Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner Wants to Find Love Again at 72 Because ‘It’s Really Lonely to Be by Yourself’ (Exclusive)

The Golden BachelorGerry Turner, the main man, is ready to give it his all.

Speaking to PEOPLE during an arranged visit for the show’s first group date, the 72-year-old widower opens up about why he wants to find love again.

“After all these years of being married and feeling like part of a team, it’s really lonely being alone,” says Gerry. “Every day you are constantly reminded that you have no one.”

“You might experience the most beautiful sunset, [but] when you go back to the house, you have no one to talk to about it,” he adds.

Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner Says ‘It’s Never Too Late To Fall In Love Again’

ABC/Brian Bowen Smith

The Golden Bachelor was married to his high school sweetheart Toni for 43 years until she died suddenly of an illness in 2017. The couple share two daughters, Angie and Jenny, who are now in their 40s.

Six years after his wife’s death, the native Indian is ready to date again – something he says he hasn’t done since “the mid-1960s”.

He explains that his daughters, as well as granddaughters Charlee and Payton, encouraged him to get involved in the show.

“They just want me to be happy,” he notes of his family members. “They gave me great support and laugh at some of the things I say and do [aren’t] quite in line with trendy culture.”

Gerry Turner on his ‘Golden Bachelor’ survival guide, from Helen Mirren’s hopes to being someone’s ‘granddad’

Gerry has been announced as the star of ABC’s new Bachelor spinoff in July. The series follows the first Golden Bachelor as he dates 22 older women – inclusive Bachelor Matt James’ mother, Patty – hoping to find love.

“The Golden Bachelor” stars Patty, Christina, Theresa, Peggy, Ellen, Susan, Faith, Leslie, Sandra, Kathy, Nancy, Maria, Edith, Pamela, Marina, Sylvia, Natasha, Joan, April, Anna, Renee and Jeanie.

ABC/Ricky Middlesworth

Meet Gerry Turner’s 22 ‘Golden Bachelors’ — Including the Ex-Bachelor’s Mom!

In the pre-premiere clip that was broadcast as part of The Bachelor: Men Say Everythingreality star opened up to host Jesse Palmer about her hope to “find her person,” while stressing that she in no way intends to replace Toni.

“What I’m looking for at age 70 is different than what I’m looking for when I was in high school and college,” he explained. “So I believe I will find my person, a new person who will make me whole again, and I think we will have a wonderful relationship.”

“But I don’t think it will look like the relationship I had with Tony,” he added. “And I don’t think it would be right to do so.”

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The Golden Bachelor airs Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

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Source: HIS Education