The Golden Bachelor and Bachelorette: love can be found at any age!

Historically, ‘The Bachelor’ series was about men and women in their 20s and 30s, single and looking to find love in an unconventional way. Since 2023, two spin-offs have been added to that format: The Golden Bachelor and the Golden Bachelorette.

Gerry Turner was selected as the first ‘Golden Bachelor’ in the fall of 2023. He was a single, 72-year-old retiree open to finding love at a later stage in life.

Gerry married his wife Toni, his high school sweetheart, in 1974. They had two daughters together, Angie and Jenny, as well as two granddaughters.

The couple had recently retired and purchased their dream home on a lake in Indiana when Toni became ill. She died in July 2017 due to a bacterial infection.

Six years after the loss of his wife, Gerry went looking for a special woman to share his life with. And did he succeed? If you haven't watched the show yet, don't click all the way to the end... Spoilers ahead!

‘The Golden Bachelor’ was filmed at the same lavish mansion where ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ are filmed. Regular series host Jesse Palmer supported the new bachelor through the process.

It's a different situation from that of a 20-something participant. As Gerry stated, he was looking for real love but not someone to replace his previous wife. He just wanted to find a fulfilling relationship for his current stage of life.

Image: The Golden Bachelor / Instagram

Gerry’s granddaughter described him as being a hip, energetic, TikTok-watching, and ATV-riding grandfather. While still saddened by the loss of her grandmother, she didn't want Gerry to live in his lake house alone and fully supported his search for a new romantic partner.

Image: The Golden Bachelor / Instagram

The cast was a diverse group of women ranging between 60-75 years old. The majority of the women were retired. Several of the women have indicated that they love playing Pickleball, a very popular sport for seniors.

Image: The Golden Bachelor / Instagram

When potential cast members were screened for a spot on the show, women were asked questions about their height, weight, hair color, and whether they had ever been convicted of a crime or filed for bankruptcy.

Image: The Golden Bachelor / Instagram

The biographies of the contestants of ‘The Golden Bachelor’ offered glimpses into the lives and personalities of women who have lived, loved, lost, and are willing to give this atypical process a chance.

Image: The Golden Bachelor / Instagram

The dynamic between the women and the Golden Bachelor was different from that in the 'younger' version of the show. The potential for a televised engagement was greater, as participants had had a longer time in life to know what they were looking for and what would make them run screaming the other way.

Image: The Golden Bachelor / Instagram

On the other hand, sharing a home and a boyfriend was a recipe for tension as the participants already had a life of independence behind them. Each of the women in this age group had developed their own character and temperament. While life experience and maturity might have you expecting less infighting and tears, just wait. This is a ‘Bachelor’ spin-off after all.

Image: The Golden Bachelor / Instagram

Matt James, ‘The Bachelor’ series alumnus, got to watch his mother Patty compete for love. She is pictured here on the left.

Image: Matt James / Instagram

In the end, Gerry chose Theresa Nist, the 70-year-old Financial Services Professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

In January 2024, the couple even got married on TV in 'The Golden Wedding'! 5.2 million viewers saw Theresa walk down the aisle and say 'I do' to Gerry.

The show turned out to be very popular and even revived the 'Bachelor' franchise, Forbes reported. Its season premiere (4.4 million viewers) was the highest-rated debut for an unscripted ABC series in nearly two years, while the finale reached a whopping 6.1 million viewers.

Now that Gerry has found romance, it's time for a Golden Bachelorette to find her true love! Keep an eye out for 'The Golden Bachelorette' in the fall of 2024. These new spin-offs could be the cure for feeling like the best years of your life are behind you.

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