Samantha Armytage has finally addressed rumours that she’s gotten cosy with Golden Bachelor, Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden, after the pair’s red carpet debut at the Logies sparked whispers of an off-screen romance.
Speaking on Nova’s Chrissie Swan Show, the Sunrise alum and new host of Channel Nine’s dating experiment laughed off suggestions she and the silver fox had become more than colleagues.
‘Well, you can’t host the show and then steal the Golden Bachelor. Hello. That wouldn’t be much fun would it?’ Sam quipped when asked if she’d ever considered taking advantage of her ‘staff discount.’
Her comments come after social media lit up with speculation that sparks were flying between the glamorous host and the widowed bachelor, who is searching for love later in life.
‘Of course they were [putting us together]! Hello, have you not met me? Every time I stand next to a man, they put me together,’ she said.
‘But no, look, he was wonderful. He’s a friend, and I’m the host, and he’s the Golden Bach. And there are 20 wonderful ladies who were just so excited to meet him.’
Samantha Armytage has finally addressed rumours that she’s gotten cosy with Golden Bachelor, Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden, after the pair’s red carpet debut at the Logies sparked whispers of an off-screen romance. Pictured together at The Logies earlier this year
While shutting down romance chatter, Armytage did gush about the series itself, promising that The Golden Bachelor would deliver something fresh to Australian TV.
‘This is not like any show I’ve done before or seen before,’ she explained.
‘They’re not just coming into this for Instagram fame. They really are looking for love, all of them, and they all have these wonderful stories to tell. They’ve lived a life… they know what they’re looking for. They know what they won’t put up with.’
According to Armytage, many of the contestants are divorced or widowed, and the series shines a light on second chances at love for Australians in their 50s and 60s.
‘These boomers, they’re really powerful. They’re cashed up, independent, they’ve raised their kids, some have grandkids. They know themselves and they’re ready,’ she added.
The network is said to have gone to extreme lengths to arrange secret weekly meetups for the Golden Bachelor and his chosen lady to keep the spark alive in private until the finale goes to air.
‘It’s been a very expensive and carefully managed roll-out,’ a person close to production confirmed.
‘They want the public to believe in the love story.’
Bear insisted he was excited about the journey ahead, admitting it all felt ‘very surreal’.
The heartthrob also teased what’s to come this season, promising viewers a heartfelt, emotional journey.
‘Well, you can’t host the show and then steal the Golden Bachelor. Hello. That wouldn’t be much fun would it?’ Sam quipped
The silver-haired fox’s quest for love will hit screens later this year
With The Golden Bachelor set to air straight after The Block, Channel Nine is betting their boots that the dating series will be the next big thing on Aussie screens.
Those closest to the production insist Sam is simply doing what she does best.
‘It’s just good TV,’ a production insider told Daily Mail.
‘And she’s a pro. She knows exactly how to play the part.’
Daily Mail has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.
Meanwhile, Bear was also quick to shut down any speculation he’s eyeing women outside the show at the Logies, addressing wild rumours circulating online that he prefers younger women.
‘That’s just rumours,’ he told Daily Mail.
‘All I can say is it was very difficult having to get rid of any of them. They were all beautiful, intelligent, fun. It is one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do,’ he said of the women.
Despite all the attention, Bear admitted he was still getting used to his new reality TV fame.
‘This is my first red carpet too,’ he confessed. ‘So I’m a bit of a rookie. We’re in this together.’
