Who doesn’t love a plot twist

Image: Getty

With The Golden Bachelor premiere just hours away, anticipation is high and so is the speculation. While viewers fervently wait to see which contestant will receive Barry “Bear” Myrden’s final rose, an unexpected name keeps entering the conversation: host Samantha Armytage.

Sam, who quietly ended her marriage to Richard Lavender late last year, has been navigating both personal change and public curiosity.

The couple wed on his rural property in 2020 after meeting in 2019, but as she told Stellar, “We gave it a go. It didn’t work out, so we moved on. Last year was a big year with a lot of change and a lot of grief.”

Now single, she is taking the rumours in her stride. On Nova’s Chrissie Swan Show, she joked, “You can’t host the show and then steal the Golden Bachelor. That wouldn’t be much fun, would it?”

Still, the whispers only intensified when photos recently surfaced of Sam and Bear arriving at a Sydney hotel during filming.

The pair had been attending a charity gala together, which reportedly caused a ripple of jealousy behind the scenes.

Samantha Armytage, right, and now ex-husband Richard Lavender. Image: Getty

Sam has consistently denied the rumours, and at Channel Nine’s 2026 programming launch she and Bear kept a courteous distance, possibly to quiet the speculation.

Rather than romance, what Sam has made clear is her admiration for Bear. In interviews, she has spoken of his kindness, his resilience after losing his wife Audrey 14 years ago, and the grace with which he raised his three sons.

At 61, Bear admits he was hesitant to join reality TV but ultimately saw it as a rare opportunity. The Golden Bachelor offers a more mature version of the franchise, bringing together singles in their 50s and 60s with real life experience, past heartbreak and genuine hopes for a second chance.

Is Samantha Armytage Currently In A Relationship?

Following her divorce, Sam appears to be single and focused on her career. As for the rumours surrounding her and Bear, both insist they are simply close friends — though on a show built on roses, rivalry and romance, a little speculation is to be expected.