Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner. She embarked on her own love journey, eventually gifting Chock Chapple with her final rose. Charles was never really a contender, but he was very likable thanks to his genuine personality and charm.

A lot of men want to be the next Golden Bachelor, and there's no clear front-runner. Typically, The Bachelor franchise picks leads from previous seasons, but The Golden Bachelor and The Golden Bachelorette only have one season each so far. This means that the pool of candidates is much smaller. Additionally, producers might want to avoid certain mistakes from the original franchise, and Gerry is already becoming more of a villain since divorcing Theresa Nist shortly after their highly-publicized wedding. I think Charles is an obvious choice, but I worry that producers won't see things the same way I do.

Charles Ling Is Genuine And Charming

He Deserves To Find Love

In the world of reality TV, it can be tricky to find someone who's actually authentic, and Charles seems to be one of those people. A retired data analyst originally from China, Charles came to the United States with just $20 and built a life in America. He was married for 36 years until his wife tragically ed away from a brain aneurysm six years ago. The loss of his wife definitely had an impact on his openness to love, but Charles embraced the process onThe Golden Bachelorette.

Charles appeared to be humble, adventurous, and deeply family-oriented on the show. As a proud father of two, he has always strongly prioritized his two daughters, which was evident even on The Golden Bachelorette. In addition to being heartwarming, Charles is also funny. “I’m 66 years old, but I look like 36,” he quipped during the show. While it didn't work out with Joan, Charles deserves another chance at love in The Golden Bachelor season 2.

Charles Won't Be Chosen By Producers

He Wasn't Enough Of A Front-Runner On The Show

Despite emerging as a fan-favorite on The Golden Bachelorette season 1, I don't think producers will actually choose Charles. He's not over the death of his ex-wife. Joan also experienced tremendous loss with her ex-husband, but she displayed more of a readiness to move on romantically. Charles hasn't worked through those feelings of grief in the same way that Joan, and some of the other contestants who lost their spouse, have been able to do. That's not a strike against Charles, but he owes it to himself and potential future partners to work through his feelings.

The Bachelor franchise should take a chance on Charles because of his charm, genuine nature, and sense of humor.

Additionally, Charles wasn't really on the show long enough for producers to choose him. He was endearing, but Joan eliminated him pretty early on. The Golden Bachelor producers are more likely to pick a contestant who nearly made it to the end with Joan. It's unclear how Charles would perform under pressure, and if he'd be able to carry a show because he didn't get much screentime in The Golden Bachelorette season 1. They probably won't take the chance.

Who Might Become The New Golden Bachelor Lead?

There Are Several Possibilities

There are several options for the next Golden Bachelor lead, and each comes with its own set of pros and cons. Guy Gansert seemed to be a strong choice until details of Guy's restraining order surfaced. Unfortunately, he now seems to be a liability for future Bachelor franchise casting. Mark Anderson has also stood out as an option, but he doesn't seem as genuine as contestants like Charles or Chock, who won the season. Pascal Ibgui could also be the next lead, but he has ridiculous demands like lowering the ages of the women. He could become a problem.

Charles would be a great choice, but I don't think that producers are willing to take a chance on such an untried cast member. It's unclear if he'd be able to carry an entire season or move on from the death of his life. Regardless, I think he's still the best option the franchise currently has. They should pick Charles, or pick someone completely new from outside the franchise. Guy, Mark, or Pascal just wouldn't cut it after The Golden Bachelorette.

The Golden Bachelorette is available for streaming on Hulu.