ABC has exciting news for fans of "The Golden Bachelor" as they announced the upcoming spinoff, "The Golden Bachelorette," set to premiere this fall on the network. The announcement was made at a Television Critics Association panel in Los Angeles over the weekend.

"The Golden Bachelor" concluded its highly successful first season with the televised wedding ceremony of Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist. The season reached an impressive 43.4 million total viewers, making it ABC's most-watched unscripted series premiere on Hulu.

The new spinoff promises to showcase the romantic adventures of a radiant woman in her golden years as she searches for a second chance at love. While ABC has not revealed the identity of the lucky bachelorette or the cast details just yet, they assured fans that additional information will be announced at a later date.

The success of "The Golden Bachelor" has inspired several former contestants to express their interest in the opportunity to be featured as the inaugural Golden Bachelorette. April Kirkwood, a fan favorite known for her memorable fake injury during a pickleball group date, expressed readiness for whatever lies ahead, both physically and emotionally. She stated, "I am exercising. I am getting my body ready. I am getting the kitchen area ready, OK?... I'm gonna flirt with these guys so much! I want to have them at each other's throats. I'm gonna go, 'Show me what you're about, boys.'"

Natascha Hardee, who was eliminated from "The Golden Bachelor," enthusiastically embraced the idea of leading the female spinoff, stating, "Heck yes, baby! I'm in the year of yes, so I'm saying yes. That's why I'm doing this. That's how I got to be the woman of The Golden Bachelor because I said yes. I'm gonna say yes until I can't say yes anymore."

Another former contestant, Nancy Hulkower, who self-eliminated after questioning her connection with Gerry, also expressed her excitement at the prospect of being the first Golden Bachelorette, saying, "Oh my gosh. Absolutely. Why wouldn't you? You know what? I'm still pinching myself just for having this opportunity. I'm in a really good, thankful place."

Host Jesse Palmer shared in the enthusiasm, expressing his hope for "The Golden Bachelorette" to become a reality. "I just love the group of women on Gerry's season. I think there's a number that would be phenomenal Golden Bachelorettes, and that are very deserving of that opportunity."

In addition to the spinoff, ABC also announced the return of "The Bachelorette" this summer, promising more romantic and dramatic moments for fans to enjoy. With the success of "The Golden Bachelor" and the anticipation surrounding "The Golden Bachelorette," ABC continues to captivate audiences with their popular reality dating franchise.

So mark your calendars, as "The Golden Bachelorette" is set to premiere this fall on ABC, with episodes available for streaming the next day on Hulu. Stay tuned for further updates on cast details and the identity of the lucky golden bachelorette who will embark on a quest for love in her golden years.