Since the end credits rolled over the final episode of the first season of The Bachelor South Africa, the country’s vocal “Bachelor Nation” have been speculating about how and when another local version of the popular global franchise would return to M-Net. While some ardent fans were wondering whether they would see a Bachelor or a Bachelorette looking for true love next, fake news spread like wildfire that one of the ladies from Season 1 had already been picked to hand out the roses.
Truth is, M-Net has secured the rights to produce a second season of The Bachelor South Africa and viewers will join the show’s new leading man on his rollercoaster of romance in next year’s month of love, February 2020. Jason Greer will be at his side, reprising the role of the show’s level-headed host.
M-Net and production company Rapid Blue have also officially started their search for the lovely ladies who will be vying for the heart of the new Bachelor and pursuing the possibility of finding their “Mr Right”. Entries have opened online and will close on 11 September 2019 at 23:59.
“Even though our first season did not have the ‘happily-ever-after’ fairy-tale ending everyone wished for, we continue to believe in the power of love,” says Lani Lombard, M-Net’s Head of Publicity. “The show did exceptionally well for M-Net. Our viewers were swooning over all the drama and were swept off their feet as our dapper Bachelor whisked off the ladies on adventurous dates and to exotic locations. We can’t wait to meet the bevy of beauties, whom our audiences will be rooting for, to receive the final rose.”
The Bachelor franchise has a fantastic track record: 23 seasons of the show have been produced in the US and the format has been licensed to more than 30 countries. It follows the love journey of one lucky man who relies on Cupid to aim his arrows in the right direction. Through the series he gradually narrows down his options to the perfect match – who is typically the recipient of a romantic marriage proposal in the dramatic finale. Sometimes the couple later gets cold feet, but globally the format has seen many fairy-tale weddings and subsequent baby bumps.
But who is the Bachelor and who should line-up to sweep him off his feet?
“We have not pinned down our man of the moment yet and will still consider more options,” Lombard admits. “The hottest-of-hot single men who are ready to bare their souls on television in order to find the love of their life and settle down are indeed part of a scarce, elusive species. Drop us a hint here if you’re the one or know the man. No chancers, please!”
South Africa, as well as the ladies, will know who the new Bachelor is before filming of the series commences.
To be part of the show, ladies have to be over 21 and single – either never married or divorced – and meet the requirements stipulated in the Terms and Conditions (published on mnet.tv). You need to fill out the short entry form on the M-Net website, where you will also be asked to submit two photographs of yourself.
Click here for the entry form.
Among the Terms and Conditions are that you are in possession of a valid South African ID document and that you will be available for filming between 5 October and 5 December.
Follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @MNet / #TheBachelorSA and on the official M-Net Facebook page.