He’s the hotel heir who turned the competition on its head when he arrived at The Bachelorette Australia mansion last week.
But publican Stu Laundy, 44, says viewers should not be so quick to judge him.
“I’m risking a lot to be here,” the father-of-four explains.
“I’ve been married, I’ve had kids. And, just like the other guys, I’ve put everything on the line. This may be the biggest gamble of my life, but I’m here to chase happiness.”
And that happiness is Sophie Monk.
Sophie and Stu had met before he came on the show.
Controversially, Stu and Sophie met at a party last year. Stu later invited Sophie to join him for an evening on board his luxury yacht.
“I thought it was a massive party thing and I’m not much of a socialite, so I said no,” Sophie, 37, recalls.
“I didn’t realise he was actually asking me on a date, so technically, I stood him up.”
Ever since their first encounter, Stu hasn’t been able to get Sophie out of his mind – which is why he decided to go on the show.
“She’s one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen in my life,” Stu says, adding he knows he will cop a lot of criticism.
“I’m going to be brutalised by certain people around me and jeopardise some relationships. But at the end of the day, I needed to be here. I truly believe there’s chemistry between us.”
And Sophie agrees. “I know about Stu’s past. I’m just interested to see if we’re compatible,” she says.
Opening up about his failed marriage with his ex Rachel, Stu admits he was to blame.
“We grew apart and I wasn’t the best team player,” he says.
But Stu, who’s based in Sydney, is optimistic about a future with Sophie.
“I’d move anywhere for the right girl,” he grins.
