Bachelor South Africa - Lee Thompson - Season 1 - Media SM - *Sleuthing Spoilers*

Bobette wrote:snipped No idea where to put this but apparently South Africa is getting their first Bachelor!  

https://www.channel24.co.za/TV/News/here-he-is-meet-the-bachelor-sa-20181007

Not sure how accessible the episodes will be but presume they will be in English.

Filming shortly and due to air Feb 2019.  Might be worth setting up a thread for it?

What do you think, @GuardianAngel? @AllAboutLove?

ETA: Visual Aides.    More here https://creativeyoungsouls.com/lee-thompson/



Source



Source

Website: www.leethompsonmodel.com

Instagram: @leethompson52

Facebook: @LeeThompsonSA

Twitter: @Lee_Thompson_

Dirty Street Pie wrote:South African Bach is a fine specimen of a man. Can we have one like that next time please?

LeapofFaith wrote:South African bach - yummmmy

HEA wrote:yes please for a new thread!   OMG.... where do I sign up for bach south africa???   danceround      :Woah-hoo:     

leethompson52 It’s true! I’ve just been announced as #TheBachelorSA on @mnettv. Couldn’t be more excited to share this journey with you 

mnettv Everything you need to know about dreamy Lee Thompson is on mnet.tv/thebachelorsa. You're welcome! #TheBachelorSA

SA's first Bachelor is former Sharks rugby player and international model, Lee Thompson from Cape Town.

Here are 7 things we found out when we Googled him!

1) Lee is 29 years old and was born on 9 December, 1988 in Port Elizabeth. "I was born in Port Elizabeth and lived there ’till I was 12," Lee told Sharksworld in an interview in 2010. He added; "We then moved to Pretoria, where I finished my last year of primary school and then attended Pretoria Boys High."

2) He's an international model. According to his profile on the Boss Models website, Lee is 1.88m tall, wears a size 11 shoe, has dark brown hair, and green eyes.

3) Lee studied marketing management through The University of South Africa and Health & Fitness through the Zululand Sports Academy (link) while playing rugby for the Sharks in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

4) He’s been featured on the cover of Men’s Health South Africa twice in 2012.




5) He’s an entrepreneur with several of his own businesses including a cleaning company named Clean Smart and a website design company named, Skyler Web. He also manages a gym called F45 Training Camps Bay.

6) Who would he like to go on a blind date with? In a 2012 interview with Men’s Health he said: "I would have to choose Cindy Crawford for my ultimate blind date. She is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen and she is an extremely successful and accomplished supermodel. She has been all over the world so I’m sure we would have a few stories to share with each other."

7) He is on Twitter and Instagram. According to a recent interview with Men's Health South Africa he uses his Instagram mostly to share fitness related content; "Posting photos with informative captions that coach, encourage and motivate your followers while being authentic is important for a good fitness profile."

The Bachelor SA will have around 25 episodes. The host of The Bachelor SA hasn't signed a contract yet and will only be announced later. The identities of the 25 women will also not be officially announced before they enter the mansion. Filming hasn't started yet.  

The local version of the American dating show is produced by Rapid Blue and will kick off on Valentine ’s Day, Thursday 14 February 2019.

Cape Town – M-Net (DStv 101) on Sunday night shortly before the 20:00 movie revealed for the first time who its male star would be for the South African version of The Bachelor.

SA's first Bachelor is former Sharks rugby player and international model, Lee Thompson from Cape Town.

"Our first Bachelor is a real dreamboat; frankly,  a catch in a million," says M-Net’s Head of Publicity, Lani Lombard. "Once you are ready to look beyond that sexy six-pack and sultry smile, you you will find a sincere soul who oozes boyish charm – a guy with whom our viewers – and every contestant - will undoubtedly fall in love."

Lee, 29, is an accomplished all-rounder. He is a former Sharks rugby player and an entrepreneur with several successful business ventures on his resume. He also happens to be a sought-after international model, and when he’s not cutting deals or pumping iron in the gym, he dedicates his time to meaningful charity work.

About his new role as bachelor, Lee says: "My life goal is to have an amazing family life and, yes, I do know that this is an unusual way to find true love, but something deep inside me tells me that the universe is going to give me what I need right now - the woman of my dreams.

"I can’t wait to meet and get to know the 25 ladies. Chemistry often works in mysterious ways and I have no preconceived ideas about who I want to spend the rest of my life with."

The local version of the American dating show is produced by Rapid Blue and will kick off on Valentine ’s Day, Thursday 14 February 2019.

The first episode of the America version of The Bachelor, hosted by Chris Harrison, aired on 25 March, 2002 on ABC. The show's success has resulted in several spin-offs across the globe including Greece, Japan, Russia, and now SA.

11 Things You Need to Know About Lee Thompson, South Africa’s very first Bachelor.
08 October 2018  

The name’s Thompson. Lee Thompson.
The Bachelor’s full name is Lee Ray Thompson. If you’re looking for him on social media, you’ll find him here.



He’s hopped around South Africa.

Lee is 29 years old and hails from Port Elizabeth, spent several years in Pretoria, and now lives in Cape Town.

He can multitask.
As a gym manager, entrepreneur, and international model, he keeps himself very busy.

This is how he spends his weekends …
He finds time to wind down on weekends, of course. His preferred weekend activity? Braaiing with friends. We love a good braai! How about an invite Lee?

He’s a globetrotter.
As an international model, he’s travelled all over the world. His favourite spots are London and Germany. Ja wohl!



Guess who’s in one of his favourite movies?

Sometimes you have that one movie you can watch more than once or twice or three times. Lee’s is Men of Honor, featuring fellow South African, Charlize Theron!

You may have seen him on the rugby field.
Lee has an extensive rugby background, having captained the Pretoria Boys’ High first team in his high school days, and the Blue Bulls U19 team. He’s also played for the Sharks U21 and Sharks XV teams, and was captain of TUKS’ first team.



He’s more than just a pretty face!
He studied Marketing Management through UNISA, as well as Health & Fitness through the Zululand Sports Academy. As if that weren’t enough, he even found time to give back by establishing a non-profit organisation.

He sounds perfect.
When asked to describe himself in five words, he said: ambitious, hardworking, caring, humble, loyal.

And others think so too.
If other people had to describe him, he says they’d mention his sense of humour, his happy-go-lucky approach, and his hardworking nature.




He’s enigmatic
Last, but by no means least, we asked Lee to finish this all-important phrase … Love is … indescribable.


Join Lee on The Bachelor South Africa, starting on Valentine's Day, Thursday 14 February 2019 on M-Net channel 101.

Follow the conversation on social media using #TheBachelorSA.

Our Bachelor Lee is looking for love
Meet South Africa's first ever Bachelor
07 October 2018  

When M-Net announced that it will bring viewers a local version of the smash hit international reality dating show The Bachelor in 2019, the very same question popped into many heads: Who would the brave – but lucky –  Prince Charming be who would be willing to put his heart on the line to woo– and be wooed by – a  bevy of beautiful local lasses?

The secret is out! Tonight (Sunday, 7 October) just after Carte Blanche, M-Net gave viewers a glimpse of the handsome hunk who will forever be known as South African reality television’s first Bachelor.

The name is Lee. Lee Thompson, for those who were curious about his surname and won’t be able resist the temptation to Google - and ogle - more on the worldwide web.

“Our first Bachelor is a real dreamboat; frankly,  a catch in a million,” says M-Net’s Head of Publicity, Lani Lombard. “Once you are ready to look beyond that sexy six-pack and sultry smile, you you will find a sincere soul who oozes boyish charm – a guy with whom our viewers – and every contestant - will undoubtedly fall in love.”

Lee is an accomplished all-rounder. He is a former Sharks rugby player and an entrepreneur with several successful business ventures on his resume. He also happens to be a sought-after international model, and when he’s not cutting deals or pumping iron in the gym, he dedicates his time to meaningful charity work.  
But how did M-Net and production company Rapid Blue recruit Lee as The Bachelor?

“It was a tall order. Literally and figuratively speaking,” Lombard says. While the ladies could enter the show, it was up to us to find The Bachelor.

After many hours of scouting for the Mr Perfect, we came up with a solution – we asked the shortlisted ladies, who come from all walks of life, to list the attributes that would sway them to say “yes” when the question is popped,  ‘cause after all, the show is supposed to lead to a marriage proposal!”

They all immediately had one very specific request: he had to be tall. And Lee, at 1.88m, socks and all, fits the bill. The diverse group of 25 ladies from across South Africa representing our rainbow nation can comfortably wear their high heels when they want to sweep him off his feet.

His height came in handy on the rugby field. He got his first major break in the Varsity Cup-winning Tuks team;  then he captained the Blue Bulls U19 before switching to the Sharks, for whom he played at U21 and senior level.

The next requirement was "kind-hearted", followed by  "adventurous", "generous", "financially independent" and "fun". Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt if he was easy on the eye. Lee ticked the boxes, one and all.

Financially independent? Heck, yeah. He owns and operates a cleaning company called Clean Smart and the website development business Skyler Web. Before he ventured into modelling, he also owned a gym. Lee’s other major passion is philanthropy. He founded the non-profit organization #LiveHopeLoveSA.

And, how does Lee feel about stepping into the role of South Africa’s first Bachelor?

“My life goal is to have an amazing family life and, yes, I do know that this is an unusual way to find true love, but something deep inside me tells me that the universe is going to give me what I need right now - the woman of my dreams. I can’t wait to meet and get to know the 25 ladies. Chemistry often works in mysterious ways and I have no preconceived ideas about who I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

The Bachelor will only meet the ladies once filming commences. The show will be screened on M-Net 101 from Valentine’s Day, 14 February 2019.

LEE THOMPSON NAMED MZANSI’S FIRST BACHELOR
ELBROIDE OCTOBER 7, 2018

Over the past few months, M-Net has been hyping up viewers for it’s upcoming inaugural season of The Bachelor South Africa. From speed dating to auditions and even assisting with a proposal, the PR around the show has been incredible. Now, the channel has announced that Lee Thompson will officially serve as the show’s debut suitor.

Lee is a former Sharks rugby player and an entrepreneur with several successful business ventures on his resume. With his charming good looks and exquisite six-pack, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that he is also an international model as well.

“Our first Bachelor is a real dreamboat; frankly, a catch in a million,” says M-Net’s Head of Publicity, Lani Lombard. “Once you are ready to look beyond that sexy six-pack and sultry smile, you you will find a sincere soul who oozes boyish charm – a guy with whom our viewers – and every contestant – will undoubtedly fall in love.”

Lani adds that recruiting the first Bachelor was “a tall order. Literally and figuratively speaking.” She says that “While the ladies could enter the show, it was up to us to find The Bachelor. After many hours of scouting for the Mr Perfect, we came up with a solution – we asked the shortlisted ladies, who come from all walks of life, to list the attributes that would sway them to say “yes” when the question is popped, ‘cause after all, the show is supposed to lead to a marriage proposal!”

So, what were M-Net looking for in their first bachelor. Well, when asked, most women told the broadcaster that he needed to be tall. The next requirement was “kind-hearted”, followed by “adventurous”, “generous”, “financially independent” and “fun”.

Naturally, Lee is incredibly excited about being South Africa’s very first Bachelor. “My life goal is to have an amazing family life and, yes, I do know that this is an unusual way to find true love, but something deep inside me tells me that the universe is going to give me what I need right now – the woman of my dreams,” he tells us. “I can’t wait to meet and get to know the 25 ladies. Chemistry often works in mysterious ways and I have no preconceived ideas about who I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

The Bachelor will only meet the ladies once filming commences. The show will be screened on M-Net 101 from Valentine’s Day, 14 February 2019.

M-Net defends its bachelor choice amidst Twitter outcry
By Chrizelda Kekana - 10 October 2018 - 15:55

The creators of South African's version of hit TV series The Bachelor have responded to criticism of their selection of Lee Thompson as Mzansi's first bachelor‚ claiming he fits the description of the kind of man the contestants wanted.

Lee was recently unveiled as the first contestant to look for love on the show‚ where women competing each week for his affection and the chance to marry him. But the announcement was overshadowed by an outcry on social media by those who thought he did not represent the ideal South African man.

One of the biggest concerns was that M-Net's choice would make for "cringe-worthy" television and women of colour may be overlooked.

Despite this‚ M-Net have stuck to their guns‚ telling TshisaLIVE that Lee is the perfect fit.

"In line with the international format of the show‚ The Bachelor‚ our local version had to be a prince charming – a highly attractive‚ adventurous‚ charismatic and financially independent single man who are willing to put his heart on the line to find true love on television‚" M-Net spokesperson Lani Lombard said.

Lani said M-Net and the show's production company‚ Rapid Blue‚ cast the net wide to find the ideal candidate based on the criteria above and while it was a challenge to find a man who fit the criteria‚ it was even more difficult to find someone who was ready to go through the very public process.

She reassured fans of the show that their chosen bachelor was an "open minded individual who is willing to put a ring on the finger of a girl from any culture or background."

"He also had to be a match for each of the 25 ladies from different cultures and backgrounds who he will woo – and be wooed by – in the Bachelor mansion. We based our final decision based on what the diverse group of shortlisted ladies described as their prince charming‚" Lani said.

She said M-Net was confident viewers would fall in love with Lee as soon as they saw him in action‚ but admitted that they were anticipating a number of reactions‚ including racial debates.

"These type of conversations are a reflection of the society we live in and not an indication of M-Net’s values and beliefs‚" Lani added.

Mzansi reacts to #TheBachelorSA announcement

Reality TV / 8 October 2018, 3:22pm / Entertainment Reporter


For months now since the announcement in June, Mzansi has been speculating on who the first Bachelor would be and received the answer on Sunday night.

The long wait for the announcement of the first South African Bachelor ended on Sunday with the reveal of former Sharks rugby player and international model Lee Thompson and tweeps aren't feeling him.

And while auditions have closed and we wait to see which one of the 25 lucky women stand a chance to end up with the 1.88m tall Thompson, his announcement sent divisive opinions through the Twitterverse.  
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Thompson is the typical archetype that we've come to know from the American Bachelors with some Twitter users gushing over his looks.