The secret family heartbreak which nearly forced The Bachelor frontrunner Bella Varelis to DUMP Locklan ‘Locky’ Gilbert
The Bachelor favourite Bella Varelis was on the verge of dumping Locklan ‘Locky’ Gilbert and quitting the show due to a devastating family heartbreak.
Despite being smitten with the hunky lead, the 25-year-old admitted that during filming she was always thinking about her grandfather, who had been diagnosed with dementia and lung cancer shortly before she went onto the dating show.
Recalling how she was willing to give up on finding lasting love, Bella told New Idea: ‘He had been given a while to live, but it was in the back on my mind knowing that he could pass at any time.’
Family circumstances: The Bachelor favourite Bella Varelis was on the verge of dumping Locklan ‘Locky’ Gilbert and quitting the show due to a devastating family heartbreak
The stunner added: ‘Although [my grandfather] gave me his blessing to go on the show, family means a lot tome, so I would have wanted to be there for them.’
Bella revealed that Locky was aware of her family circumstances, and supported her decision to quit the show, even if that meant he was left brokenhearted.
‘It was so beautiful seeing how Locky comforted me through this emotional roller-coaster – he really showed me a gentle, caring side of him that I hadn’t seen before,’ the brunette said.
‘Back of my mind: Despite being smitten with Locky, the 25-year-old admitted that she was always thinking about her grandfather who had been diagnosed with dementia and lung cancer shortly before she went onto the dating show
Bella is tipped as the favourite in the competition, as is her friend Irena Srbinovska.
However, Irena admitted that she briefly stepped away from the show midway through filming earlier this year.
The 31-year-old nurse decided to head back to work in Melbourne to help patients suffering from coronavirus when production on the series briefly shut down in March during the height of the pandemic.
All of the bachelorettes bid farewell to Locky in Sydney and returned to their hometowns.
Heartbreak: Recalling how she was willing to give up on finding lasting love, Bella said: ‘He had been given a while to live, but it was in the back on my mind knowing that he could pass at any time’
However, instead of sitting around and waiting to do Zoom calls with the hunky Survivor star, Irena was on the frontline fighting the virus.
Irena is currently the main frontrunner to win Locky’s heart, with odds of $1.25 while Bella is expected to be runner-up at $3.75, according to TAB’s latest betting odds as of Thursday.
The Bachelor continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10.
Break: Irena Srbinovska, who is a nurse, admitted that she briefly stepped away from the show midway through filming earlier this year to help patients suffering from coronavirus