NZ's first Bachelor - it's down to three

The Bachelor NZ hopeful Ben Boyle. Photo / Facebook

Producers are understood to be down to the final three in the race to find New Zealand's first Bachelor - but they're vowing to keep the winner's identity secret until the big on-screen reveal next year.

And they've hit a big stumbling block - the word is they're struggling to find a man who's not afraid to share his feelings on national television.

But that wasn't the reason sexy rugby agent Ben Boyle turned down the invitation to be in the top three.

Apparently, he was worried the required caddish behaviour of jilting women on TV would be bad for business.

The month-long search has certainly been extensive. Producers asked Spy to suggest suitable sexy single guys and TV3 even set up a tip line. Others shoulder-tapped were NZME. digital sales manager Ash Lomberg, Rhythm and Vines director Hamish Pinkham (Kimberley Crossman's ex) and DJ Karn Hall.

The show starts filming just after Christmas and producer Anna Lynch insists no one will know the identity of the Bachelor until it screens early next year.

That's a big ask in these days of social media oversharing - those contracts must be watertight.