The 30-year-old says being rejected by Sam Frost in The Bachelorette in 2015 hasn’t deterred him in the least from a return to our screens as the new Bachelor later this year
The modest industrial rope technician from Western Australia says he was surprised to get the call-up, but is ready to embrace the opportunity.
Describing himself as a genuine Aussie bloke, Richie is looking for an easy-going, down-to-earth woman who loves life, has a great sense of humour and is comfortable in her own skin.
Richie said: “I am feeling excited, nervous but mostly thrilled about potentially meeting the woman of my dreams.
“I am hoping that through this experience I will meet someone who shares my passion for life, someone that I can wake up to every morning and know I have found that special person that I can spend the rest of my life with.”
Richie was a fan favourite on The Bachelorette with his down-to-earth charm.
The highlight for many was his “growing old date”, in which special effects transformed Richie and Sam into a couple in their 80s.
The date at the local lawn bowls club, which saw Richie and Sam play bingo and dance the afternoon away, cemented Richie as a favourite to win Sam’s heart.
Unfortunately, bingo and dancing were not enough to capture Sam’s lasting affection and Richie failed to receive a rose in an emotional penultimate episode.
But he’s quickly got Sam’s thumbs-up for his second shot at love, judging by a congratulatory tweet she fired off moments after the news broke.
“He’s very genuine, he wants to fall in love and he deserves to shine,” says Sam.
