Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins set to be new TV Bachelor
AUSTRALIA’S most loveable rugby larrikin, Nick “The Honey Badger” Cummins, looks set to rebadge himself as the country’s most eligible bloke by becoming Channel 10’s next Bachelor.
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AUSTRALIA’S most loveable rugby larrikin, Nick “The Honey Badger” Cummins, looks set to rebadge himself as the country’s most eligible bloke by becoming Channel 10’s next Bachelor.
The rugby union star, who is taking a break from the game after notching up 15 Test matches with the Wallabies, is tipped to be the shock new choice to front the popular dating show, which begins filming next week.
Following in the footsteps of bulked-up hunks Tim Robards and Matthew ‘Matty J’ Johnson, Ten was keen to choose a well-known personality who could emulate the success of Sophie Monk’s turn as The Bachelorette — the Australian franchise’s first “celebrity” single.
Monk, who was initially seen as a ratings risk, delivered Ten the highest audience in its four-year history thanks to her humour and “loveable bogan” appeal.
Now the network is hoping the Honey Badger will deliver a similar ratings sweetener, with his profile, sense of humour and sports following all part of the strategy to pull in more male viewers to add to the show’s devoted legion of female fans.
Some Ten executives were reluctant to take on the unconventional bachelor but network sources say the cheeky Cummins won over chief content officer Beverley McGarvey.
Cummins, who was born in Port Macquarie, has become as well known off the field as he has for his performance on it.
He has been a cult figure in Super Rugby, with fans donning curly blonde wigs and quoting his famous Aussie one-liners.
Often described as “the most Aussie bloke ever”, the 30-year-old adopted the Honey Badger moniker after watching a National Geographic doco of the modestly sized animal taking on a lion.
“I thought ‘what an animal, that’s impressive’,” he said of the badger’s never-say-die attitude.
On top of creating some of the best one-liners, the loveable larrikin has been as lucrative to advertising executives as he has to rugby clubs.
He is a Tourism Australia ambassador and has been the face of Tradie Underwear & Workwear, Beef Australia, Head & Shoulders shampoo and beer company Iron Jack. But the one area of his life he hasn’t been as lucky in is the love department.
Cummins is believed to have been single since splitting from his long-term girlfriend, the Norwegian artist Martine Thomassen.
The pair, who met through Cummins’ brother Nathan after a Western Force match in Perth, celebrated their five-year anniversary in April 2016 but called it quits not long after.
More than 20 women are expected to enter the Bachelor mansion on Wednesday in a bid to win themselves a new honey to take home.
Channel Ten declined to comment on the speculation about the identity of the Bachelor but an announcement is expected to be made next week.