry Turner sets off across the country – from New Jersey to Washington and Minnesota – to meet the families of his final three women, which, for the first time in “Bachelor” history, will include children and the toughest critics yet – grandchildren! Each visit offers the opportunity for Gerry and his potential partners to connect on a deeper level and take a glimpse into what combining their lives would look like; but as he inches closer to the final stages of his journey, his decisions weigh heavy on his heart. With only two roses to offer before jetting off to overnight dates, Gerry will face a near impossible decision and a rose ceremony that no one could have predicted. | ||
| 7 | "The Women Tell All" | November 9, 2023 |
| It’s a Bachelor first when 13 incredible Golden women reunite with Gerry – and each other – to discuss their journeys to love and the friendships they found along the way. In an evening full of never-before-seen moments and hilarious bloopers, they’ll share stories of love, loss and personal growth as well as insight into their lives now while also dishing on the drama. Then, the dramatic conclusion to Gerry’s most heart-wrenching rose ceremony yet is revealed and, for the first time since that fateful night, Gerry will come face-to-face with the woman who didn’t receive his hometown week rose. Plus, a look at the shocking season finale. | ||
| 8 | "Week 7: Fantasy Suites" | November 16, 2023 |
| After a devastating goodbye to a woman he loved, Gerry enters a landmark week on his journey, heading to Costa Rica for overnight dates. Emotions run high as each of the remaining two women contemplate the significance of the days ahead, but it’s Gerry who will need to reckon with the consequences once he says “I love you” to both of them. Difficult conversations lie ahead for the couples, but will the long-anticipated alone time with Leslie and Theresa offer the clarity he needs to get down on one knee, or will he be left as confused as ever? | ||
| 9 | "Week 8: Finale" | November 30, 2023 |
| After an incredible season of love stories, Jesse Palmer hosts as the emotional conclusion of Gerry Turner’s journey plays out in front of a live studio audience and he’s joined by his final two women for the first time since filming. | ||
| 10 | "The Golden Wedding" | January 4, 2024 |
| After lifetimes of love and loss and a whirlwind journey on “The Golden Bachelor,” Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist will walk down the aisle to begin their next chapter, happily ever after. Hosted by Jesse Palmer, “The Golden Wedding” airs LIVE on ABC. | ||
Where are they now?[]
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist married on January 4, 2024, in a live ABC special. However, they announced their divorce 3 months later.
Joan Vassos was chosen as the first lead of The Golden Bachelorette.
The Ring[]
A 3.15-carat princess cut diamond ring accented with two baguette cut diamonds, and further set with 128 small, round brilliant cut diamonds by Neil Lane.
A handmade carved meteorite band, and a classic eternity band featuring 18 round brilliant cut diamonds totaling over 4 carats and set in platinum by Neil Lane.
