Golden Bachelor couple Sunny Long and Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden have finally gone public and lifted the lid on the extraordinary secret romance they were forced to hide for seven months while Australia watched to see which lucky lady he would choose.
The pair told Daily Mail that their relationship was so tightly controlled by producers that Bear feared Sunny might forget him during the long separation.
‘When the cameras stopped rolling, I just said, “Do not forget about me”,’ Bear admitted.
The Northern Beaches-based infrastructure engineer, 61, said he had to save her number under a fake name in his phone in case anyone saw it.
‘I can actually put her name in my phone now because the secret name would pop up,’ he revealed.
Sunny, 58, admitted the months spent undercover were far tougher than viewers realise.Â
Golden Bachelor couple Sunny Long and Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden (both pictured) have finally gone public and lifted the lid on the extraordinary secret romance
The pair told Daily Mail that their relationship was so tightly controlled by producers that Bear was terrified Sunny might forget about him
‘It was really hard. But he texted me and called me nearly every day. He is a really romantic guy,’ she said.
The couple described the strange double life they lived, sneaking around Sydney for producer-approved meet-ups and keeping their bond alive through late-night phone calls, all while promos for the show kept viewers guessing the outcome.
‘We had a few visits, but they were few and far between,’ Bear said. ‘It is good to finally be able to have coffees together and breakfast.’
Sunny said the emotionally intense environment made everything feel raw and real.Â
‘I did not have any guards up at all,’ she explained.
‘My heart was sinking all the way down.’
Bear said he knew instantly that his feelings for Sunny were genuine.Â
‘We both said, “I love you”, so many times it is hard to know who said it first,’ he laughed.
Bear and Sunny stepped out in public together for the first time as a couple
Bear said he knew instantly that his feelings for Sunny were genuine. ‘We both said I love you so many times it is hard to know who said it first,’ he laughed
Sunny insisted she likely said the L-word before he did.
‘If I feel something, I say it,’ she said.
The couple revealed life finally feels ‘normal’ as they step out publicly together, while Sunny said she never once doubted her feelings were authentic.
‘For me, definitely real and genuine,’ she added.Â
‘I knew he was such a wonderful gentleman with a big heart.’
Bear described the situation as both surreal and ‘bizarre’.Â
‘You are pulled apart and told to live separate lives for months,’ he continued.
Still, he never wavered, sending her a message during the secret period: ‘Please think of me from time to time’ — which Sunny shared with her daughters.Â
Sunny says she never once questioned whether her own feelings were authentic. ‘For me, definitely real and genuine,’ she said. ‘I knew he was such a wonderful gentleman with a big heart’
Sunny said the moment that truly sealed their connection came during a private, producer-arranged romantic retreat.
‘I packed two bags with board games and chess because we did not know what to expect,’ she said.
‘But we talked nearly all night. Bear was so romantic and he listened intently because he cares.’
‘We did not need any of the board games,’ Bear added, seemingly hinting that their romance went the next step that night.
Despite Janette’s heartbreak during the mountainside finale, Bear said she knew how strong his bond with Sunny was.Â
‘I gave her plenty of opportunities,’ he said.
‘She is a lovely person, but I know I made the right choice and I have no regrets.’
Sunny said she respected Janette and even considered the possibility that Bear might choose her.
Despite Janette’s devastation on the mountain-side finale, Bear said she was aware of the strength of his bond with Sunny. Both pictured
‘I gave her plenty of opportunities,’ he said. ‘She is a lovely person, but I know I made the right choice and I have no regrets’. Janette pictured following her elimination
But she ultimately trusted her heart.
‘If he did not choose me, I would be very sad,’ she said.
‘But I would be happy for him and even Janette, because everyone deserves true love.’
The pair say they are continuing to take things slow and focusing first on blending their families.
‘We just want to integrate the two families together,’ Bear said.
‘Maybe plan something for Christmas. Just let it happen organically.’
Sunny said Bear is even more romantic off-camera than viewers saw.
‘There is no question my feelings for him are getting bigger and bigger,’ she said.
‘It is not only his choice. It was my choice too.’
The couple watched the finale for the first time alongside the rest of Australia, with Bear screening it for a crowd of 80 neighbours and friends in his cul-de-sac.
‘It portrayed us both in the truest form,’ he said.
Sunny added: ‘He is so loved by his neighbours and friends. I feel privileged to be part of his community.’
Stream episodes of The Golden Bachelor Australia on 9Now.Â
