JMo on The Bachelor set: Honey Badger’s a bogan meat-head but you can’t help liking him
IN tonight’s episode of The Bachelor, the single women will take part in a photo shoot in a bid to win over the Honey Badger. Here are all the exclusive photographs before the show airs tonight. On-set reporter Jonathon Moran also spills the beans on what Nick Cummins is really like.
Confidential
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IS he real or fake, the Honey Badger? A douche or a darling?
Can a man who has never used an umbrella, hates wearing trousers and talks like he was born on the set of Kingswood Country be an actual person?
With his imposing footy physique, ringlet blonde hair and quirky larrikin banter, there’s something intriguing about the man who calls himself the Honey Badger.
Tonight Australia got its first taste of unlucky-in-love footballer Nick Cummins as The Bachelor.
Earlier today The Daily Telegraph was given unprecedented access to Cummins and his potential suitors during a 12-hour photo shoot at a mansion about an hour’s drive from the Sydney CBD, which will feature on Thursday night’s episode.
After photographer Jonathan Ng and I spent a day with the Honey Badger, I can reveal the real Nick Cummins is just as quirky as he seems off camera.
He’s got both sizzle and steak, he goes off like a cut snake and he’s grasping his opportunity like a seagull on a hot chip.
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It was quickly obvious that while Cummins is real, he is a man of contradictions. Sporty and goofy but also thoughtful and bookish, given to citing random inspirational quotes. He is also vulnerable and hopeful.
“People tend to put you in these categories and boxes, which is not who we are. We are multifaceted beings,” he tells the Telegraph.
“All I can say is there’s a few sides to me that I hope will come across. There is a rough and tumble side, there’s a spiritual side and there’s quite a caring side as well.”
To his suitors, Cummins says, “Passion is important to me.”
“I think for a partnership if you have high levels of passion, you live, you laugh and you love at a higher level”.
Cummins got famous during his rugby union career for his sideline interviews and the nickname he adopted after watching a honey badger fight off a pride of lions on a nature channel. He could play as well — 15 games for the Wallabies is evidence of that.
But in person on set, he’s as nervous as a schoolboy. He’s naive and it’s instantly clear he simply doesn’t think like everyone else.
Waiting for the women contestants to arrive at the photo shoot, he notes it is the first time he’s ever used an umbrella. “I just walk in the rain,” he muses, as if confused by people who worry about getting wet.
The Bachelor will make Cummins a household name, but is he at all worried he will come across as an idiot?
“It is early days,” he said. “I’m enjoying it so far.”
The Daily Telegraph’s photo shoot on Bachelor set
From the outside looking in, The Daily Telegraph’s time on The Bachelor was a standard glossy photo shoot.
But underneath this, it was a carefully crafted exercise to draw out the insecurities and personalities of a bunch of women who think the best way to find love is via a television show.
There’s an awkward air of desperation when contestants come face-to-face with Cummins, like watching a couple coming together for a blind date only 10 times more uncomfortable.
Battle lines had already been drawn on the second day of shooting when 10 of the 22 hopefuls came together for the group photo date.
Contestants were out to win — and winning at that early stage of the competition meant securing any moment of connection, even two seconds, with Bachelor Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins.
A hopeful glance, a meeting of the eyes, the brush of a hand, the hitching of a skirt to show more skin, batting of eyelids — everyone brought their A-Game in the hope of sharing that special moment with the rugby player.
And while we were ready for our five minutes in the spotlight, the shoot was nothing to do with Telegraph photographer Jonathan Ng or myself.
It was about chemistry — negative and positive — and we were there to bring out reactions from the desperately eager contestants. Have I made the point on how desperate they were?
And if there was no chance of connection, which you could instantly see in the case of a number of the women, it was about making the most of their time on camera to maximise exposure and visibility in the episode to boost their social media following and bankability post show.
Think Unreal, only this was real life reality TV.
It was unseasonably cold and rainy yet contestants wore short skirts, T-shirts and casual jeans.
I was introduced as they were given their photo assignments, separated into four groups by host Osher Gunsberg, who memorised his cheesy lines like the pro he is after so many seasons.
Giggles, embarrassed blushing, fawning — the girls all played their part.
The first group was given the theme of rock star with Cummins the lead singer and the girls his band members and groupies.
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Then came Cummins as a fireman flanked by two beauties and after a costume change he was a schoolboy vying for affections of two doting school girls before he turned his attention on the teacher.
And finally, there was a yoga date.
Between takes, Cummins was chatty and almost bemused by the attention.
Asked about his penchant for wearing very short shorts, he said straight faced: “You never know when you’re going to have to run up a hill mate. I don’t like being restricted. These pants are so tight. I never wear pants like these.”