For the first time ever, a senior producer on The Bachelor has revealed what it’s really like working behind the scenes of the Channel 10 dating show.
Executive producer Hilary Innes told Media Week that Locky Gilbert’s season was a truly unique experience, in no small part because production was interrupted in March due to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Innes confirmed that the 10 remaining women were sent home, while host Osher Günsberg moved into the Bachelor mansion and Locky moved into his ‘Bachelor pad’ nearby.
Dramatic: Last week, The Bachelor’s executive producer Hilary Innes revealed the behind-the-scenes secrets about Locky Gilbert’s (pictured) tumultuous search to find love which gets interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic
She explained that producers had to think on their feet to keep the series going.
‘There was obviously chemistry happening between some people and Locky and we needed to keep everyone engaged with the process and each other,’ Ms Innes said.
Instead of halting production completely, two episodes were filmed while the women were in self-isolation at home.
The dates, cocktail parties and rose ceremonies all continued via Zoom.
‘There was obviously chemistry happening between some people and Locky and we needed to keep everyone engaged with the process and each other,’ Hilary said. So rather than stop production completely, two episodes were filmed while the girls were at home, with dates, cocktail parties and rose ceremonies continuing via Zoom (Pictured the cast on a Zoom date)
‘Suddenly you break out of the Bachelor world and go into people’s lives and seeing how they do things like making breakfast in their trackie dacks,’ she said.
Ms Innes said the lockdown episodes make for ‘compelling viewing’, adding that viewers watching at home will be able to relate because ‘we are all going through it’.
Elsewhere in the interview, Ms Innes said praised Locky as a good mix of the typical ‘tall, dark and handsome alpha male’ Bachelor, like Tim Robards and Sam Wood, and 2018 suitor Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins, who was more of an ‘Aussie bloke’.
Relatable: Hilary believes it makes ‘compelling viewing’ and that everyone watching at home can relate as ‘we are all going through it (the pandemic)’
Earlier this month, Locky told TV Week that he was ‘devastated’ when production shut down in March due to the escalating health crisis.
‘It was devastating. I was on a high, making these crazy connections and then it was thought we might be done and we’d all go home,’ the 31-year-old said.
But despite his initial misgivings, the former Australian Survivor star said that going into lockdown ended up being a good thing.
Hilary further revealed they chose the hunky adventure guide to be the Bachelor as he was a good mix of the ‘alpha male’ like Tim Robards (left) and ‘quirky and funny’ like Nick ‘Honeybadger’ Cummins (right)
Being forced apart, with only Zoom dates to keep in touch, meant that Locky had no choice but to get to know the women on a personal level, rather than a physical one.
‘I was lucky enough to keep in contact with the girls, and have an even better connection with them,’ he said.
‘We took the physicality out of it and got to know each other on a personal level.’
Slow down! Earlier this month, Locky told TV Week that he was ‘devastated’ when production shut down but it ended up being a good thing as she was forced to get to know the women on a ‘personal level’ rather then a physical one (Locky pictured with Irena)
Meanwhile, Locky’s journey to find love got off to a dramatic start after Zoe-Clare, 23, was sent into a rage after Areeba Emmanuel, 25, interrupted her discussion with Locky.
She later confronted her competitor for Locky’s affections, telling her she ‘looked like a mole’.
The Bachelor continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.
Tension: Meanwhile, Locky’s journey to find love got off to a dramatic start after Zoe-Clare, 23, (pictured) was sent into a rage after Areeba Emmanuel, 25, interrupted her discussion with Locky. She later confronted her competitor for Locky’s affections, telling her she ‘looked like a mole’