Photo:ABC/Brian Bowen SmithGolden BachelorGerry Turneris trying his best to go with the flow as he dips a toe back into the dating pool.Speaking to PEOPLE during a set visit for the show’s first group date, the 72-year-old opens up about the qualities he’s looking for in a partner and why he doesn’t necessarily think “red flags” are always a bad thing.“I’m trying really hard to stay open-minded,” theGolden Bachelorstar shares. “Because something may look like a red flag on its surface, but when you explore it a little bit further, you might find that it’s not a problem at all.“ABC/Brian Bowen SmithTurner clarifies that there are a few things that would be a no-go for him in a partner. For instance, he says he “would not date a smoker.” He also adds that he would be hesitant about a “serious geographical obstacle” — but he’s not sure even that would be a dealbreaker.In sharp contrast, when asked about the most important qualities he seeks in a partner, the Indiana native is quick to list many green flags.“There’s many things that are valuable to me,” he says. “I think sense of humor ranks very high, and if that sense of humor extends to where they can laugh at themselves, that’s even better. And I think I need to see strong family values, something that’s similar to my own.“Gerry Turner with daughters Jenny and Angie and granddaughters Payton and Charlie.ABC/Brian Bowen SmithThe Golden Bachelor welcomedtwo daughters, Jenny and Angie — who are now in their 40s — with his late wife,Toni. The high school sweethearts were married for 43 years until Toni suddenly died of an illness in 2017.“Compatibility to me means that if I’m doing something that maybe my partner doesn’t 100 percent feel good about, that she knows how to bring me down and put me on the right path,” he explains, “and that I can do the same for her.“Turner wasannouncedin July as the star of ABC’s latestBachelorspinoff. The series follows retired restaurateur as he dates22 senior women— includingBacheloralumMatt James' momPatty— in hopes of finding his match.Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner.ABC/Brian Bowen SmithIn a preview clip that aired duringThe Bachelorette: Men Tell Allin August, the reality star opened up to hostJesse Palmer, 44, about how hewants to “fall in love"and find “my person” to spend his golden years with.“I hope at the end of it, I find the person that I’ll spend the rest of my life with that will complete our family,” he said at the time. “The person who can lay down beside you at night, not have to say anything and you feel it.““That’s love,” he continued. “That’s what I want and I know that person’s out there.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Golden Bachelorairs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Photo:ABC/Brian Bowen Smith
ABC/Brian Bowen Smith
Golden BachelorGerry Turneris trying his best to go with the flow as he dips a toe back into the dating pool.Speaking to PEOPLE during a set visit for the show’s first group date, the 72-year-old opens up about the qualities he’s looking for in a partner and why he doesn’t necessarily think “red flags” are always a bad thing.“I’m trying really hard to stay open-minded,” theGolden Bachelorstar shares. “Because something may look like a red flag on its surface, but when you explore it a little bit further, you might find that it’s not a problem at all.“ABC/Brian Bowen SmithTurner clarifies that there are a few things that would be a no-go for him in a partner. For instance, he says he “would not date a smoker.” He also adds that he would be hesitant about a “serious geographical obstacle” — but he’s not sure even that would be a dealbreaker.In sharp contrast, when asked about the most important qualities he seeks in a partner, the Indiana native is quick to list many green flags.“There’s many things that are valuable to me,” he says. “I think sense of humor ranks very high, and if that sense of humor extends to where they can laugh at themselves, that’s even better. And I think I need to see strong family values, something that’s similar to my own.“Gerry Turner with daughters Jenny and Angie and granddaughters Payton and Charlie.ABC/Brian Bowen SmithThe Golden Bachelor welcomedtwo daughters, Jenny and Angie — who are now in their 40s — with his late wife,Toni. The high school sweethearts were married for 43 years until Toni suddenly died of an illness in 2017.“Compatibility to me means that if I’m doing something that maybe my partner doesn’t 100 percent feel good about, that she knows how to bring me down and put me on the right path,” he explains, “and that I can do the same for her.“Turner wasannouncedin July as the star of ABC’s latestBachelorspinoff. The series follows retired restaurateur as he dates22 senior women— includingBacheloralumMatt James' momPatty— in hopes of finding his match.Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner.ABC/Brian Bowen SmithIn a preview clip that aired duringThe Bachelorette: Men Tell Allin August, the reality star opened up to hostJesse Palmer, 44, about how hewants to “fall in love"and find “my person” to spend his golden years with.“I hope at the end of it, I find the person that I’ll spend the rest of my life with that will complete our family,” he said at the time. “The person who can lay down beside you at night, not have to say anything and you feel it.““That’s love,” he continued. “That’s what I want and I know that person’s out there.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Golden Bachelorairs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Golden BachelorGerry Turneris trying his best to go with the flow as he dips a toe back into the dating pool.
Speaking to PEOPLE during a set visit for the show’s first group date, the 72-year-old opens up about the qualities he’s looking for in a partner and why he doesn’t necessarily think “red flags” are always a bad thing.
“I’m trying really hard to stay open-minded,” theGolden Bachelorstar shares. “Because something may look like a red flag on its surface, but when you explore it a little bit further, you might find that it’s not a problem at all.”
Turner clarifies that there are a few things that would be a no-go for him in a partner. For instance, he says he “would not date a smoker.” He also adds that he would be hesitant about a “serious geographical obstacle” — but he’s not sure even that would be a dealbreaker.
In sharp contrast, when asked about the most important qualities he seeks in a partner, the Indiana native is quick to list many green flags.
“There’s many things that are valuable to me,” he says. “I think sense of humor ranks very high, and if that sense of humor extends to where they can laugh at themselves, that’s even better. And I think I need to see strong family values, something that’s similar to my own.”
Gerry Turner with daughters Jenny and Angie and granddaughters Payton and Charlie.ABC/Brian Bowen Smith
The Golden Bachelor welcomedtwo daughters, Jenny and Angie — who are now in their 40s — with his late wife,Toni. The high school sweethearts were married for 43 years until Toni suddenly died of an illness in 2017.
“Compatibility to me means that if I’m doing something that maybe my partner doesn’t 100 percent feel good about, that she knows how to bring me down and put me on the right path,” he explains, “and that I can do the same for her.”
Turner wasannouncedin July as the star of ABC’s latestBachelorspinoff. The series follows retired restaurateur as he dates22 senior women— includingBacheloralumMatt James' momPatty— in hopes of finding his match.
Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner.ABC/Brian Bowen Smith
In a preview clip that aired duringThe Bachelorette: Men Tell Allin August, the reality star opened up to hostJesse Palmer, 44, about how hewants to “fall in love"and find “my person” to spend his golden years with.
“I hope at the end of it, I find the person that I’ll spend the rest of my life with that will complete our family,” he said at the time. “The person who can lay down beside you at night, not have to say anything and you feel it.”
“That’s love,” he continued. “That’s what I want and I know that person’s out there.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Golden Bachelorairs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
source: people.com
