Farmer Wants A Wife: Natalie Gruzlewski hopes show’s list of eleven marriages and 27 children keeps growing

Eleven marriages, nine long-term relationships and 27 children — there’s no denying the quantifiable success of fairytale dating show Farmer Wants A Wife.

Ahead of her 15th season playing Cupid, familiar host Natalie Gruzlewski remains as buoyed as ever by the prospect of writing yet another enduring love story as the reality show prepares to write its next chapter on Monday night.

“I love playing matchmaker! I sound like a broken record but it’s honestly always exciting to watch true love unfold, and amazing to see so many beautiful farmer families,” she told The Sunday Times.

“To think that I play a small role in that is pretty special.”

This year’s crop of unlucky-in-love male singles includes Thomas, a 35-year-old South Australian wheat, barley, and lentils farmer, Queenslander Corey, a 24-year-old beans, hay, wheat and cotton farmer, and a couple of sheep farmers in 31-year-old Tom from NSW, and Queensland’s Jarrad, 21.

In the age of online dating apps, virtual matchmakers would love singles to believe they’re only ever one swipe away from ‘the one’.

But try being an eligible bachelor in the country where extending the search radius by hundreds of kilometres might still leave users with fewer matches than a pocket-sized box of Redheads.

And don’t even bother shouting “I’m single and ready to mingle!” into an open field when the entire community is taken.

“Online dating has been tried and tested by these farmers and for many it just doesn’t work due to the remoteness of their farms,” Gruzlewski said.

“The farmers are not kidding when they say they are the only single bloke left in town.”

With each hopeful male contestant matched up with no less than eight ladies — likely more singles than they’ve met in years — the pursuit of a romantic match is only half the battle.

Trading stilettos for gumboots and sheep shearing gloves, the city-based contestants must take to farm life like ducks to water.

Or at least show a considerable effort.

While no WA men will grace the screen this season, four local ladies will be hoping they’re struck by Cupid’s arrow as they make the journey interstate, leaving the big smoke in their rear view.

But as Gruzlewski says, the sea change is not for everyone.

“For some, it’s the isolation of moving to the country and being away from friends and family. It’s a big transition from single city girl to small town country life,” she said.

“There are certainly ladies that are cut out for country life and embrace farm work and feel right at home, while others are well out of their comfort zone but are up for the challenge!”

However, let’s not forget that reality TV only works when it’s interesting and unpredictable.

The empathetic host promises plenty of drama this season, or more specifically, “love triangles, shock exits and a few surprises”.

However, to those who watch in hope of a happily ever after or two, she offered some comfort.

“This season has been quite successful in the love department!” Gruzlewski declared.

Farmer Wants A Wife premieres 7.30pm Monday, April 21 on Seven & 7plus.