He’s 31. He’s an astrophysicist. And he promises he’s in it for the right reasons. World, meet Matt Agnew – Australia’s newest Bachelor.
With Australia’s last Bachelor Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins delivering its most controversial season yet when he failed to pick anyone at the final, the show needed an antidote to him. And by all accounts they’ve found it in Matt.
“You may not know him yet,” Bachelor producers promise in a thinly veiled dig at the star power of former Wallaby Cummins, but he’s “looking for a love that is out of this world.”
And the man himself seems pretty genuine in his search for happily ever after. “I’m really hoping to fall in love,” Matt says. “It’s the best feeling in the world!
“I’m at a stage in my life where I’m established in my career, I own my own home and finding someone to share my life with would make it the trifecta.”
“I want someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously and we can just have a laugh and fun together… I’m looking for a best friend, the same way I’ve seen so many of my friends find one in their partners.”
Though Matt’s high flying career has taken him all over the world with stints living in London, Berlin, Buenos Aires and Sweden, he recently returned home to Melbourne in the hopes of settling down with his one true love.
“Seeing my mates finding their partners, tying the knot and buzzing with laughter and love together, I realise I want that!” Matt reveals.
His last serious relationship ended in 2017. And he’s not here to muck around (Honey Badger, we’re looking at you). “I’m here to find the person I want to marry and the person I want to start a family with,’ he shares.
“I’ve got a real ‘do it once, do it right’ mentality so I’ll be making sure I throw myself into it, be vulnerable and enjoy what comes from that,” says Matt.
“It may be an unorthodox way to meet someone, but I think it’ll be a sensational experience and make for a cracking ‘how we met’ story!”
Watch: Matt Agnew meets Abbie for the first time in one of the most awkward encounters in Bachelor memory.
One of four siblings, Matt is keen to emulate his happy childhood household with the love of his life. His parents, who have been married for over 30 years, gave him some pretty sage advice when it comes to love: “You’ve got to give it a go, give it a chance and put your heart out there.”
He says he hopes to settle down “within the next 12 months … That’s 100% what I’m hoping for.”
And children are definitely on the cards. “One day, yes, for sure,” he says. “I’m from a bigger family so I lean towards having two or three kids of my own, but that would be up to my partner, too, of course! I think being a dad will be really fun.”
Matt says his friends and family were initially concerned when they found out he’d applied for the show. “I’m pretty extroverted, but it was still a massive surprise to everyone that I’d do something as out there as this.
“My parents especially had their concerns. They were worried about how it might impact my career and how I’d go with suddenly being this very public person.
“After their initial reservations, they looked into the show a bit more and found out about the successful relationships – and babies! – that have come from it and then they got really excited.”
As for his colleagues, “Doing a reality TV show is not the norm for someone who works in academia,” he says, “but everyone is being really supportive – even if my colleagues aren’t typical fans of The Bachelor!
This isn’t the first time he’s applied to be on the franchise though. After a string of dating fails “through work, friends of friends, Tinder and Bumble” Matt reveals he was almost a contender for two previous seasons of The Bachelorette. But he was busy, he says, “so I withdrew due to travel commitments and date clashes.”
Matt admits he’s struggled to find love in the past because his career has taken priority. “Until now it’s been a case of wrong time, wrong place,” he says.
“I’ve had a couple of serious relationships that haven’t worked out because I’ve been a bit too focused on my career.
“I’ve also had some fun dates via Tinder, too. But now I’m in a place where I’m ready to meet The One.”
So what is he looking for in a relationship? “Someone to share an incredible connection with; someone to have fun with – I like to think I’m a lot of fun!” he says.
“That could entail catching the northern lights in Scandinavia or cuddling up on the couch on a rainy night.
“Who doesn’t love cosying up at home and sharing a bottle of red and a cheese platter?! I’m happy to do the wild stuff or the cosy nights in, so long as it’s with the right person.”
For Matt, it’s all about adventure, and putting himself out there. “I’m someone who loves to have adventure in my life and this experience is sure going to be one hell of an adventure for me!”
The Bachelor Australia premieres on Bravo at 8:30pm on August 13th.
