Sam Armytage has officially swerved the whispers that she’s secretly dating the Golden Bachelor himself, Bear Myrden, after rumours sparked when the two were spotted together at the Logies.

Chatting on Nova’s The Chrissie Swan Show yesterday, the new Golden Bachelor host told Chrissie Swan and Jack Charles that the gossip is way off base. “Well, you can’t host the show and then steal the Golden Bachelor. Hello. That wouldn’t be much fun, would it?”

I personally think that would be a great plot twist to the show, but that’s just me.

When Jack Charles brought up those Logies headlines pairing her with Bear, Armytage laughed it off. “Every time I stand next to a man, they put me together! But no, look he was wonderful. He’s a friend, and I’m the host, and he’s the golden bach,” she said on-air.
“Every time I stand next to a man, they put me together!” (Image: Getty)
Instead, the former Sunrise host was far keener to big up this season’s leading man. Bear, 61, originally from Canada but based in Australia for more than 20 years, lost his wife to cancer 14 years ago and has three Australian sons.

“He’s gorgeous, very kind, a really good man,” Armytage said, adding that he’s about to meet 20 women who are “powerful, independent” and genuinely looking for love.

“They’ve lived a life. They know what they’re looking for, they know what they won’t put up with.”

This isn’t just another Bachie spin‑off, it’s Australia’s first-ever Golden Bachelor — which Channel Nine announced earlier this year. Following the cast roll-out, it’s clear that this rendition of the popular franchise will be less about chasing blue‑tick status and more about lived experience and genuine second‑chance romance.

The cast includes radio personality Bianca Dye, who also happens to be the daughter of rock star Issi Dye, and primary school teacher Laura Junner — yes, Abbie Chatfield’s mum, who’s following in her daughter’s footsteps by giving reality TV a crack. Then you’ve got women like Sunny, a 58‑year‑old CEO who’s overcome heartbreak and breast cancer, and Pip, a 60‑year‑old hoist operator hoping to prove it’s never too late for love.

From psychotherapists to property moguls, nurses, designers and even a retired NICU nurse who’s ready for romance, the cast reads less like a parade of influencers and more like a showcase of women who’ve actually lived.
Stunners! (Image source: Channel Nine / Supplied)
As for when we’ll all get to hand out our viewing roses? Armytage kept the premiere date under wraps, teasing only that the series is “coming soon” after a year of filming and editing.

So no Logies love story — just 20 romantics, a zaddy, and Armytage refereeing the whole thing. Consider us SAT!

Lead image: Getty Images