In January 2020, a casting call was issued for men and women aged 65 and older, for an edition of The Bachelor starring senior citizens. The Bachelor was initially set to air in the fall of 2020 as a part of the 2020–21 TV schedule, however, the series was delayed until 2023 due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first season aired on Thursday nights followed by the ninth season of Bachelor in Paradise instead of on its originally intended Monday-night scheduling.