The Bachelor is an American romance and relationship multimedia franchise which began with the reality television series The Bachelor in 2002 and now includes multiple spin-off television series, a podcast network, a website, live tour, and more.
The franchise has been financially successful, bringing in $86 million in advertising revenue alone in 2017.
Television series The Bachelor (2002–present) The Bachelor revolves around a single bachelor who begins with a pool of romantic interests from whom he is expected to select a wife. During the course of the season, the bachelor goes on group and one-on-one dates to get to know the candidates, and eliminates some of them each week, eventually culminating in a marriage proposal to his final selection.
The Bachelorette (2003–present) Following the success of The Bachelor, creator Mike Fleiss produced The Bachelorette, in which the format is gender-reversed. The bachelorettes are often eliminated contestants from The Bachelor. Season 11 of The Bachelorette had two bachelorettes (but only for the first episode). Season 16 had two bachelorettes (one for the first half of the season, the other the rest of the season). Season 19 had two bachelorettes for the whole season.
Bachelor Pad (2010–2012) Bachelor Pad premiered in August 2010, giving previous contestants of both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette an opportunity to compete in dating-themed eliminations for $250,000. This summer series lasted three seasons.
Bachelor in Paradise (2014–present) Bachelor in Paradise premiered on August 4, 2014, giving previous contestants of both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette the opportunity to compete for another chance in love in dating-themed eliminations.
Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise (2015–2016) Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise premiered on August 3, 2015 and was a live, weekly talk show that features cast of the series and celebrity fans discussing the most recent episodes of Bachelor in Paradise. The series also featured questions from the audience, deleted scenes, outtakes and exclusive extra content. The talk show was hosted by Michelle Collins and co-hosted by Sean Lowe.
Bachelor Live (2016) Bachelor Live premiered on January 4, 2016, and was a one-hour talk show hosted by Chris Harrison which aired directly after The Bachelor.
Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After? (2016) First airing in October 2016 on Freeform, Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After? showcased the relationship of Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell following season 20 of The Bachelor on their plans for marriage and Bushnell's new life in Denver. The couple eventually parted ways in May 15, 2017.
The Twins: Happily Ever After (2017) On March 20, 2017, The Twins: Happily Ever After premiered on Freeform. The series stars Haley and Emily Ferguson from season 20 of The Bachelor and showcases them "saying goodbye to the comfort and luxuries of living under their mom's roof and beginning the hilarious journey of figuring out life on their own while searching for independence and a new career."
The Bachelor: Winter Games (2018) The Bachelor Winter Games premiered on February 13, 2018. The show follows a similar premise to that of Bachelor in Paradise with a few twists. One stand out twist is that the cast is made up of international contestants from The Bachelor franchise. All contestants participate in various winter sports in order to win a date card. Ashley Iaconetti (American) and Kevin Wendt (Canadian) were the winning couple of the first season, after competing in an ice skating dance routine against three other couples.
The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart (2020) The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart premiered on April 13, 2020. follows single men and women, who are musicians or work in the music industry, hoping to find love through music. The contestants will sing well-known songs, both individually and as couples, and explore their relationships while living together and going on Bachelor-style dates that focus on music.
The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons – Ever! (2020) On April 29, 2020, a 10-episode documentary series titled The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons – Ever! was announced. It premiered on June 8, 2020. It was originally titled The Bachelor: The Most Unforgettable—Ever! before its name was changed on May 11, 2020. The series contains recaps of previous seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and features interviews with former cast members. It is hosted by Chris Harrison.
The Golden Bachelor (2023)
In January 2020, a casting call was issued for men and women aged 65 and older, for an edition of The Bachelor starring senior citizens. On May 16, 2023, after a 3-year-delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ABC commissioned the first season of The Golden Bachelor, to premiere in Fall 2023.
Wedding specials The weddings of Trista Rehn (the 1st Bachelorette), Jason Mesnick (13th Bachelor), Ashley Hebert (the 7th Bachelorette), and Sean Lowe (the 17th Bachelor) were broadcast as television specials. Rehn's vow-renewal ceremony upon her 10-year anniversary was also broadcast. Bachelor in Paradise season 2 couple Jade Roper and Tanner Tolbert's wedding was also broadcast as a television special in February 2016. In addition, the inaugural couple from Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, aired their wedding as a live special, The Golden Wedding, in January 2024.
Canceled spin-offs In 2020, ABC announced plans to produce a summer counterpart of The Bachelor Winter Games, which would have presumably aired against the 2020 Summer Olympics (just as Winter Games aired against the Winter Olympics). On March 30, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic (which itself caused the 2020 Olympics to be postponed to 2021), it was reported that production of the spin-off had been cancelled.
In other media
Live show The Bachelor Live On Stage was announced on January 23, 2019 during the Men Tell All episode. A local Bachelor would go through group date challenges and coveted one-on-ones with local ladies in the audience. Audience members and hosts would assist the Bachelor. Ben Higgins and Becca Kufrin are slated to host the 63 stop tour starting in Mesa, Arizona on February 13, 2020 with the final stop in Austin, Texas, was scheduled on May 17, 2020. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, half of the shows have been postponed and they were rescheduled to January 24, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Podcast Bachelor Happy Hour is a podcast series hosted by Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt. It was originally hosted by Rachel Lindsay and Ali Fedotowsky. It premiered on July 19, 2020 and features weekly guests from various Bachelor Nation shows.
Website
Digital series The franchise has launched numerous digital series featuring cast members from the various television shows.
Meet and Greet One-on-one interviews with cast members not shown in the television shows.
Bachelor Happy Hour: Open Bar Expanded video version of the podcast Bachelor Happy Hour.
Bachelor Nation Encore Deleted and extended scenes not seen in the television show.
Will You Accept This Ride? Interview series where YouTube creator Lisa Schwartz interviews various cast members in the back of a limo.
Bad Chiller Comedic recap show featuring Nick Viall.
Video game The Bachelor: The Videogame was released in 2010 for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. It gives players the opportunity to compete in a series of dates inspired by the television show.
Critical reaction to the game was negative.
International versions
The Bachelor
CountryNameHostNetworkBachelor(s) and Winner(s) Date premieredAfricaThe Bachelor AfriqueEmma LohouesCanal+ AfriqueOctober 15, 2022AlbaniaLove StoryAlketa VejsiuTV KlanNovember 16, 2020AustraliaThe Bachelor AustraliaOsher GünsbergNetwork TenSeason 1, 2013: Tim Robards, Anna Heinrich Season 2, 2014: Blake Garvey, Sam Frost Season 3, 2015: Sam Wood, Snezana Markoski Season 4, 2016: Richie Strahan, Alex Nation Season 5, 2017: Matty Johnson, Laura Byrne Season 6, 2018: Nick Cummins, no winner Season 7, 2019: Matt Agnew, Chelsie McLeod Season 8, 2020: Locky Gilbert, Irena Srbinovska Season 9, 2021: Jimmy Nicholson, Holly Kingston Season 10, Summer 2023: Felix Van Hofe, Jessica Navin; Jed McIntosh, Alésia Delaney; and Thomas Malucelli, Leah Cummings Season 11, Spring 2023: Ben Waddell, McKenna Lea; Luke Bateman, Ellie Rolfe; and Wesley Cortes, Brea MarshallSeptember 8, 2013Belgium (Flanders)De BachelorGoedele LiekensPlay4February 9, 2022Bosnia and Herzegovina Gospodin Savršeni Marko VargekVoyo January 26, 2026BrazilThe BachelorFábio ArrudaRedeTV!Season 1, 2014: Gianluca Perino, Aane DouxNovember 21, 2014BulgariaЕргенътThe Bachelor Naum ShopovbTVSeason 1, 2022: Viktor Stoyanov Season 2, 2023: Evgeni Genchev Season 3, 2024: Aleksandar Mladenov Season 4, 2025: Viktor Rusinov; Martin Nikolov–Elvisa; Vasil Penev Season 5, 2026: Kristian Genchev; Marin Stanev; Stoyan Dimov; Georgi GatevFebruary 19, 2022CanadaThe Bachelor CanadaTyler HarcottCitySeason 1, 2012: Brad Smith, Bianka Kamber Season 2, 2014: Tim Warmels, April Brockman Season 3, 2017: Chris Leroux, Mikaela WightmanOctober 3, 2012ChinaThe Bachelor (黄金单身汉）Qiu QimingMango TVOctober 1, 2016CroatiaGospodin SavršeniAntonija Blaće (1–4) Marko Vargek (5–)RTL TelevizijaSeason 1, 2018: Goran Juranec, Hana Rodić Season 2, 2019: Mijo Matić, Nuša Rojs Season 3, 2022: Toni Šćulac, Stankica Stojanović Season 4, 2025: Šime Elez, Vanja Stanojević; and Miloš Mičović, Maida Ribić Season 5, 2026: Karlo Godez, Anastasia Kaleb; and Petar Rašić, Kaja CasarNovember 19, 2018Czech RepublicVem si mě – The BachelorMário KubecTV Nova Season 1, 2007: Michal Červín, Krásná BarbaraSeptember 9, 2007Bachelor Česko Zorka HejdováSeason 1, 2024-25:Jan Solfronk, Sabina Pšádová Season 2, 2025-26: Míra Dubovický, Sarah Vu; and Martin Dubovický, Pavla VaníčkováNovember 12, 2024DenmarkBachelorPetra NagelTV2 PlayMay 25, 2021FinlandSuomen unelmien poikamiesSami KuronenNelonenFebruary 2008Bachelor SuomiMarch 14, 2016Mikko ParikkaMTV3March 1, 2022FranceBachelor, le gentleman célibataireStéphane Rotenberg (2003–2005) Grégory Ascher (2013–2014) Boris Ehrgott (2016)M6 (2003–05)NT1 (2013–16)May 7, 2003GermanyDer BachelorArne Jessen (2003–04) None (2012–)RTLSeason 1, 2003–04: Marcel Maderitsch, Juliane Zieger Season 2, 2012: Paul Janke, Anja Polzer Season 3, 2013: Jan Kralitschka, Alissa Harouat Season 4, 2014: Christian Tews, Katja Kühne Season 5, 2015: Oliver Sanne, Liz Kaeber Season 6, 2016: Leonard Freier, Leonie Pump Season 7, 2017: Sebastian Pannek, Clea-Lacy Juhn Season 8, 2018: Daniel Völz, Kristina Yantsen Season 9, 2019: Andrej Mangold, Jennifer Lange Season 10, 2020: Sebastian Preuss, no winner Season 11, 2021: Niko Griesert, Michelle Gwozdz Season 12, 2022: Dominik Stuckmann, Anna Rossow Season 13, 2023: David Jackson, Angelika Utzeri Season 14, 2024: Dennis Gries, Katharina Geretschuchin; and Sebaastian Klaus, Larissa Schulte Season 15, 2025: Martin Braun, Clara Heinrich; and Felix Stein, Seyma Ak Season 16, 2026: Sebastian Paul, Nadja; and Tim Reitz, Vivien Grabarits Lorenzo Season 17, 2027: Upcoming seasonNovember 19, 2003January 4, 2011GreeceCyprusThe BachelorGeorge SatsidisAlpha TVSeason 1, 2020: Panagiotis Vasilakos, Nicoletta Tsompanidou Season 2, 2021: Alexis Pappas, Athena VasSeptember 10, 2020HungaryA Nagy ŐLászló Szarvas (1–2) András Stohl (3) Ramóna Lékai-Kiss (4–)TV2September 9, 2003India, State of Tamil Naduஎங்க வீட்டு மாப்பிள்ளைEnga Veetu MapillaiSangeetha KrishColors TamilFebruary 20, 2018India, State of KeralaAryakku ParinayamSangeetha KrishFlowers TVFebruary 26, 2018 IndonesiaThe Bachelor IndonesiaOka AntaraHBO AsiaFebruary 10, 2023IsraelהרווקHaRavakGuy GeyorChannel 10December 2009ItalyThe Bachelor – L'uomo dei sogniCristina ParodiCanale 5June 26, 2003Japanバチェラー・ジャパンThe Bachelor Japan Koji Imada (1–4) Shingo Fujimori (2–4)