Will There Be a Golden Bachelorette? ‘Nothing Would Make Us Happier,’ Show Producers Say

Fans of the Golden Bachelor may not have to wait long for new romance.

The hit reality TV series that warmed the hearts of viewers nationwide with its authentic portrayal of love, intimacy and relationships over 50 may be back sooner than you think, according to producers of the show.

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The golden couple and the show’s producers reflected on the past season and hinted at upcoming plans for the Bachelor franchise in a panel held Monday evening at the Times Center in New York City, featuring Gerry Turner, 72, his fiancé, Theresa Nist, 70, and showrunners Bennett Graebner, Claire Freeland and Jason Ehrlich.

Here are some highlights from the evening.

The women of "The Golden Bachelor."

Craig Sjodin/ABC

A Golden Bachelorette show may be in the works and will likely star one of the women from Turner’s season

The producers teased the possibility of a Golden Bachelorette. “Nothing would make us happier,” said Ehrlich, advising fans to “stay tuned.”

As the crowd yelled out their hopes for next season’s star (“Susan!”, “Leslie!”), the producers remained tight-lipped about their casting preferences. But they suggested the leading woman would be chosen from Turner’s season, as per Bachelor tradition. “There are so many incredible women from this season that it would be hard not to pick one of them,” said Ehrlich.

Turner dished out advice for the next season’s lead as she navigates her second chance at love: “It sounds trite, but be yourself, even in the face of someone trying to convince you to do something different. Insist on being yourself, because that way, you can get to the end of the journey knowing that you’ve done the very best you can.”

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist speaking at the New York screening of “The Golden Bachelor” at the Times Center in New York City.

Anthony Behar/PictureGroup for Disney Entertainment Television

Watching the show was emotional for both Turner and Nist

Watching Turner date the other women and break their hearts wasn’t easy for Nist. “Gerry and I were talking on the phone all the time. He prepared me for things but there are things he couldn’t prepare me for,” she said. “It’s a little hard sometimes, because I loved all of these women and still do.”

During the panel, she admitted that she cried over certain parts, and Turner described the “soul crushing” rose ceremonies as particularly unbearable to watch. Even the rewatch backstage during Monday evening’s screening proved difficult for Turner. “When it got to the rose ceremony, you were sitting there and you stood up and visibly were like ‘I can’t watch this,’" said Ehrlich. “Still to this day, it affects you.”

Though it is uncomfortable to make these tough choices, Turner admits, it’s an inevitable part of the job. “Bear in mind, that’s what we signed up for and there’s no other way to do it,” he said.