COAST MEN TRYING TO WIN SOPHIE’S HEART

SOPHIE Monk isn’t the only Gold Coaster putting her heart on the line in the new series of Channel 10’s The Bachelorette.

Two of the 18 guys hoping to steal the singer, actor and TV and radio host’s affections on the new series of The Bachelorette are also from the Coast.

Homegrown magician Apollo, aka 24-year-old Jack Spence, and 26-year-old construction foreman Ryan were introduced to fellow Coastraised single Monk, 37, when the latest series of The Bachelorette premiered last night. So how did they fare? While Apollo appears to be in with a chance, Ryan has already ruffled feathers and emerged as the early contender for series villain.

New Zealand-born tradie and former rugby player Ryan moved to the Coast with his family when he was 10 and spent the next 12 years living in Broadbeach.

While his dad and his grandparents still call the Coast home, Ryan has lived in the beachside suburb of Coogee since he moved to Sydney

a couple of years ago. The kind of guy who’s the last to leave the party, the former Emmanuel College student modestly describes himself as “charismatic, spontaneous, caring, loving and confident”.

Based on last night’s debut episode, he’s right about the confident bit.

Ryan said he was looking for “spontanuity” in a relationship and grilled Monk to

be sure she was on the show for the right reasons.

The first guy to steal Monk away from the others, Ryan sure was quick off the mark – too quick according to more than a few of his love rivals.

Those rivals include former Hillcrest College student and “nice guy” Apollo, a born and bred Gold Coaster.

Romantic and entertaining, Apollo describes himself as “outgoing, charismatic, honest, fun and respectful”.

He says he’s looking for a woman who can share his passion for philanthropy, knows what she wants and who is “vocal about what she expects in a relationship”.

Which in Monk’s case, could very well be him.

Last night’s premiere included footage of Monk discussing her potential match with her Gold Coast-based family – parents Andrew and Sandi, who have been married for 43 years, and sister Lucy.

The family chatted about what Monk wants in a partner and what she looks for in a guy.

“Someone like you,” she told her dad Andrew.

Monk admits she had a huge moment of self-doubt before The Bachelorette’s opening cocktail party where she met her suitors.

“I thought to myself ‘You are an idiot, you are repulsive, what are you doing?’ ” she said.

“I don’t like being vulnerable, I like being funny or tough ... but after that first night I started to relax.”

screens Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on Channel 10.