The Bachelor Australia 2021: Jimmy Nicholson opens up about family tragedies behind his search for love

Family tragedies have rocked The Bachelor Jimmy Nicholson’s past, but also shaped an optimistic future – with the young pilot planning marriage and kids with his new love.

Family tragedies have rocked The Bachelor Jimmy Nicholson’s past, but also shaped an optimistic future – after finding love on the show, the 31-year-old and his new girlfriend are already discussing marriage and children.

Named after his late uncle, James, the commercial pilot chose to be referred to as Jimmy on the show, as a nod to his family and the strong bond he shares with them.

“I was named after my dad’s brother who was tragically electrocuted when he was eight,” Nicholson said.

Jimmy Nicholson’s, uncle, also Jimmy, who sadly passed away when he was just eight-years-old. Picture: Supplied

“Jimmy climbed up a papaya tree that was touching power lines. In those days in Fiji the lines were pretty low. That was tragic for the family.

“His birth name was James but he was always known as Jimmy … so out of respect for him I thought I should be Jimmy.”

Nicholson is extremely close with his parents, Noel and Susan Nicholson, and sister Dr Tahnee Nicholson and loves being an uncle to hers and husband Oscar Suris-Ramon’s one-year-old son, Brad.

Jimmy Nicholson and family for his sister Tahnee's baby shower. Picture: Supplied

He said the loss of his uncle and aunty, and then a terrifying accident involving his mum, had helped him realise the fragilities of life and pushed him to forge direction in his own.

“On my mum’s side, her brother lost his wife to cancer about seven years ago, and in the same week, mum’s sister lost her husband to cancer as well,” Nicholson said.

“We almost lost mum four years ago. She was hit by a truck while on her bike, training for a triathlon.

Jimmy with his father, Noel, sister, Tahnee and mother Susan on Tahnee's wedding day. Picture: Supplied

“She was in hospital in spinal for a few days, half her face was peeled back. I was working in a regional airline and I remember landing, and someone was there from the company and they said, ‘Your mum’s been involved in an accident’.”

After extensive surgery to her face, Mrs Nicholson recovered from her injuries and is back doing triathlons.

Nicholson said his is the type of family that catches up every Sunday for lunch, and their approval of his new partner – who must remain unnamed until The Bachelor finale airs – was very important to him.

Bachelor Jimmy on the set of The Bachelor Australia. Pic: Ten

“We’re really close and they’re a great judge of character,” he said.

“You want your family to love your partner so I wanted someone that I could bring home to them for those Sunday lunches, someone who would love my mum, sister and dad.”

As for what is next after finding love on the show, Nicholson said: “I’m 32 this year, so I’m keen to settle down and have kids in the next … well, get married in the next two years, have kids in the next three, four, five years.

“All my mates have kids now. So it’s something that I definitely, definitely, definitely want, and she wants too, which is good.”

The Bachelor returns Wednesday at 7.30pm on Ten.

Originally published as The Bachelor Australia 2021: Jimmy Nicholson opens up about family tragedies behind his search for love