How We Got Hooked On Love

Issue 44 2018

NW Magazine

Reality romance shows have become a national obsession. So how did it all happen?

Just think back to 10 years ago,” The Bachelor Australia’s executive producer, Hilary Innes, says.

“I was at ITV [Studios Australia] and we were trying to sell dating shows. No-one here was interested in picking up any dating shows.”

So why have we all become so obsessed with watching other people fall in love?

The set-up

The Bachelor is the original fairytale romance reality show.

It’s been airing in the US since 2002. The Australian version, pitched at more of a family audience, is into its sixth season on Network Ten. It has a wedding and a baby to its credit, plus two spin-offs, The Bachelorette Australia and Bachelor In Paradise.

Casting former professional rugby union player Nick Cummins as the latest Bachelor has seen a lot of men watching the show for the first time.

“We’re 17 per cent up this year, which is really amazing,” Hilary says. “Nick is very different to the Bachelors we’ve had before. He’s very self-deprecating, very ocker, almost a throwback to a [Paul] Hogan-esque kind of person. I do think you need to be a bit brave with this format and take some risks.”

Meanwhile, five seasons of Married At First Sight have gone to air, with another on the way. That’s despite every “marriage” in every season failing, with the exception of Erin Bateman and Bryce Mohr from Season Two.

This year’s MAFS was a genuine juggernaut, smashing all sorts of ratings records for the Nine Network.

“We did strike gold with the cast,” executive producer Tara McWilliams says. “There were so many moments where we were like, ‘I cannot believe this is happening.’”