The Bachelor 2020: Locky Gilbert reveals ‘devastating’ moment during filming

Survivor-turned-Bachelor Locky Gilbert has lifted the lid on the jaw-dropping moment during filming that left him heartbroken.

The premiere of The Bachelor’s eighth season is just hours away – but thanks to the global pandemic, this year’s instalment will be different than anything we’ve seen before.

As most fans would be aware, The Bachelor is filmed months before it actually airs – and production on Survivor star Locky Gilbert’s season was already underway in March when coronavirus forced us all to follow social distancing guidelines – a real challenge for a show that hinges on over-the-top romantic dates and one-on-one moments.

In an interview with news.com.au, Locky recalled the heartbreaking moment it seemed the show would be cancelled.

“(Host) Osher (Gunsberg) grabbed me, that’s when I first heard about it,” the reality TV veteran said.

“He came up and was like, ‘We have to shut down, there’s a pandemic.’

“I was just devastated, because not only had he said, ‘We need to shut down’, but he was leaning toward, ‘We’re probably finished for good’ – because it’s never been done before. So I thought my Bachelor journey was over.”

In the latest promo, a sombre Gunsberg can be seen approaching Locky and telling him: “We have to stop production, we can’t keep everybody safe. You’re going to have to say goodbye to all of them tonight.”

THE BACHELOR 2020: Everything we know so far

The moment Locky is told about the pandemic.

The reality TV star admitted he was ‘devastated’.

The final 10 contestants, along with the crew, were all sent home while the show’s head honchos scrambled to figure out how to proceed – and two episodes were then filmed with the women in their own homes, sharing dates, cocktail parties and rose ceremonies via Zoom.

“We came back in a way that everyone just had to deal with – we’d gone virtual,” Locky explained of the bizarre situation.

“To be honest, like everyone, we were like ‘bloody Zoom dates’ … but it was actually quite fun and hilarious.”

Virtual dates often have the tendency to be awkward, but Locky insisted that it actually helped further his connection with his final crop of potential partners.

“It wasn’t awkward because before that, I’d been able to talk to the girls and build a relationship there, before we went into lockdown … so it didn’t feel that weird,” he told news.com.au.

The show was forced to quickly adapt to the evolving situation.

But once the cast and crew all physically returned to the set, things were hardly back to normal. Everyone involved had to undergo a COVID-19 test, and were then put in their “own little bubble” as strict hygiene measures were enforced.

“All the crews were in masks and gowns and shields,” Locky added.

The reality TV star also defended himself amid claims he’d dumped Survivor: All Star campmate and “island girlfriend” Brooke Jowett to appear on the dating show, insisting they “never dated”.

“We were never in a relationship, we were friends – I don’t know where (that rumour) came from,” Locky told news.com.au.

“It’s just the way (Survivor) was aired, and when it was actually filmed – there was a bit of a mix-up there.”

He then denied Brooke’s claim – made back in March – that he’d suddenly bailed on their planned overseas holiday after his Bachelor casting was announced, leaving her “hurt and a little blindsided”.

Locky, who outside of COVID-19 times divides his time between Australia and Bali due to his adventure business, claimed that she’d misunderstood the situation.

“I live in Bali, so obviously I said, ‘Yeah, when you’re in Bali, I’ll show you around’ … So that’s getting mixed up as well,” he explained.

As to whether Locky found love on The Bachelor, there was no hesitation: “I’m the happiest person in the world, I’m madly in love.”

The Bachelor premieres tomorrow night at 7.30pm on Ten.