At this rate we will be talking about the 2014 series of The Bachelor until next year's starts. Blake Garvey and Louise Pillidge gave a joint radio interview this morning from Canberra (despite being in separate rooms) to KIIS FM's Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O, where they answered questions about how Blake had been treated by the public since his headline-making split from Sam Frost, whether he actually talked to her during their awkward encounter on Derby Day, and what kind of support Louise had received from the bachelorettes, who appear to have banded together around Sam since the post-finale fallout.
Blake and Louise, who were in Canberra because they are going to visit Louise's family in Jindabyne, are now able to speak freely about their relationship since all the exclusive deals have been done. In fact they made their first public appearance as a couple at this week's Melbourne Cup, and have started getting affectionate on social media. Here's what they told Kyle and Jackie O this morning.
On their future living arrangements:
Louise: "Yes! I am definitely moving to Perth, which I'm super excited about. I'm just going to pack everything I own, which is quite a lot of things."
On Blake's decision:
Blake: "As you said, you have to do what you feel is right. We've all been in relationships where maybe it's not right, and I think the hardest thing in that situation is to do something about it. I've had people come up to me since, like, 'You kind of gave me the courage to call it off because I really haven't been happy.'"
On reports people didn't want to do business with Blake:
Blake: "I did have a few call-ins and some emails that were really, really negative, and that was certainly disappointing. I understand a lot of people were fairly opinionated by it. Most of the time they just need to take the time to speak to someone, and within a few seconds they turn around and go, 'I get it.' I think everyone was just really, really into the series. I was in the airport the other day, and I had this little girl come up to me, and she was about eight or nine. She came up with her mum, and she gave me a hug, and she started crying. She was like, 'Why is everyone being so mean? You were always nice to all the girls.'"
On saying they love each other:
Louise: "I actually said I loved him on the show. Do you know how hard it is to know that someone actually can't say that back to you? For me, that was a massive step. Then obviously when we got together in Thailand, it was just us two, nothing else, and we were just able to reconnect, and chat . . . I guess it's just such a big, big step. Walking through those doors, and just seeing him, I think it was all of a sudden we just said I love each other. It was beautiful, it was lovely."
On their reunion:
Louise: "There was a little bit of tears, but tears of happiness. We had finally got together, and had finally been able to see each other, which was amazing."
On whether Blake spoke to Sam at Derby Day:
Blake: "No, not at all. I knew she was there, and we were just basically talking to people. I think they cut out two photos to try and put it like I was standing right behind her, because I don't recall even being that close to Sam at any point. But good on them, it was the closest they could get to a story for it, and I understand how these things work. She seems OK."
On whether Louise has been in touch with Sam:
Louise: "No, I haven't. I mean we're all moving forward. I only wish her happiness, and all the other girls as well. It's a very delicate situation, and I think all I can do is just wish them all happiness."
On how Louise's feelings for Blake never changed:
Louise: "I got the letter first, and it was very beautiful, very open, very honest. Then I was the one, I called up, and we just had a chat. I think being so honest and open, I had wanted to hear that for a really long time - like when I got sent home in South Africa, everyone saw it, I still said that I would love Blake. Those feelings never left, and never faded. I think over time, and getting on with life, that would move on, but they never changed. It was something that I definitely wanted to hear, and I never thought I would hear."
On whether they'll get married:
Blake: "Let's just say not this year, but it's certainly not ruled out. And we talked about this throughout the whole experience that was the show, and where we stood in terms of life, future, marriage, kids and all of that. None of that's changed. In terms of how we got together, it was not quite according to script, but that's life. These things happen."
On Louise getting support from other bachelorettes:
Louise: "I've had some really beautiful support. All the girls, they knew what we were going into, and why we were there. Some girls have been really supportive and lovely. It's been nice. I've had so much support, not only from my family, my friends, all of Jindabyne [laughs]. I haven't changed. I was friends with all the girls in the house, and we had such an amazing time. I look back on my time as something I'll always remember and cherish, because I learned so much about myself and had great friendships in the house. Production and crew were amazing as well."