The Bachelor’s original star couple Tim and Anna Robards have spoken out about the hard truth behind keeping “excitement” alive in their marriage after the show’s first split.

The Bachelor Australia’s original star couple Tim and Anna Robards have revealed the hard truth behind how they have kept their romance alive for more than a decade.

Former chiropractor Tim, 42, chose then-criminal lawyer Anna Heinrich, 37, as the winner at the finale of the first season of The Bachelor in 2013 out of more than 25 women vying for his attention on the show.

They became the first couple from the now-axed The Bachelor Australia franchise to marry in a glamorous ceremony in Apulia, southern Italy, in 2018.

Tim and Anna then announced they welcomed their first daughter, Elle, in November 2020 and their second daughter, Ruby, in March 2024.

A year after Ruby’s arrival, Tim quipped he was already one-half of an “old married couple” 12 years into his romance with Anna.

He spoke of how they keep the “excitement” alive after the surreal adventure of meeting and falling in love on national TV.

“Time goes pretty quick, and now when anyone asks us, we’re just an old married couple,” he told SkyNews.com.au at the Guys & Dolls musical premiere in Sydney.

“We’ve got two kids, a house, and nearly a dog soon, maybe.

Former Bachelor Tim Robards and his wife Anna Robards attends the “Guys & Dolls” premiere in Sydney. Picture: Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images
“We try to come to things like this so we can keep the excitement in the marriage.”

The insight comes after Georgia Love and Lee Elliott, who met in The Bachelor spinoff The Bachelorette in 2016, announced they had split after their marriage in 2021.

“After nine wonderful years together, including four as husband and wife, Lee and I have made the incredibly difficult decision to lovingly part ways,” they wrote in identical statements on Instagram last month.

The pair said there was “do drama” or “bad blood” between them, confirming speculation that they had separated after Georgia was spotted without her wedding ring several times and spent Christmas without Lee.

However, Anna said she and Tim had managed to “survive” married life thus far with children, businesses, and a social media presence to uphold.

“I’m like 12 years (since we met), but we survived, we survived 12 years after,” she said.

The In Your Skin podcast host reflected on the The Bachelor franchise, noting the show’s evolution and positive outcomes for many participants, including marriages and children.

“A lot of people have also come off it who have been married, stayed married, and had kids, so I think, obviously, it was so worth going on, and for a lot of people who have kids from that show,” Anna said.

“We’re just very lucky we found each other on there 12 years ago.”

When asked if there could be more mini Tim and Annas in the future, the couple pondered briefly before agreeing they would likely not have more children.

Tim said they looked forward to seeing Elle and Ruby grow up as they navigate their busy work schedules, which include Anna’s Intu Wellness vitamin range and an exciting Hollywood film project for the actor.

“We’re just busy. Anna’s working on her Intu Wellness. She’s launched a podcast, he said.

“I just came off the film set for a pretty big American movie. So I was shooting that on Monday and Tuesday.”

Tim could not disclose anything about the mystery film but said he had a “small role” in the “big American movie”, which is currently being shot in Australia.

“I just have to wait and see if I make the cut. Go and watch it in the cinema!” he said.

Tim and Anna share their family life with their children Elle and Ruby on Instagram. Picture: Instagram
“It’s not the big break I was hoping for. I’ve come close to a few big breaks.

“I’m getting there. It’s a very close stepping stone. But it was good, my first big, like US movie. So it’s a nice little stepping stone.”

Tim and Anna share their family life at their luxurious home in the Sydney suburb of Dover Heights, as well as their travels and adventures as parents on Instagram.