Dominic Bowden has been tapped to take over from Mike Puru as host of The Bachelor New Zealand in 2017.
The news was officially announced at the Mediaworks new season launch today, where the network confirmed a number of other rumoured changes involving Duncan Garner, Paul Henry and their respective programmes.
Dom, who has been in Los Angeles hosting the backstage show for ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, called The Bachelor New Zealand a “national phenomenon”.
Season one ended with Art Green choosing Matilda Rice as the winner.
Jordan Mauger and Fleur Verhoeven split up shortly after the season two finale aired.
“For the last two seasons Kiwis from all walks of life and from all over the country have crowded around their televisions to watch together. When you watch it, you want to talk about it; you have to talk about it,” he said in a statement.
“It’s the perfect format for today and socially relevant, now more than ever before.”
Describing himself as a “romantic at heart”, Dom went on to reveal that he was a “super fan of the franchise”.
“It’s not my guilty pleasure, I wear my Bachelor New Zealand badge with pride.”
The show is currently looking for prospective bachelorettes for the new season, with women aged between 21 – 35 encouraged to apply.
