RTL launches new season of "Die Bachelors" with Sebastian Paul and Tim Reitz

Sebastian Paul: From Night-Shift Viewer to Bachelor

Sebastian also told the dpa that what had once been a "running gag" among his fellow officers in Hesse has now become reality. „Es ist schon lustig, dass aus diesem anfänglichen Running Gag jetzt wirklich Realität geworden ist", he said with reference to the show. Asked about the format, he also said: „Jetzt bin ich zwar nicht mehr im Dienst, aber ich verrate die Kollegen sicher nicht zu sehr, wenn ich sage, dass die Sendung bei der hessischen Polizei durchaus beliebt ist."

According to the dpa, Tim Reitz is the managing director of a temporary employment agency for nursing staff and educators. The Cologne-based entrepreneur reported that he had not applied for the show himself. His best friend and roommate Tobi had signed him up without his knowledge. He then found out from RTL via Instagram while on holiday: „Ich habe mich gar nicht selbst bei der Sendung beworben. Mein bester Kumpel und Mitbewohner Tobi hat mich einfach für den „Bachelor" angemeldet, ohne dass ich es zunächst wusste."

Tim Reitz: Application by Best Friend

Reitz cited the fear of missing an opportunity – and the worry of regretting it later – as his motivation for taking part: „Ich hatte eine Art Zukunftsphobie und stellte mir vor, wie ich mit 50 Jahren zurückblicke und mich ärgere, dieses Privileg damals abgelehnt zu haben." A particular twist of the new season, according to Reitz, is the involvement of his sister: „Ein echter Clou in der Staffel ist, dass meine Schwester mit in das Haus zu den Frauen gezogen ist. Da wir uns optisch nicht besonders ähnlich sehen, konnte sie dort als eine Art Maulwurf undercover unterwegs sein."

The first episode also reveals that Bachelor Sebastian and a candidate named Kim already knew each other before the show. According to the dpa, both Bachelors have no children, unlike last year's Bachelors. One small thing the two men also have in common: their fondness for the flat white, an espresso with lightly frothed milk and little foam. „Außerdem teilen wir eine fast schon rituelle Vorliebe für guten Kaffee", said Sebastian.

Speculation About Early Filming Halt

Even before the streaming episodes launched, the "Berliner Kurier" had reported that one of the two Bachelors had ended filming early because he had fallen in love with a candidate. Sebastian was only vague about the speculation: „Zu den Spekulationen, ob einer von uns die Reise vorzeitig beendet, können wir nur sagen, dass wir beide konsequent unseren eigenen Weg gegangen sind. Und das absolut authentisch und ehrlich."

Looking back on a previous relationship, Sebastian also described how the pandemic had shaped his last partnership. „Das war damals eine klassische „Corona-Beziehung": Wir sind kurz vor dem Lockdown zusammengekommen, sehr schnell zusammengezogen und waren dann mangels anderer Kontakte sehr voneinander abhängig", he said. From that, he had learned that too much closeness and dependency can harm a relationship. He drew the following conclusion from the experience: „da man sich selbst dabei verlieren kann".

Both Bachelors gave interviews to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur ahead of the TV broadcast. With the new season, RTL is continuing the "Die Bachelors" format, which has consistently achieved high ratings in recent years. The mix of exotic locations, group dynamics and the search for true love thus remains the show's trademark.

Tim Reitz sees the unusual set-up with his sister in the candidates' house as an added value for the show. „Sie konnte Fragen stellen und Dynamiken beobachten, die wir in den direkten Dates so niemals mitbekommen hätten", he explained to the dpa. In doing so, she gave viewers insights that went beyond the classic dates.