The Bachelor’s Locky Gilbert has brushed off speculation he is dating the odds-on favourite, Bella Varelis.
The former Australian Survivor star, 30, was asked on The Kyle and Jackie O Show if it was true he was in a relationship with marketing professional Bella, 25, after several major betting agencies tipped her to win the show.
Putting Locky on the spot, radio host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson said: ‘Her name is Bella, she’s got long dark hair and she just looks like your type of girl.’
‘They never know what they’re talking about’: The Bachelor’s Locky Gilbert has brushed off speculation he’s dating the odds-on favourite after the winner is ‘LEAKED by a production insider’ ahead of the season premiere
‘Now they’re saying she’s one of the favourites with another girl,’ Jackie added, referring to 31-year-old nurse Irena Srbinovska.
But Locky dismissed the betting odds, pointing out that he too had been an early bookies’ favourite to take the Survivor crown, but didn’t end up winning.
‘I don’t think so. I was paying a favourite on Survivor for Sportsbet, and I clearly didn’t win so they never know what they’re talking about,’ he said.
Does she win Locky’s heart? Jackie called one particular suitress, 25-year-old Isabella ‘Bella’ Varelis (pictured), a ‘stand out,’ saying she could win his heart based her looks and how she behaves
Another favourite to win: Jackie added, ‘Now they’re saying she’s one of the favourites with another girl,’ she said only recalling the other lady was blonde – likely Irena Srbinovska, 31 (pictured), who was named a favourite by Sportsbet on Tuesday
It comes as TAB’s latest betting odds strongly suggest that the winner of The Bachelor has been leaked ahead of the premiere.
The bookmaker has Irena and Bella Varelis as joint favourites to win Locky’s heart, with equal odds of $2.50.
Their closest rival is aspiring actress Marlaina McPhillips, who at $6 is the only other contestant in single figures.
In the running: On Tuesday morning, bookmaker TAB has nurse Irena (left) and media marketer Bella (right) as joint favourites to win Locky’s heart. They both have odds of $2.50
Irena and Bella’s extremely short odds suggest some degree of insider knowledge that one of these two women wins.
The Bachelor is filmed in advance and there are plenty of people – including the cast, crew and publicists – who know the outcome.
It’s possible one of these insiders leaked the result, causing a surge in online bets that resulted in Irena and Bella’s odds being slashed significantly.
Alternatively, somebody close to production may have let slip the ending to a friend, partner or family member, who in turn spread the news.
Contender: Their closest rival is aspiring actress Marlaina McPhillips (pictured), who at $6 is the only other contestant in single figures. But Sportsbet has her as the favourite to win with odds of $3.50
Runner up? Sportsbet odds placed real estate agent Gemma White (pictured) at second place with odds of $4.50
Meanwhile, Sportsbet has Marlaina, 31, as the opening favourite at $3.50, and real estate agent Gemma White, 28, with slightly longer odds of $4.50.
Bella and Irena tipped at equal third place, each with odds of $5.
The Bachelor premieres tonight at 7:30pm on Channel 10
From models and teachers, to actresses and mechanical engineers: Locky will meet 23 bachelorettes during Wednesday’s premiere