Gerry Turner Spills On 'Knockin' Boots' During Fantasy Suites On 'Golden Bachelor'

71-Year-Old 'Golden Bachelor' REVEALED, Fans React To New Lead

Home / Entertainment / 71-Year-Old 'Golden Bachelor' REVEALED, Fans React To New Lead

By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on July 17, 2023 at 12:15 PM EDT

It's never too late to fall in love... again.

"The Golden Bachelor" is coming soon and fans cannot wait to watch the spinoff "The Bachelor" reality show. The new show will focus on those who are 60 years of age and older who are looking for love, according to the Hollywood Reporter, and now we have our first look at who the lead will be.

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Who Is "The Golden Bachelor"?

71-Year-Old 'Golden Bachelor' REVEALED, Fans React To New Lead
ABC/The Golden Bachelor

This morning, ABC announced that 71-year-old Gerry Turner will be the new lead on "The Golden Bachelor". Turner is the first ever senior to be looking for love in the "Bachelor" franchise and fans cannot wait for the new show to air.

"He posts his thirst traps in a leather-bound album. His DMs have postage... He doesn't have gray hair, he has 'wisdom highlights.' Florida wants to retire, and move to him," the teaser announced stated.

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In addition to giving a first look at Turner in the new promo, ABC also released details surrounding who Turner is. "A retired restaurateur and doting father and grandfather, Gerry [GAIR-ee] Turner lives in his dream house on a beautiful lake in Indiana," ABC stated. "He's often busy hosting barbecues, playing pickleball, cheering on his favorite Chicago sports teams, four-wheeling, and spending time with friends and family at restaurants and local haunts."

Their press release continued, "Always a romantic, Turner married his high school sweetheart, Toni, in 1974. Together, they lived a full and happy life with their two daughters, Angie and Jenny, and later two granddaughters, Charlee and Payton. Sadly, after their 43 years together, Toni suddenly fell ill and passed away in 2017."

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"Six years after Toni's passing and with the support of his family, Turner is ready to put himself out there and find a love that will stand the test of time in his golden years," ABC concluded.

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Fans React To Gerry Turner

71-Year-Old 'Golden Bachelor' REVEALED, Fans React To New Lead
ABC/The Golden Bachelor

Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts after seeing Gerry Turner for the first time, and learning more about who the 71-year-old is.

"This man looks amazing for his age. Interesting he just wants someone with energy and who plays pickleball or golf. Sounds like he’s still in love with his wife and hasn’t completely gone through the grieving process!!!," one fan Tweeted.

"Wow!! Handsome! #Gerryatric," another wrote.

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One "Bachelor" fan Tweeted, "He does fit the bachelor mold (thought he was Jesse from the back!) glad to see they’re sticking to what they do best (insert sarcasm!). That being said, we are excited to watch and looking forward to this new season," as another chimed in with, "He seems kind and humble. Hope it works out for him! Excited not to see a bunch of immature men and women fighting on this show."

As another fan expressed, "Obsessed with Gerry (pronounced Gary) and cannot wait for the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor." While one fan called the new lead "handsome" as they Tweeted, "Hey that 71-year-old golden bachelor is handsome!"

The franchise announced the senior spinoff, “The Golden Bachelor” in May of this year. “After more than 20 years of fostering young love on ‘The Bachelor,’ ‘The Bachelorette,’ and ‘Bachelor in Paradise,’ ‘The Golden Bachelor’ showcases a whole new kind of love story — one for the golden years,” ABC said in a press release announcing the upcoming reality series.

According to the press release, “one hopeless romantic” will be “given a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life.”

The new series will air this fall on ABC.

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