As an airline pilot, Jimmy Nicholson is used to dealing with a little hot air.
WATCH: The Bachelor Australia’s Jimmy: Sneak peek
But nothing could prepare the “self-confessed romantic” for the bumpy journey that lay ahead of him when he signed on to The Bachelor to find love.
“There was a lot of drama,” the 31-year-old Sydneysider admits to WHO. “There was some stuff happening in the girls’ house that I had no idea about. After I found out, I questioned why I couldn’t see it, or why I chose to give my time and attention to that particular person instead of others,” he confesses.
Despite all the ups and downs, the handsome Bachelor says it was well worth it to find his happily ever after.
“I wasn’t blindsided by the one person I cared about,” he admits. “She turned out to be exactly who I thought she was and that’s all that matters to me.”
So, did you end up finding love?
I have and I’ve already dropped the L-bomb! All I wanted to get out of this experience was to meet someone really amazing and I couldn’t be happier. It’s a genuine old-fashioned love story.
Is it hard keeping the relationship under wraps for now?
It’s an interesting experience. We chat five times a day, but I have her saved under another name in my phone. Network Ten have been great and they’ve organised a few secret meetings, so we’ve been able to spend some time together. But we’re both really looking forward to the news coming out and finally being able to be together.
What are you most looking forward to?
Just doing really simple things that all couples do, like going out for breakfast to your favourite cafe. It seems silly, but all of our dates so far have been really secretive or with a camera stuck in our faces.
Do you see marriage and kids in your near future?
Eventually. I wouldn’t have gone on the show if I wasn’t ready to settle down. Now that I’ve met someone I’m really happy with, I can definitely see that on the cards in the next few years.
What were you looking for in a partner?
There has to be the attraction, obviously, but what I really wanted was someone who is down to earth and nice, can be my best friend and someone I can have a laugh with.
Now you’ve found The One, are you worried about her watching your relationships with the other women unfold on TV?
I am, but I think the only way to approach it is to be transparent. We sat down and she asked all the questions she wanted to and I responded honestly. It’s hard to tell until she does see it, but we’re rock solid and I’m sure we can cope through it together. It’ll be great if we could just sit down and have a bit of a laugh about it, but I recognise it could be difficult.
What did your family think when you told them you were going to be on the show?
My family were great! They realise the Bachelor franchise is really successful and a lot of marriages and kids have come out of it. My mum Susan has watched it before and she was really excited. The only concern they had was that I can be quite emotional, so they worried about some of the negative stuff that could come out of it. But everyone was excited by the prospect of me finding a partner.
Did you reach out to any past Bachelors for advice?
I go to the same gym as Tim Robards, so after I was chosen, I went up and introduced myself to him. He was really nice and had some great tips. Tim told me not to focus on who I wanted to end up with right from the start, but just focus each week on who I didn’t see a future with and go from there. It made the process a whole lot easier. Last year’s Bachelor, Locky Gilbert ,also reached out to me. He said the next few months are going to be really intense, as well as really fun, and that I could call him at any time. They’re both great guys.
(The Bachelor Australia premiers Wed., Jul. 21, 7.30pm on Network Ten)
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