‘Golden Bachelor’ Chosen: Devoted Grandpa, 71, Survived Losing Wife of 43 Years Dares to Find Love

• Just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, “The Bachelor” franchise revealed another spinoff in the works that would cater to the older generation.
• Gerry Turner is introduced as the new golden bachelor in 2023 after losing his wife six years ago.
• The new contestant is looking for someone as active as he is.

In July 2020, it was revealed that ABC was working on another “The Bachelor” spinoff. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced closures worldwide due to quarantine rules, the network aired a promo that gave insight into what direction the latest spinoff would take.

In the past, the franchise had created a Winter Olympics-inspired version, a romantic musical version, the “Bachelor Pad,” and the “Bachelor in Paradise.” The one thing the original and all its spinoffs had in common was that cast members were generally in their 20s.

The promo read, “Now casting seniors looking for love,” revealing how senior citizens would be allowed to find love too. Rob Mills, ABC’s top unscripted executive, even confessed that some of the stories of the people they interviewed for the cast were “so touching.”

He believed the series would be different because senior citizens were in a completely different era. Their stories would give a different light to the “Bachelor” idea as some of the people interviewed had lived their lives, never found love, raised children, divorced, or got widowed.

Mills believed the franchise had a hit show on its hands as people had responded in crowds to the initial casting call. In July 2023, ABC revealed that the spinoff would go ahead and be called “The Golden Bachelor.”

The first bachelor would be Gerry Turner, 71, who hails from Indiana and would be on our screens in the fall. As Mills mentioned, Turner’s background was a fascinating one of love, loss, and a desire to find another companion in his older age.

On July 17, 2023, “Good Morning America (GMA)” introduced the world to Turner, who shared his life story. The first “Golden Bachelor” confessed that he was still processing being chosen for the significant role and that it was “still sinking in.”

The Indiana man found love before with his high school sweetheart, Tony, and then proceeded to tie the knot in 1974. During the 43 years of their marriage, the couple welcomed two daughters, Angie Warner and Jenny Young, before his wife retired in 2017.

From their children, the couple is blessed with two granddaughters, Charlie and Payton Young. Sadly, six weeks after his wife retired, tragedy struck when Tony fell ill and died, with Turner emotional and teary when confessing that he felt his wife “got robbed.”

However, the older man reveals he connects with her by nodding each morning to her picture that he keeps on his dresser. The handsome man asks his late wife her opinion of him doing the show and admits it took him a while to determine if Tony was okay with it.

The patriarch shares that he isn’t opposed to getting married for a second time…

However, the couple told each other they must be happy if a loss occurred, so he believes she’s rooting for him. Turner’s adult daughters are the ones who pushed him to sign up for the show, and they and his grandchildren lost it with happiness when he finally told them he was picked for the leading role.

One of the four says the chosen lady would be “super lucky.” Turner is also retired and was a restaurateur before, but he is now focused on being a loving father and grandfather. He plays pickleball, hosts barbecues, goes four-wheeling, hangs out with his family and friends at local places, and cheers on his favorite Chicago sports teams.

During his GMA interview, the first golden bachelor shares what type of woman would win his heart on the show. One of his prerequisites is that the lucky lady has to be physically active.

Turner is looking for a woman with “high energy” who plays pickleball or golf. The patriarch shares that he isn’t opposed to getting married for a second time as he believes, “It’s never too late to fall in love again.”

The new “The Bachelor” spinoff series will air on ABC and be available to stream on Hulu. It should be interesting to see how the older generation courts each other and what type of women will be brought into the show for Turner to choose his new love.