Bachelorette Sophie Monk has been on single dates with winemaker Jarrod Woodgate, 31, business culture consultant Luke McLeod, 33, and voiceover artist Sam Cochrane, 31.
But on Wednesday night she invited one of her youngest suitors on a romantic ’50s-themed date in a remote castle.
The singer and actress was soon gushing over magician Apollo Jackson, 24, as she claimed: ‘It’s like he’s the perfect man!’
‘It’s like he’s the perfect man!’ Bachelorette Sophie Monk, 37, kisses magician Apollo Jackson, 24, during romantic date in a castle on Wednesday night’s episode
Sophie stunned as she took on a Grace Kelly look in an off-the-shoulder frock as she drove a vintage classic car towards the date.
She had initially chosen Apollo for the intimate date to gauge whether he was also ready to settle down.
‘You seem so much older than you are’ Sophie complimented the hunk, later telling the camera: ‘There’s so much I need to know about Apollo. How is he so wise beyond his years? What’s he been through? He has to have experienced something to be that mature. He’s very worldly.’
‘How is he so wise beyond his years?’: Sophie complimented the young hunk for being ‘worldly’ and very ‘mature’ as he taught her how to slow-dance
Wise for his years: Apollo opened up to the star, admitting his mother had breast cancer and he also suffered a mild heart attack and was in critical care for two weeks in the past
‘I’d love to have a future with Apollo. I’m really excited ti see where this can go’: She was pleased by his willingness to be open about his past and his feeling and offered him a rose to stay in the competition
After teaching Sophie how to slow dance, she exclaimed: ‘There’s definitely a spark there.’
Sophie prodded: ‘How are you so mature? What’s happened that made you so grown-up?’
Apollo opened up to the star, admitting his mother had breast cancer and he also suffered a mild heart attack and was in critical care for two weeks in the past.
She was pleased by his willingness to be open about his past and his feeling and offered him a rose to stay in the competition.
Sophie gushed over the handsome entertainer: ‘I want to settle down. I want someone that’s amazing, that cares for me. And I look at Apollo and he’s got all those things… It’s like he’s the perfect man. I’d love to have a future with Apollo. I’m really excited to see where this can go ’cause I really like him.’
The pair sealed the date with a passionate smooch.
Arrival of the rivals! It wasn’t long until Apollo had more competition with the introduction of four intruders: Stu, AJ, Paul and Guy
They’ve got history! To the surprise of the remaining 11 suitors, Sophie recognized 44-year-old third-generation publican Stu Laundy as soon as he hopped out of the helicopter
‘Out of the four of them, Stu would have to be the threat’: The bachelors sized up the new arrivals, agreeing millionaire Stu was their biggest competition
However, it wasn’t long until Apollo competition with the introduction of four intruders: Stu, AJ, Paul and Guy.
To the surprise of the remaining 11 suitors, Sophie recognized 44-year-old third-generation publican Stu Laundy.
Sophie was impressed by his choice to pursue their ‘spark’ on national TV: ‘The fact that Stu’s gone to all that effort to make his way on The Bachelorette when I’ve already stood him up, he really wants me. I think. And I hope.’
‘He really wants me. I think. And I hope’: Sophie was impressed by his choice to pursue their potential ‘spark’ on national TV after she stood him up in the past
About Stu: As the son of legendary pub owner Arthur Laundy, Stu is the heir to an estimated family fortune of $500 million. He also owns a fleet of luxury cars and a super yacht
Winemaker Jarrod immediately saw the millionaire as a threat: ‘Out of the four of them, Stu would have to be the threat. Having that connection a year ago, it’s more than what we’d had when we rolled in on the red carpet.’
Host Osher Gunsberg added more drama to the day, by telling the lads four people would be sent home after the cocktail party.
During the cocktail party, Sophie became a little too comfortable with intruder Stu as she ‘accidentally’ kissed him when leaving his presence.
‘Oh, my God. Sorry. I accidentally kissed you on the lips,’ she said as the other contestants looked on.
As the remaining men question each other’s intentions to settle down and have kids with Sophie if chosen as the ‘winner’, Stu proudly stated: ‘I enjoy being a dad. I’m not scared to have more kids. I love, love kids. Always have.’
He’s ready to settle down! Stu admitted to the other guys in the mansion: ‘I’m not scared to have more kids. I love, love kids. Always have.’
Stu was the second male to be given a rose during the rose ceremony, as well as intruder Guy.
With her last rose in her hand, Sophie burst into tears and ran from the room as she struggled to make her final decision.
Later returning, she gave her last rose to intruder AJ, sending intruder Paul and long-standing Hayden, Harry and Brett home.
The Bachelorette returns to Channel Ten on Thursday from 7.30pm
Tough choice! With her last rose in her hand, Sophie burst into tears and ran from the room as she struggled to make her final decision. Later returning, she sent Hayden, Harry, Brett and intruder Paul home
Older picks! Sophie also chose to keep intruders 37-year-old Guy (L) and 37-year-old AJ (R) during the rose ceremony