Revealed: Bachelor Richie Strahan’s secret love turmoil

THE Bachelor Richie Strahan says dating 22 women at the same time was a gruelling experience but it was nothing compared to trying to keep the identity of his new love a secret.

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THE Bachelor Richie Strahan says dating 22 women at the same time was a gruelling experience but it was nothing compared to trying to keep the identity of his new love a secret.

The 31-year-old says he’s madly in love with one of the women Australia will meet tonight in the fourth season of the reality dating show.

As the series finale has already been shot, Strahan, who works on oil rigs in Perth, has had to keep the identity of his new love a secret, even from his mum.

Bachelor Richie Strahan went topless for Sydney Confidential while revealing a secret.

The Bachelor Season Four NSW contestants Mia, Keira, Olena, Marja, Kiki and Eliza. Picture: Ten

“I am that smitten, it has been incredibly hard to keep this a secret,” Strahan said.

“I am head over heels and you kind of want to be able to let people know but I haven’t even told my mum. I feel like I’ve got this massive secret and I’m just bursting at the bits to say something.”

Strahan’s face will be familiar to fans of the show given he was a contestant on the The Bachelorette.

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He missed out on securing a love match with Sam Frost but was chosen by producers for this season of The Bachelor, following previous hopefuls Tim Robards, Blake Garvey and Sam Wood.

“There’s a lot more at stake with this outcome so I certainly haven’t told anyone,” the rope access technician said. “It is a big thing to hold in, that is for sure.”

The Bachelor will air on Ten over the coming two months. Each week, Strahan will vote off a contestant until he hands out his final rose to his ultimate match.

The Bachelor begins tonight at 7.30pm on Network Ten.