The history of dating shows on New Zealand television sure is one to test the memory. Perfect Match in the early days of TV3, anyone? Blind Date on TV2 about the same time?
The various ones with urban sheilas meeting rural blokes in various formats? Nicky Watson in Sky TV's early attempt at local content in 2004, The Player?
But here we are again with a local spin on the biggest match-making format in the world, The Bachelor New Zealand, which is sure to light up the lives of many viewers - and local rose growers - as 21 women from, well, not quite all walks of life vie for the attentions of a mysterious chap whose alleged six-pack has been adorning billboards across the nation.
Read more: Bachelor producers' vetting failure let in convicted fraudster Danielle Le Gallais
The show is hosted by Mike Puru of The Edge radio and The Shopping Channel fame who is making some big promises about what the twice-a-week episodes: "Dreams are shattered, hearts are broken and friendships lost, whether it's the happiness of getting to stay on or the sadness of saying goodbye, there are usually tears."
