Hold onto your roses, Australia’s first Golden Bachy is a local! And we’re genuinely hoping he finds love…
Channel 10 is bringing a touch of silver to its hugely successful franchise, with Barry “Bear” Myrden revealed as Australia’s inaugural Golden Bachelor.
The 50-something infrastructure engineer from the Northern Beaches will lead the first season of The Golden Bachelor Australia, which has just begun filming in Sydney and is set to air later this year.
Barry “Bear” Myrden is Australia’s first Golden Bachelor. Image: Facebook
For those unfamiliar with the premise, The Golden Bachelor follows the same format as the original dating show, but features mature contestants seeking love later in life.
Originally from Newfoundland in Canada, Barry moved to Manly with wife Audrey in 1998. The father of three adult sons lost his wife to brain cancer in 2011, and has reportedly been encouraged by his children to open his heart to love again.
Barry with his now grown-up sons (aged 17-21). Picture: Facebook
When he’s not searching for love on national television, Barry leads an active life on the Beaches regularly sharing photos on social media with his sons, enjoying sailing, working out, and playing rugby with friends. The father of three has built an impressive career in tech, beginning as a data centre manager at RTA before moving on to roles at IBM Global Business Services, Macquarie Group, and the Port Authority of New South Wales. Since 2023, he has worked as an infrastructure engineer in data centre management at Woolworths Group.
And it seems there might be some famous faces joining him on the show. It’s been reported that radio presenter, Bianca Dye, 51, is joining as a contestant, as is Laura Junner who happens to be the mother of podcaster and former Bachelor contestant Abbie Chatfield.
Barry ‘Bear’ Mryden is a passionate sailor. Image: Facebook.
The US version of The Golden Bachelor premiered in 2023 with strong ratings, demonstrating a genuine audience appetite for love stories that showcase that romance isn’t just for the young or those looking for their 15 minutes of fame.
Channel 10 will be hoping the Australian version, hosted by Samantha Armytage, will be just as popular with viewers when it premieres later this year.
Will this Northern Beaches silver fox find his perfect match? We’ll keep you posted!
