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Channel Ten’s The Bachelor fails to resonate with WA viewers with lowest premiere ratings

Pierra WillixThe West Australian
Bachelor Australia Star Locky Gilbert.
Camera IconBachelor Australia Star Locky Gilbert. Credit: Supplied/ Ten

Despite having a WA Bachelor as the star, Channel Ten’s flagship reality dating show has failed to resonate with viewers.

The premiere of the show’s eighth season last night had the lowest ratings for any season of The Bachelor Australia to date.

Nationally the show brought in 681,000 viewers, but it was beaten by the ABC’s Hard Quiz, which drew 733,000 viewers.

Perth local Locky Gilbert was a fan favourite on Survivor—but his popularity seems to have waned, especially in his home state.

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In Western Australia, the launch didn’t even make it into the top 10 rated shows of the night.

Locky Gilbert.
Camera IconLocky Gilbert. Credit: Instagram/ BachelorAU

It drew in a dismal 71,000 viewers, behind shows like Highway Patrol (88,000) and The Chase (86,000).

In comparison, the premiere of Farmer Wants a Wife last month brought in 116,000 viewers in Perth.

The ratings slump for Ten also follows a struggle to attract viewers of the latest season of Bachelor in Paradise, which ended on Sunday night.

The finale episode drew 58,000 viewers in Perth and only 480,000 nationally.

Even before it began, this season of The Bachelor began with some controversy, with 30-year-old Gilbert earning the “bad boy” title.

Ever the ladies’ man, rumours surfaced over the past months that the reality star had been running rampant and dating women away from the cameras.

Not even the triple threat rose was enough to draw in viewers.
Camera IconNot even the triple threat rose was enough to draw in viewers. Credit: Instagram/ BachelorAU

Filming on the dating show was also brought to a halt during the peak of COVID-19, with some dates undertaken through Zoom.

Gilbert was even given the mobile numbers of the ladies to keep in touch.

As always, last night’s premiere was drama-filled, with contestant Zoe-Clare McDonald having a meltdown about being the only redhead in the mansion and claimed she was targeted by one of the other ladies because of it.

While Gilbert had to send two of the hopefuls home, WA women Kristina Abramoff, Clare Lange and Laura Calleri each received roses.

While Channel Ten may be worried about how the rest of the season will pan out, there will at least be a happy ending for Gilbert, who has already revealed he falls madly in love by the end of the series.

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