The 14th season of the dome show “The Bachelor” starts on RTL. For the first time, there will be not one, but two single men who want to fall in love on TV. Dennis Gries and Sebastian Klaus have worked with him in advance star spoken.
Dennis, Sebastian – it is the first time in the history of the format that there is not one, but two Bachelors. What was your reaction when you found out about it?
Sebastian: At first I was skeptical and thought: Does that have to be the case and does it even make sense? After all, you only get half the attention. But then I saw the positive sides relatively quickly. No bachelor before has had the opportunity to exchange ideas with someone. I see that as an opportunity. You can talk to each other and maybe get a tip or two.
Dennis: It was similar for me. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing if all the attention isn’t just on you. You get to know many women at once. It can also be helpful if you can exchange ideas here and there.
Did you apply as a bachelor yourself or were you approached?
Dennis: For me, an absolute childhood dream has come true. I really wanted to do this before, but I haven’t really pursued it in the last few years. This year I actually decided to apply. As luck would have it, RTL beat me to it. I was approached on the street and then the whole casting process began.
Sebastian: I didn’t even think about it. Last year I was in Bali and met a woman there who watches the show regularly. She told me that I was the perfect candidate. I couldn’t even imagine that, after all, there are tons of men applying to become bachelors. So why would they take me of all people? We then spontaneously took photos and an application video – and it actually worked.
How did those around you react to you looking for a partner on TV: family, friends, work colleagues?
Dennis: I had mixed reactions. At first I only told my closest circle about it. I received a lot of positive encouragement and strong support from my parents. My brothers were a bit skeptical at first. The person I run our company with was worried about how everything would work in the company when I wasn’t there. The other person was surprised at my decision. But now they’re both happy and they’re behind me. I am very grateful for that.
Sebastian: For me the reactions were mainly positive. My brother and a good friend of mine were a bit skeptical. They asked how participating in the show affected my job and how my business partners felt about it. I can understand that, but the concerns were unfounded. Most business partners reacted very positively.
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What should a woman have that arouses your interest?
Sebastian: A woman simply has to have that certain something, something special, that immediately catches me. Every woman I’ve been with has had something different. For example, incredibly beautiful eyes or a very positive charisma. This is difficult to put into words and cannot be generalized.
Dennis: I would confirm all of that. It is also important to me that the woman has a good level of energy and power, and simply has a passion for life.
Do you have any quirks or quirks that women have to adapt to?
Dennis: Everyone has little quirks and quirks.
Sebastian: I can reveal that Dennis is usually unpunctual. In 95 percent of cases he needs a reminder when it starts.
Dennis: Sebastian is perfect, there’s nothing negative to say.
Have you ever had the situation where you and a friend were in love with the same woman at the same time?
Sebastian: I’ve never experienced that with a friend. But I’ve been on dating apps. It can happen that a woman writes to two men at the same time. I just don’t get to know the other person there.
Dennis: Nothing like this has ever happened to me. It’s really a crazy situation.
What experiences have you had with dating apps?
Dennis: I’ve never used a dating app in my life.
Sebastian: I’ve had definitely good experiences. For example, my brother and his wife met on a dating app. My ex-fiancée and I too. Basically I have nothing wrong with it.
Sebastian, you bring it up, you were engaged and have been single for a year now. Why did the relationship fail?
There were various reasons for this. We worked hard on our relationship, but it didn’t work. Then we decided to go our separate ways. Sometimes there comes a point where you realize that you no longer have the same ideas about living together. Or you are too stuck in everyday life and are not prepared to really invest much in the relationship. Then staying together makes little sense.
Why do you think you’ll find the right person on TV now?
Sebastian: I see the format as an opportunity to get to know women in a different way. There is a wide range of women that I can meet in person to find out if it’s a good fit. Can you smell each other and maybe the spark will spread? I’ve been using dating apps a lot lately, and you don’t have these options.
Dennis: You have more time to get to know someone and you don’t just make decisions based on appearance. After a few conversations, you may find that your personality fits well, which is much more important if you want to stay together in the long term. That’s also my expectation from the show: over time, you might notice that you’re opening up to a person, even though you didn’t think that was possible at the beginning.
There are 30 women, there will be blind dates in Germany in advance, which is also new. How will these dates go?
Dennis: It’s a kind of speed dating. Sebastian speaks to 15 women and I also speak to 15 women. You can get to know us briefly and we can get a first impression. I find this to be a great advantage because it is organized and you have the opportunity to have a relaxed conversation. When everyone comes together at once, things can quickly become chaotic. Nevertheless, it is also a challenge because we have to decide relatively quickly who will come to South Africa and who will stay in Germany.
Only 22 of the candidates are traveling to Cape Town. What will it be like on site? Do you each have your own villa or is there a bachelor’s shared apartment?
Dennis: We don’t want to reveal that yet. Since we are two Bachelors for the first time this year, there will of course be some changes. That makes it interesting for the viewers. We will also see how the rose is awarded, whether we can both choose the same woman or whether the women have to choose whose rose they accept.
What are your ideas of a perfect date? More action or romance?
Sebastian: That’s actually a point where we both differ. I’m more of a romantic and think, for example, of a picnic under the stars. A moment in which you can let your thoughts wander and dream. I think it’s different with Dennis.
Dennis: For me, the adrenaline level can shoot up a bit. I love action, but I don’t mind if a date ends with a relaxed conversation.
Fans of the format always wait for the first approach, the first kiss. Are you a quick smoocher or more reserved?
Sebastian: I want to get to know a woman better before we have the first kiss. It is also important that it happens at the right moment, not just casually or completely spontaneously. It has to feel right so that you remember the moment fondly.
Dennis: I don’t have the rule ‘no kiss on the first date’. It just has to fit and I have to feel comfortable. I’m not a wild kisser who always has to let it rip. But if the situation allows it and it feels good, then I wouldn’t deny it.
“The Bachelors” starts on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 8:15 p.m. on RTL, and all episodes of the season can be seen on RTL+ one week before they are broadcast on TV.
Editor’s note: Stern is part of RTL Deutschland.