Austrian mayor and German farmer appear on TV dating shows

Bernhard Fenk, a 55‑year‑old mayor from Putzleinsdorf in Austria’s Mühlviertel, joined the popular ORF series “Liebesgeschichten und Heiratssachen” to look for a partner. The show attracts about 1.4 million viewers across platforms, and Fenk said he received an overwhelming response after his episode aired.

In Germany, 37‑year‑old Stephan, a mother‑cow farmer from the Eifel region, is competing in RTL’s “Bauer sucht Frau”. He runs a farm with 17 cows, goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens on 18 hectares, and also cares for his six‑year‑old son. Stephan hopes to find a partner who will share life on the farm and accept his son.

Both participants are using reality‑TV matchmaking formats to seek long‑term relationships, highlighting the continued popularity of such shows in German‑speaking Europe.