New season, new man: The Bachelor is on the hunt for its next star

A lot is riding on who is cast as The Bachelor next season amid flat viewing numbers and the last three who weren’t ready to settle down.

The search for the perfect man for Australia to fall in love with has secretly started with a new season of The Bachelor well and truly on the cards.

The show’s future was thought to be under a cloud after overnight viewing numbers appeared flat when the show aired in January, however based on total TV audience figures the reality dating series is likely to get another run on Channel 10.

A lot is riding however on who is cast as The Bachelor – they need to be likeable, believable and desirable – and on who the ladies are who are cast as his potential love interests.

Jed McIntosh, Thomas Malucelli and Felix Von Hofe were last season’s Bachelors. Picture: Brendon Thorne

The most recent season, which featured three Bachelors, Felix Von Hoff, Jed McIntosh and Thomas Malucelli, suffered as it was quite clear to viewers that none of the trio were ready to settle down.

Compounding the problem was the abundance of drama queens among the bachelorettes.

While Ten has made no comment on the future of the show, casting sources say there is work secretly going on to find the elusive “Mr Right.”

It is understood a handful of possible contenders have already been sounded out.

Should the show return it will be interesting to see if it remains the boutique short run season of this year where it was aired in a three week window or reverts to its traditional longer format.

There is also the question of whether multiple bachelors are cast or if 10 opts to put all its eggs into one big basket.

And can it find a sweet spot for viewers between the over the top drama of Married At First Sight and the serious love focus of Farmer Wants A Wife.

Word that The Bachelor could be returning was first written by the TV Blackbox website which cited an industry call out for producers for a large scale dating show.