TV's Most Eligible Bachelors Around the World

' The Bachelor' franchise recently announced a Canadian version of the show. The identity of the man chosen for the job of courting 25 women, will say a lot about what women want in a nation of hockey stars and free healthcare.

Ever since the first season of the series, debuted in the United States, it's taken the TV-friendly temperature of what's covetable in the moment. In 2002, when Ivy Leaguers were making internet billions, it was a man with a Harvard degree (Alex Michel). In 2007, amidst a racheting healthcare crisis, our Bachelor was a naval doctor who could save anyone. (Andrew Baldwin). If we're to interpret our husbandly desires in 2012 in the United States by the likes of Bachelor Ben Flajnik, the ideal man is sensitive, tech-savvy, a little nerdy, sufficiently fluent in the language of psychotherapy, self-employed and able to provide a lifetime supply of wine for his chosen partner.

Across the world, reality dating competitions have grown in popularity and their human grand prizes speak to what women in each country want in a groom. Here's a survey of some of the most 'elligible' stars of reality dating shows around the world.

United Kingdom

The 29-year-old Gavin Henson was the most recent star of the British version of the 'Bachelor' series. In a land where sports elevate the everyman to near royal status (see David Beckham), it's not surprising that a rugby player is an ideal catch. Like David Beckham, Henson's also got links to british pop royalty. He had two kids with singer Charlotte Church. The U.K. loves its tabloid stars possibly even more than we do, so Henson's past over-exposure is appealing, even if his past isn't polished. Henson is famous for dumping Church two months after their planned engagement. He's also been accused of disorderly conduct. But our sister counter seems to be just as turned on by a "fixer upper" as we are. Like our own Bachelor Brad, who got a second chance at being a better man and blew it, British viewers also hanker for rehabilitation in their quest for love.

Ukraine

Francis Mathew is the current coveted future husband on TV sets around the Ukraine. A decendant of Russia's last czar, winning his heart on the country's 'Bachelor' version, would mean a direct connection to Nicholas II. Other selling points for Mathew in the country: he's got dual citizenship. The Scottish based photographer has the power of the double passport and his background as a stuntman signals a kind of 1970's burly 'Fall Guy' appeal. Over 16,000 women auditioned to compete for his attention, despite thefact that he doesn't speak much Ukrainian or Russian. Dates between the 25 chosen contestants and Mathews are like United Nations conferences. They wear translator earpieces to communicate. Strangely, producers are convinced lack of understanding will be a major selling point for women. Of the selection process Mathews said in an interview: "The phone call just came out of the blue... I went over and did a screen test with a translator and they offered me the job."

Zambia

The closest cousin to the 'Bachelor' series in Zambia is a show called 'Ready For Marriage'. Lyrics to the show's theme song explains the concept: "I have regrets, I've mistakes in the past I'm not proud of, I'm so ashamed but I had no choice I had to survive. The world is cruel, so hard to survive. what do you do when there's noone to turn to and understand what you've been through?" In its third season, 'Ready for Marriage' pits 18 female sex workers against eachother for the chance to be freed from their past, both financially and in reputation. The winner gets enough money to start a new career and an all-expense paid wedding to a man she may choose to marry sometime in the future. But more than that she gets to be deemed worthy of marriage by the public, despite her past. Judges and viewers vote for winners based on show conduct as well as recaps of the tragic histories that led them to prostitution. The most recent winner, named Precious Amukansana, was orphaned and turned to the sex trade to provide for her siblings and pay for her own education. When she won the competition, she thanked god for helping her avoid HIV and planned to buy a house for her siblings. She doesn't have a partner to wed, but when and if she chooses someone to marry, her wedding will be paid for by the show.

South Korea

Nichkhun, a Thai member of the boy band 2PM, was the most popular male character from a group of hearthrobs chosen for the show South Korean reality show 'We Got Married'. In the series, two pop stars are chosen to live to together for, get this, a year and three months. His arranged marriage with Victoria, the Chinese singer of the girl group X, made him a national idol. His popularity was so widespread he was chosen to star in a spin-off series that had him dating regular women for seven days at a time.

India

'Perfect Bride', a sem-arranged marriage competition in India, features five male contestants who choose between eleven attractive women, each one vying for the chance to be their brides. The twist here is that India's most eligible, get help from their moms in deciding. So all five men are idealized husbands, in part, because they're momma's boys. What else makes them attractive to the opposite sex? His caste, listed just beneath his profession and age on the series' website. All five of the men are under 30 and have promising careers as stone crushers and criminal attorneys. Despite bowing to their mom's wishes, their feelings about women range from progressive to oppresive. One candidate wants a working woman who speaks her mind, another wants a tall girl who is "not too overfriendly with her friends."

Australia

One of Australia's most popular and long running reality series, The Farmer Wants a Wife, originated in the U.K. But the concept resonated deeply in the outback where the cowboy isn't a cinematic relic but a symbol of hard work and survival. This season's stars range in age from 24 to 58. The oldest contestant, Farmer John, has two sons in their '30s.

John is a widow who lost his wife to cancer after over twenty years of marriage. (By comparison our American Bachelor lost his love of 6 weeks to a guy named J.P.)
Just as it is in America, the appeal of self-employment and land ownership is the marker of a dream man. John owns his own ranch, where he shows horses and produces cattle beef. It's kind a like a winery, only with more blood and less small talk.

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