It’s the powerhouse franchise that’s responsible for some of the nation’s greatest love stories, including the Bachelor‘s first-ever husband and wife, Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich and proud parents Sam and Snezana Wood.
But behind all the roses, champagne and helicopter rides, there have been some truly jaw-dropping moments to have plagued the reality show.
As we count down to Matt Agnew’s big debut, we take a trip down memory lane and round up the biggest Bachelor shocks and scandals of all time.
When season two’s Blake Garvey proposed to Sam Frost…and then dumped her for Louise Pillidge
In 2014, we all cried-happy tears when real estate agent Blake Garvey got down on one knee and proposed to Australian sweetheart Sam Frost.
But in a twist no one saw coming, it was revealed love rat Blake had broken Sam’s heart and turned his attention to Louise Pillidge, who was the third runner-up.
WATCH: Blake Garvey proposes to Sam Frost on The Bachelor. Post continues after video…
While Blake and Louise dated for 18 months, the two eventually split and said that their relationship’s controversial start was to blame.
Since then, Blake’s gone back to his old life in Perth and Louise is living her best life as a producer on the Gold Coast.
As for Sam? Between her stint on The Bachelorette, her breakfast radio hosting gig and her current role as Jasmine Delaney on Home and Away, she’s since found love with Dave Bashford.
When Blake Garvey’s stripping past was exposed
Blake was in the running to be “Perth’s hottest bartender” in 2011.
(Image: Supplied)As if his reputation wasn’t tarnished enough from his romantic choices, his past career came back to haunt him too.
Not only was Blake a stripper in his younger years, but he was also the owner of Alpha Male Entertainment, dubbed as “Perth’s premier male entertainment provider… for everything from hens’ parties to ladies’ nights and birthday parties”.
Speaking to The Herald Sun about how he started stripping, Blake said, “A high school friend had someone pull out at the last minute for her hens’ night and needed a fill in. She begged me.”
“I gave it a whirl, it was pretty funny. We’ve all had adventurous pasts.”
Some more adventurous than others, it seems.
When season one’s Tim Robards was outed as a topless dancer
Tim Robards may have had a squeaky clean image during season one when he found love with Anna Heinrich, but he was certainly a wild thing in his twenties!
“We did a few hens’ nights and it was just all about making the girl feel special and serving them champagne and whatnot,” Tim, who married Anna in a lavish Italian ceremony, once revealed of his former job.
Chiropractor by day, topless dancer by night.
(Images: Supplied/Network Ten)When season four’s Megan Marx and Tiffany Scanlon dated each other
They met while trying to win Richie Strahan’s heart in 2016 but turns out love was staring Megan Marx and Tiffany Scanlon right in the face.
Writing for Mamamia, Megan says that the early stages of their relationship and facing the public as a same-sex couple was difficult, especially for Tiffany who had never dated a woman before.
“Being a self-proclaimed D-grade celebrity and having to watch someone I care about undergo so much online and face-to-face bullying makes me wonder how the likes of Amber Heard, Ruby Rose and the many other women who bravely ‘came out’ at some point – who are a thousand times more under the public spotlight – deal with the pressure.”
The two blonde bombshells made the conscious decision to inspire and help normalise same-sex relationships but called it quits in February 2017 when the pressures of fame became all too much.
On her blog The Tiffany Times, Tiffany wrote, “We made the decision (mistake) at that point to share our relationship with the public,” Tiffany penned “This, I believe, would eventually cost us our relationship.”
While Tiffany is still blogging about travel and health, Megan is currently single following her split from her Bachelor in Paradise boyfriend Jake Ellis.
When Brett Moore turned up to Bachelor in Paradise in a relationship
One of the main requirements for appearing on a reality dating show is that you’re single.
Turns out Brett Moore, who first appeared on our screens during Sophie Monk’s season of The Bachelorette in 2017, turned up to the first season of Bachelor in Paradise while he was already in a relationship with another previous Bachie contestant, Stephanie Boulton.
Apparently, the plan was to keep Brett on the island so he could be reunited with Stephanie later on in the show when she arrived as an intruder. To make matters more complicated, Brett’s friend and Bachelor in Paradise co-star, Tara Pavlovic, was caught in the middle of it all and accused of helping him.
In the end, a producer had to explicitly ask Brett if he’s single which is when he admitted he was “seeing” Steph but they weren’t “Facebook official.”
WATCH: Tara Pavlovic breaks down over Brett Moore girlfriend scandal. Post continues after video…
When Bachelor in Paradise’s Leah Costa faked her engagement
Back in 2017 when she was competing for Matty J’s heart, Leah was outed as a topless waitress by her fellow contestants and asked to leave in one of the most hypocritical moments in Aussie TV history.
But it was her engagement hoax that caught everyone’s attention in 2018, following her appearance on Bachelor in Paradise.
Rumours circulated that Leah was engaged after she was spotted with some very noticeable bling on that finger. While Leah neither confirmed or denied the news, she admitted she was in a happy relationship shortly after the show wrapped.
But in a now deleted Instagram post, she confessed that the whole thing was a publicity stunt to prove how the media sensationalises everything.
“In an era of fake news and ‘unreal’ TV we are all constantly left questioning what to believe. Editing and manipulation are often highlighted when we are discussing [sic] the media. But what about the power of suggestion? This is the most important, because without actually saying anything, you can position individuals to create and accept their own version of the truth. We have seen this done in countless political campaigns, wars, media and now reality TV.”
When it was revealed that Keira Maguire grew up in a cult
In a Woman’s Day exclusive, sass queen Keira Maguire’s heartbreaking upbringing was exposed when we learned she grew up in a polygamist cult with 63 siblings started by her father, Alistah Laishkochav.
With no contact with the outside world, Keira and the other children from various mothers – some of whom were also sisters – stayed with their families and were often told outsiders were “evil” and that God would save only them.
WATCH: Keira Maguire breaks down over her cult past. Post continues after video…
In a statement to Woman’s Day Keira explained, “I am not in a position to comment on Alistah Laishkochav. My mother removed my family from that environment when I was five years old, over 25 years ago. I was brought up by my mother and grandmother in Brisbane in a loving, caring and compassionate household.”
“I had a wonderful childhood and I am extremely grateful to both my mother and grandmother for the upbringing which they provided me and my siblings. Although I have since met and reunited with my family, I have never had a relationship with Alistah Laishkochav. Alistah Laishkochav is not relevant to who I am nor does he define me.”
Keira and her mother fled the cult when she was five years old.
(Image: Network Ten)When Sam Wood hooked up with contestant Bec Chin a year before he was The Bachelor
It’s always a bit awkward when you run into an ex, but what if you do so on national television?
In season three of the show, that happened to personal trainer Sam Wood when he “met” dietitian Bec Chin at the first cocktail party.
OK they weren’t exactly exes, but Sam and Bec met a year before the show aired at a cliff-top restaurant in Bali.
“Hang on, haven’t we met before?”
(Images: Network Ten)Bec’s friend told Woman’s Day that the two had sizzling chemistry and ended the night in each other’s arms, kissing and cuddling.
That’s all in the past though as Sam and Bachelor winner Snezana have settled down with daughters Eve, Willow and their third baby girl. Bec also found her happily ever after and gave birth to daughter Savannah Rose in December 2017.
When the Honey Badger declared his love for…no one
In what is now known as ‘Pulling a Honey Badger’, Nick Cummins surprised the nation with a Bachelor first when he picked no one in the 2018 finale.
“I just know in my heart, I’ve done the right thing,” Nick explained. “They are two amazing women who are walking out of my life right now. It wouldn’t be fair to enter into something and a few months later, break her heart.”
“I came here for a chance at love and now I’m going to have to start again.”
WATCH: The Bachelor‘s Nick Cummins on why he didn’t pick a winner. Post continues after video…
Both finalists Sophie Tieman and Brittany Hockley were left heartbroken and Brooke Blurton who left the mansion just before the final revealed that Nick had confessed to her that he didn’t plan on picking anyone.
“We were on the motorbike and he stopped the Go Pros,” Brooke recalled on the Shameless podcast.
“I was having to hold my mic against him so the sound wouldn’t go through and he held his and he’s driving. But he’s mimicking ‘three, zero, me, zero’ and doing these finger movements with his hands.
“At the time I was like, ‘What is this guy trying to say?!’ And, practically, he was saying at the end of this… and he was saying it vocally as well, but it was so hard with the motorbike. But he was saying, at the end of this he’s not going to pick anyone.”
2018 was a year we’ll never forget.
(Images: Network Ten)When the mansion was rocked by the dog c–t mystery
During a steamy date between Bachie Matt Agnew and 23-year-old Abbie Chatfield, the property analyst revealed that “some girls had been saying things” about Matt that were “making her a bit upset”.
And by “some girls”, she meant just Monique Morley.
“Monique in particular was saying some things about you that I just didn’t…I just didn’t… OK, there was a phrase that was said that I wanted to tell you, but I don’t want to upset you,” Abbie told him.
“So, she said that you were a dog c–t and a disrespectful pig.”
Oh. my. God.
WATCH NEXT: Abbie Chatfield tells Matt Agnew what Monique Morley said about him. Post continues after video…
Later, Matt went on a six-hour-long witch hunt to try and get to the bottom of the mysterious swearing, a titbit which contestant Vakoo Kaurapirua revealed when she starred on Have You Been Paying Attention.
Bachie Matt then confronted Monique about the exchange, telling her that he heard she used some “fairly flowery language” to describe him and the night after was asked to leave the mansion.
When Rachael Arahill was busted with a producer
In a dramatic turn of events, Rachael Arahill found a man she was interested in … but it wasn’t with Matt.
In fact, the blonde babe, with the big lips “full of secrets” was caught getting cosy with a male minder right under Matt’s nose!
“Rachael tried cracking onto the producer in front of the girls and a few other crew members,” a show insider dished to NW.
“She had no shame, but for everyone else, it was really uncomfortable to watch.”
Rachael chats about her “Plan B”.
(Image: Network Ten)During an episode half-way through the season, Rachael revealed that her “Plan B” was more “her cup of tea” because he was “a SMART goal”.
“Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, good looking, nice, funny, he lives near me. Hopefully he doesn’t lose his job…”
Unfortunately for Rachael, Matt was having none of her plan, and sent her packing during a confrontation at the cocktail party.
When Locky Gilbert dumped his Survivor gf to be on the show
Season eight Bachelor Locky Gilbert and his fellow Survivor co-star Brooke Jowett were very flirty and friendly whilst filming the All Stars season, but Brooke was left “blindsided” when she found out that her beau was becoming the 2020 leading man on the hit dating show.
In fact, just hours before Channel 10 made the official announcement, she posted a loving tribute to Locky on Instagram, alongside a cute couple photo of the pair and later revealed on the Shameless podcast just how thrown she’d been by the news.
“I had these plans with him and obviously they’re not going ahead. So that’s hard to deal with,’ she said, referring to her Bali travel plans with Locky.
“I do feel screwed over. I do feel hurt, but Locky is just a small part of my story.”
Meanwhile despite calling Brooke “an amazing girl” Locky seemed to think it was just an on-screen fling rather than a relationship.
“Yeah um, Brooke’s an amazing girl, but the thing is, it was filmed like five months ago,” he told KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O show.
“So, it was quite a while ago and on the show you just want to have that person that you can fully trust, and like, if you don’t you can kind of lose your mind out there. So, me and Brooke just connected, we had lots to talk about. I think that really helped me in the game.”
Brooke and Locky were tight during Survivor: All Stars.
(Image: Network Ten)And when his ex-girlfriend slammed him before his TV debut
Everyone has a few skeletons in their closet, but Locky had his exposed when his ex Jordan Cayless, who starred on the second season of Love Island Australia came forward.
Speaking to New Idea, Locky’s former flame revealed that he cheated on her and that he wasn’t the wholesome guy looking for love as the trailers made out.
“I’m not surprised – dating 24 girls is like Locky’s dream come true. He’s always wanted to be the Bachelor – he’s even mentioned it to me before,” she revealed.
“He just loved girls wanting him and I’m honestly nervous for who he ends up with.”
Locky dated Love Island star Jordan Cayless before his Bachelor days.
(Image: Instagram)When Locky proclaimed his love to BOTH finalists
In a move that’s the opposite of what the Honey Badger did, Locky ended up telling both his finalists Irena Srbinovska and Bella Varelis that he was in love with them…only to dump Bella the next day.
The 2020 Bachelor explained his decision to Bella by saying he “needed a little bit more” than what she offered for their future and fans were not happy.
“So he dumped Bella because she didn’t give him a three year plan? What was she supposed to do, pull out her planner in the middle of the pool??????” one wrote on Twitter after the finale.
“He shouldn’t have told either of them that he loved them until he made up his mind. Hurting Bella like that was completely unnecessary,” another penned.
Others thought of Locky’s new girlfriend Irena with one fan writing: “I just feel bad for Irena having to watch Locky be in love with Bella…. not a great way to start a relationship.”
A tearful Locky told Bella he couldn’t see a future with her, a day after telling her he was in love with her.
(Image: Network Ten)
