Warning: The Golden Bachelorette Season 1 spoilers ahead: Bachelor Nation’s most beloved contestant’s journey to love has come to an end… or has it? With his elimination on The Golden Bachelorette, fans can’t help but wonder whether Charles L. could be the next Golden Bachelor.
Charles Ling, a Retired Financial Analyst from Malvern, Pennsylvania, was one of 24 contestants on The Golden Bachelorette Season 1 led by Joan Vassos. Joan, a 61-year-old Private School Administrator from Rockville, Maryland, was a contestant The Golden Bachelor Season 1 with Gerry Turner, where she self-eliminated in 12th place in Week 3 to care for her daughter, who had a medical emergency.
Charles L. was an early fan favorite on The Golden Bachelorette. He won over Bachelor Nation as early as his limo entrance when Charles L., whose wife and only died six years prior from an illness, gave Joan one of the most earnest speeches in Bachelor Nation history. He continued to win over Bachelor Nation when he looked through the Bachelor Mansion with genuine curiosity—from opening the lids to pots to checking out the freezer—and again in Episode 2 when he gave Joan another pep talk on a prom group date. But with his elimination in Episode 4 and his time on The Golden Bachelorette officially over, fans can’t help but wonder what’s next for Charles L. and whether he could be the lead of The Golden Bachelor Season 2 and succeed Gerry Turner.
Is Charles L. the next Golden Bachelor?
At the time of writing, ABC hasn’t announced the lead for The Golden Bachelor Season 2, however, Charles L. is by far the frontrunner, especially after his elimination in Episode 4 of The Golden Bachelorette Season 1. “NOOOOO NOT CHARLES L GOING HOME! I need to see him on DWTS or the Golden Bachelor. This can’t be the end 😭,” a user wrote on X. Another user tweeted, “officially starting the campaign to makes Charles L the next golden bachelor!!!” One more user wrote, “I STG IF THEY DO NOT LISTEN TO US AND GIVE US A CHARLES L GOLDEN BACHELOR SEASON.”
Charles L. even has the support of host Jesse Palmer who recognized him as the most popular contestant to come from The Golden Bachelor. “He’s a national treasure. I knew that from the very first date card drop off when I was trying to explain how the dates work, and if you go on a one-on-one date, you don’t get a rose, you gotta pack your bag,” Palmer told Us Weekly in October 2024, calling Charles L. “so sincere” and “organic.” “He asked me to re-explain everything again, but that’s who he is.”
He continued, “I totally get why America has fallen so hard for Charles L. He’s legendary. I love the guy.”
Charles L., for his part, wasn’t aware of how much of a fan favorite he was. In an interview with NBC Asian America in October 2024, he admitted that he “didn’t see much of the TV show yet,” so he didn’t know how beloved he was by Bachelor Nation. “I would say it’s a surprise. And a big surprise,” he said. “I don’t read so much feedback from the fans.” He added that he wanted to “thank [Bachelor Nation fans] and tell them I love them too.”
If Charles L. was to become the next Golden Bachelor, he would be the first Asian male lead in The Bachelor franchise’s 22-year history. It would also be a fitting time for him to be the Season 2 Golden Bachelor after ABC recently aired its first season with an Asian American Bachelorette, Jenn Tran, who led Season 21. “Culturally, we sometimes doubt. ‘If I do this, what will other people think about it? If I want to step out of this sad circle or boundary and seek another chance of love … What will my friends think about it?’” Charles L. told NBC about why it was hard for him to express his feelings on The Golden Bachelorette at first. “It seems we care more about others’ feelings than my own to begin with.”
He continued, “During the first or second day, I think that quite a few of us hesitated. We asked ourselves, ‘Should I really go out and tell my whole story? But as we started, and as we continued, we felt like it’s OK to say it aloud … It’s OK to cry sometimes. People will pat your shoulder and say, ‘Charles, it’s OK. We are so sorry.’”
Though Charles L. has yet to be announced as the next Golden Bachelor, he did tell NBC his advice to other seniors thinking about being on The Golden Bachelor or The Golden Bachelorette. “You can say, ‘If Charles can do it, so can me,’” he said. “Don’t suffer by yourself … Express yourself, be enthusiastic all over again. Life is short.”
Who is Charles L. from The Golden Bachelorette?
Charles Ling is a 66-year-old Retired Financial Analyst from Malvern, Pennsylvania. His Instagram handle is @charles__ling. “I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be on the first ever season of The Golden Bachelorette!” he captioned his first-ever Instagram post announcing he was a contestant on The Golden Bachelorette Season 1.
In an interview with Bachelor Nation in October 2024, Charles L. explained how he was cast for The Golden Bachelorette. “To be honest, it’s really my daughter. When she visited me somewhere around spring, she watched a few episodes of the program in the past. And after dinner one night, she said, ‘Dad, you’ve got to see this program,’ and I said, ‘What program?’ and she said, ‘The Golden Bachelor,’” he said. “And I’d heard about it, but I’d never watched it. She said, “Come here, Dad, please take a look. You might find it interesting.” I watched it for probably about 20 to 30 minutes, and then a phone call interrupted. And the next day, she started the topic all over again. We watched it, and she began the conversation of, ‘Dad, I think this is a very fascinating program and I think you’d find it interesting, plus it’s really time for you to move on… You deserve it.’ So I applied myself and after a few days the phone rang and the interviews started.”
He also told the site about the qualities he think make him stand out from the other men. “First of all, you have to like the lady and you have to respect her and you have to work out differences when they happen. I think I have the qualifications for this because I’m always nice to other people, plus I know how to deal with people when differences occur,” he said.
Read Charles L.’s official Golden Bachelorette Season 1 biography and fun facts below:
“Charles L. really is someone special. The retired data analyst and father of two is ready for a second chance at true love and excited to put himself out there. Charles L. is no stranger to taking risks. He grew up in rural China and moved to the United States with only $20 in his pocket. Now, he’s ready to risk it all for love and is hoping Joan can match his kind heart, hilarious sense of humor, and sweet soul. Charles L. is hoping to meet someone intelligent and kind, and we know he’s coming to the right place. If Charles L. could see anyone in concert during his golden years, he’d love to see Britney Spears perform one day. Let’s see if Charles L. can find love “Baby One More Time” with Joan!
