Press Transcript From The May 6 THE BACHELOR: LONDON CALLING Teleconference With Matt Grant

A Press Teleconference was held on May 6th with Matt Grant from THE BACHELOR: LONDON CALLING. (Cathy Rehl is Moderator for this Teleconference)

Cathy Rehl:    Hi everybody. Welcome to one of our last - actually our last conference call before our happy couple call which we will have next Tuesday for you. And which I'm delighted to say there is a happy couple call and that Matt will be making that decision and there will be a proposal next Monday night.

Obviously you know it's between Chelsea and Shayne and Matt's on the phone with, us today from Los Angeles and I think we're going to just open it up for questions.

And your first question comes from the line of (Matt Liebowitz) from Flash News.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Hi Matt. How are you?

Matt Grant:    I'm good, thanks (Matt). How you doing?

(Matt Liebowitz):    Good, thanks. I've got to ask you straight off the bat did you think American girls would be this crazy?

Matt Grant:    That's a good question. I just think that - I think they acted pretty well considering, you know, the format and, you know, the situation they're put in and I know that British women would have come across exactly the same.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Oh so it's not just American.

Matt Grant:    Diplomatic response.

(Matt Liebowitz):    It's not just an American thing?

Matt Grant:    British women I'm sure would be pretty similar. You know, you watch - you obviously know the reality television that comes across here from Britain and there's stuff that goes the other way as well; it's all very similar. I mean the likes of "Survivor" obviously and "Dancing with the Stars" and all that comes across in the UK and very similar if you watch both shows.

It's the same if you watch "The Office" here or you watch "The Office" in the UK; they're pretty similar.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Okay did you - you mentioned on the shows have you seen any other dating shows? Like do you pick up any dating tips from, you know, there's one with Flavor Flav and one with Brett Michael.

Matt Grant:    I watch Brett Michaels and Flavor Flav and I couldn't stop laughing. And I know if I'd have been asked to go on one of those two I never would have done it. For all the tea in China you wouldn't have gotten me on those shows.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Really?

Matt Grant:    I mean they're crazy. And when they bring back the exes, you know, the ex-boyfriends or something it just cracks me up. I mean it's great entertainment, isn't it, but it's not my thing.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Okay. And now lastly the odds are kind of stacked against you in terms of the past bachelor couples staying together. Are you discouraged at all?

Are you discouraged about (unintelligible)?

Matt Grant:    No I'm not bothered by it.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Really?

Matt Grant:    Other people in their (unintelligible) statistics - I mean I never read statistics anyway. But no that's their lives, isn't it? Nothing to do with me. So, you know, I'm always an optimist and my glass is always half full.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Okay.

Matt Grant:    If not completely full. So, you know, we're just, you know, we're just going to give it the best shot we can. But I'm confident we'll survive, we'll succeed.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Okay. Do you plan on living here or back in London?

Matt Grant:    Haven't really finalized that yet. Either way it's going to be tricky.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Why is that?

Matt Grant:    Because, you know, it's not easy for an American to go live in the UK and it's not easy for a Brit to come live in the US. So - but we'll sort it out, you know.

(Matt Liebowitz):    Okay. Well great Matt. Thanks.

Matt Grant:    Yeah no problem (Matt). Nice to speak to you.

Operator:    Your next question comes from (Chris Rocchio) from Reality TV World.

(Chris Rocchio):    Hey Matt. Good to talk to you again.

Matt Grant:    Hi (Chris). How you doing?

(Chris Rocchio):    Good, good.

So I was wondering if you could just talk a little bit about, you know, what about Shayne and Chelsea attracted you to each of them? You know, what are some of the qualities about them you like and also what are some of the qualities about them you were kind of questionable of?

Matt Grant:    You know, they've got some similar qualities and some very different qualities anyways. But both were just good fun to be around and I think that comes across the show when you're watching it. You pick up that, you know, just good fun.

I'd say, you know, with Chelsea it was very much because she's very sporty and outgoing, athletic and I love that side of her. And with Shayne it was the, you know, very feminine, you know, a real kind of lady's woman, you know, very much fashion and everything that I loved as well.

But most importantly I guess, you know, really with Shayne it was because it's very easy right from the start - the connection. And with Chelsea because it was always fun.

(Chris Rocchio):    Okay. So, you know, it was earlier in the season, how you were a little skeptical of Shayne because she's an actress. You know, how did your opinion of Shayne sort of change over the course of you getting to know her?

Matt Grant:    I was really, you know, I was really tough on her. Looking back, you know, coming away from our conversations (unintelligible) I was really tough on her because it was like, you know, come on.

And then I started, you know, you obviously saw that scene in Las Vegas where she starts kicking off on a tantrum, just falling into my kind of, you know, my vision of what I thought she was.

And then I started seeing her on the date at the winery in California it was more depth and substance but I was still tough on her. And then really it was, really it wasn't until Idaho skiing I just saw this side to her that was, you know, she was talking about family a lot, she was talking about friends a lot and I really saw this completely different side to her - quite far away from the sort of Hollywood girl that I thought was just there, you know, a one dimensional figure.

And then, you know, it was really kind of the icing on the cake for me was the hometown visit when I realized that she was kind of the keystone and to the family. The kind of, you know, the key person in the family and fundamental to the stability of the family and success of the family. And to look in after her sister, you know, and mother and very caring and it was just, you know, obvious that I'd got it wrong.

(Chris Rocchio):    And I just wanted to know I guess the other side to that is Chelsea. You know, we saw her with kind of having problem with public displays of affection. You know, was that something that it took you awhile to kind of get over with her?

Matt Grant:    Yeah, very much so, yeah, same as Shayne. I was really skeptical that long, you know, it's just a bit weird she can't hold someone's hand.

PDAs (public displays of affection) - my ex-girlfriend was always kind of funny with PDA. You know, it was like I didn't want that again. So you can see that sort of came out.

(Chris Rocchio):    Okay. All right thanks.

Matt Grant:    No worries. Good to speak to you.

Operator:    Your next question comes from (Jason Oropallo) from realitywanted.com.

(Jason Oropallo):    Good morning Matt. How are you?

Matt Grant:    I'm good, thanks (Jason). Yourself?

(Jason Oropallo):    Fantastic. So a question for you. You know, a lot of our readers on our site are big fan of Amanda. I mean what really happened there? I mean everybody thought she was going to be the one. Anything that - I mean her qualities looked like she had a lot.

Matt Grant:    It's a shame. You know, I didn't get death threats but, you know, I got some fairly harsh words thrown at me (unintelligible). You know, for that I can kind of understand in a way because, you know, people watch it week on week and they see what they - I guess they, you know, when the first rose went to Amanda the first - what do you call the first appearance rose I think what it's called - first impression rose.

And you can, you know, and people get built up and I understand that. They're kind of thinking it's Amanda, it's Amanda. She's the first rose and, you know, a good chemistry there, whatever. But, hand on heart, in all honesty it just wasn't anywhere near enough.

And, you know, I can completely see she's a great girl. You know, I could see that she was very attractive and, you know, she was family orientated and a nice person. You know, definitely just genuine warm, sincere, nice person.

But quite simply, she just wasn't for me and I wasn't for her as well. I mean it's a two way thing. And, you know, really does come down to the fact that with the other two it's discussed - the "love" word come up a lot and with Amanda I realized it was just like "like" all the time. It just wasn't - it just quite simply wasn't there.

And sometimes I know it's frustrating because we always need information and exact reasons for why something hasn't worked out. And sometimes in relationships you can't, you know, I can't give a detailed report on exactly why emotionally it wasn't there for me.

But it wasn't.

(Jason Oropallo):    So would you say you're in love now with the choice that you made?

Matt Grant:    Definitely, yeah, without a doubt. But, you know, I wasn't anywhere near that with Amanda. And also you have to realize, you know, and I think the logistics were an issue here but, you know, boyfriend had never been taken home to meet the parents before - even to face parents.

And it was - I think to be fair that was logistics. I think was because the family had moved around. But it didn't seem that there'd been really a long relationship - a decent relationship with Amanda in the past. And I was just thinking well really - ironically because you're the eldest but are you really ready to settle down?

And so that was my reason, hand on heart. I mean, you know, don't get me wrong - I thought she was a great girl.

(Jason Oropallo):    And do you regret any of the girls that you let go in the past or do you think the one you've made a choice is 100% hands down, you know, the one?

Matt Grant:    Definitely. I was worried going into it that I would be kind of looking back and regretting. But I tried to stay focused on doing it. I mean really I'm just a bloke, you know, on a TV show. You know, I could have made mistakes.

But as far as the important decision I didn't make any mistakes. I mean, you know, I don't really have regrets in life. I think life's too short for regrets. But I just kind of thought I definitely know the one I'm with is the right one.

So, you know, if there was a few mistakes along the way then I made them but ultimately and fundamentally I made the right decision.

(Jason Oropallo):    And the final question did you know this was going to be the one from the beginning?

Matt Grant:    As far as love at first sight I'm not a big advocate of that. But that said I knew when I first saw here that, you know, I was in trouble and - in a good way - and that it could be.

(Jason Oropallo):    Cool. Well best of luck to you; appreciate your time. Thanks Matt.

Matt Grant:    No worries man, good to speak to you.

(Jason Oropallo):    Thank you.

Your next question comes from (Laura Saltman) from Access Hollywood.

(Laura Saltman):    All right, Matt let's break it down. You just are getting married because you want to move here and get your green card, right?

Matt Grant:    Oh yeah, because I'm from a third world country called the United Kingdom. Oh yeah, and my ex-girlfriend was American as well so really I should have married her. I work for an American bank as well so if I want to come over here I should do that.

That was the most far-fetched rubbish I've ever read in my life, right? I took real offense at that because they were calling me a fraudster, you know, and I thought in the UK you could sue people for that - defamation of character. But hey I think that's part of the process of being in Hollywood, isn't it, even if I'm here for a limited time.

(Laura Saltman):    Yeah but those London tabloids they're worse than the tabloids over here. Have they hit hard on you?

Matt Grant:    They have to be careful. If they call someone a fraudster they wouldn't call someone a fraudster without having real evidence...

(Laura Saltman):    Okay.

Matt Grant:    So you couldn't actually say that because that's saying somebody's trying to rip the state off and that's not it - you can't say that. But you're right, the red top tabloids in London are renowned for their hardness, aren't they?

(Laura Saltman):    Yeah they're pretty brutal.

So here's my question to you. First of all why'd you buzz off all the hair?

Matt Grant:    Why?

(Laura Saltman):    Yeah.

Matt Grant:    Because I always do in the summer and it's like summer over here.

(Laura Saltman):    I was going to say if you have hair and you're a guy you should be proud of it.

Matt Grant:    Yeah...

(Laura Saltman):    You have a good head.

Matt Grant:    I like the look.

(Laura Saltman):    No, it looks good.

Matt Grant:    I think some people like it - it's like anything in life, isn't it? Some people like it and some people don't. You're never going to please everyone in life.

(Laura Saltman):    Yes this is true. Okay so...

Matt Grant:    Have you ever shaved your hair off?

(Laura Saltman):    No - God no. I won't even let them cut an inch off my hair. Are you kidding?

Matt Grant:    All right.

(Laura Saltman):    No, no, no - girls don't do that...

Matt Grant:    Unless you're Britney.

(Laura Saltman):    Unless you're Demi Moore and Britney, yeah.

Matt Grant:    Britney Spears.

(Laura Saltman):    So okay...

Matt Grant:    What was she thinking?

(Laura Saltman):    I don't know - I really don't. She's back on track though.

Matt Grant:    Yeah she seems it.

(Laura Saltman):    Okay back to you. So here's my question I always have to wonder. So as a girl here you are with these two women at the end and you're saying that you're, you know, in love with two women.

But how can you go then and propose to one person if you still have feelings for somebody else? Because shouldn't if you're going to go into a marriage and spend the rest of your life with somebody shouldn't you be 100% focused on them?

Matt Grant:    I can only be honest. You know, I can only be honest. I was never going to go on here and kind of act and lie and deceive. And, you know, I did have feelings for the final two and that's something that we as a couple have to sort of get - go beyond. And we've talked about it and, you know, we understand that we were put into an - effectively an unrealistic situation albeit, you know, it's reality television.

And, you know, you have to accept - we've both got brains and stuff - it wasn't going to be easy afterwards. You know, we had deep and frank conversations about what was going to be shown and how things are and, you know, I like your question...

(Laura Saltman):    Yeah.

Matt Grant:    Because you've got a brain and you're asking a decent question and it's a good one. But, you know, likewise, you understand my response. It's a format of the show...

(Laura Saltman):    Right.

Matt Grant:    I would be lying and deceiving if I said I didn't have feelings for the last two because I did. But, ultimately, I had more feelings for one person. And, you know, love isn't just black and white - there's a whole spectrum of, you know, big barometer of love and - that sound terrible - a big barometer of love. (Unintelligible).

And it was just way further up from the other - with one person. We'll get around it but, you know, I do - I've asked that same question myself. As soon as we wrapped I said, "Oh God."

(Laura Saltman):    Yeah.

Matt Grant:    (Unintelligible) pretty soon. I think that's a problem as well; previous couples maybe don't talk about stuff.

(Laura Saltman):    Yeah.

Matt Grant:    And that's the key.

(Laura Saltman):    Well have you guys been separated the entire time or have you been able to see each other at all?

Matt Grant:    No we both really pushed and the guys were really, really helpful to have lots of secret rendezvous so we met up loads of times.

(Laura Saltman):    Well that's good because maybe that'll help you in the end because I think that was one of the problems with some of the last people.

Matt Grant:    I didn't want to fall into this trap. I've heard that that was an issue in the past. I'd also heard that just communication as well and we speak - we have spoken since we wrapped every single day.

(Laura Saltman):    Okay I'm sure others have questions for you. I'll let you go - sorry.

Matt Grant:    (Laura) I enjoyed talking to you.

(Laura Saltman):    You too.

Matt Grant:    And I hope the hair grows on you.

(Laura Saltman):    Okay.

Matt Grant:    What about the facial hair? I bet you don't like that either.

(Laura Saltman):    No facial hair's okay. As long as your woman likes it that's all that matters.

Matt Grant:    Yeah, yeah. Thank you very much.

Operator:    Your next question comes from (Delaina Dixon) from OK Magazine.

(Delaina Dixon):    All right I still have to come off of the conversation you just had so give me a moment.

Matt Grant:    What do you think about my hair?

(Delaina Dixon):    You know what? I only saw the first half an hour so I'm actually pulling it up. You cut it - I guess it was showed on the show yesterday so I have to take a look right now.

Matt Grant:    (Unintelligible) no don't worry. There's a lot more important things in the world than my hair. I can't believe I even asked it.

(Delaina Dixon):    Oh I'm sure it looks good because I saw you with short hair in a couple of shots and it looked good. But I missed the first six minutes so this may be a rehash.

I'm wondering if anybody asked you about do you think you'll really make it to the altar? Because the, you know, no bachelor has actually ever made it to the altar. What's going to make it (unintelligible)?

Matt Grant:    Would I be like the super bachelor if I manage to pull it off?

(Delaina Dixon):    If you marry this girl? Yeah I think that (unintelligible) would be given to you in major form.

Matt Grant:    Do you think like maybe I'd get like an award from the state?

(Delaina Dixon):    I think America might just have a parade for you and create a special day. You know, it took an Englishmen to actually get married on "The Bachelor."

Matt Grant:    I think it would do wonders for Anglo-American relations. It might even get brought up at Congress and they have the Parliament - probably do a better job than our prime minister is at the moment. I think most Americans don't even know who he is because he's so dull.

(Delaina Dixon):    But right now is your mindset that you're going to do it? Do you both feel that way?

Matt Grant:    Yeah we're both realistic at the end of the day. You know, it's not the ideal way to meet, is it? But we had fun doing it and we've got the relationship and the communication just to laugh a lot of it off to talk important stuff through and get over it.

If I'm honest with you, we're both looking forward to next Monday when we can - evening when we can go out together and start life normally. But yeah, we've got what it takes and, you know, time is important as well. And probably the worst thing that you can do is rush in.

And things have been kind of rushed already, so it's time to just take a deep breath and, you know, work out our plans, our future whether we'll be in the US or UK and, you know, when the time is right let's get to the altar.

Let's get Congress involved.

(Delaina Dixon):    I know a lot of girls dream about their perfect wedding day but do you have any ideas - do you have any ideas of what kind of wedding you'd like to have? I know usually mostly girls (unintelligible).

Matt Grant:    In orange - I love orange.

(Delaina Dixon):    Bright orange.

Matt Grant:    Yeah and Elton John's going to come in dressed as a giant apricot. And be pushed along by David Furnish like oompa loompa.

(Delaina Dixon):    Well if you do get married then I would want to see that and I hope ABC actually makes it into a special because that would be wroth it.

Matt Grant:    To see David Furnish pushing Elton John along as a giant apricot (unintelligible) be amazing.

But no in all seriousness I mean just - I mean - (unintelligible) the churches in the UK are amazing on a summer's day - it's incredible. My best mate from high school got married last year and it was amazing English church in this really beautiful just green, lush village and just this blue sky and it was just incredible.

So that would be nice.

(Delaina Dixon):    All right. Well I wish you the best of luck.

Matt Grant:    Thanks ever so much. Really good to speak to you.

Operator:    You have a follow up from (Chris Rocchio) from Reality TV World.

(Chris Rocchio):    Hey Matt, I remember the first time I talked to you you said you had never really watched, you know, much of "The Bachelor" before. You know, so now that I'm assuming you've been watching this season and everything, you know, how do you think you've been portrayed on the show? Do you think everything's come across accurately or...?

Matt Grant:    Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean it's - I think actually there's a few episodes I kind of chose - there's one I chose not to watch -- the Holly and Marshana one because I felt that was just really difficult. That was one of the hardest things to me was that double date. You know, I wouldn't wish that on anyone - that should be UN law.

But yeah, you know, having seen it now, yeah I'm fairly, you know, although I would say that I think some of my humor was cut out but overall, you know, I think it was a fair portrayal and I know that you guys get my terrible sense of humor when I sort of talk on this thing sometimes. But that didn't come across - they did a good job of editing my terrible sense of humor out.

(Chris Rocchio):    All right, thanks.

Matt Grant:    Thanks mate.

Operator:    And you also have a follow up question from the line of (Gina Scarpa) from Buddy TV.

(Gina Scarpa):    Actually it's my first question so I'm pretty excited. Hi Matt, how are you?

Matt Grant:    How you doing?

(Gina Scarpa):    I'm good, thanks. I have a couple of questions for you. I'll try to go quick. You said that you were nervous to face the women on last night's episode but you actually came across as being pretty relaxed once you get out there. I was wondering if it was as bad as you thought it would be to have to face all of them.

Matt Grant:    Well (unintelligible) I always look relaxed sometimes I'm not inside, you know? So although I looked quite relaxed - I just - I didn't want to come across as someone I'm not. You know, I didn't want to come across as arrogant and aloof and not giving it, you know, what about these women because I did.

It was the hardest part of the show was dealing with this rejection side of it which, you know, you kind of moved on and then two months later yet you're brought back into the fold and, you know, everything is sort of rubbed back in your face again. Not just for me but for the women as well.

And you obviously unlocked emotions and feelings and it was difficult. But, you know, it was nice to see them. The - I guess, you know, I guess it went better than I thought it would be.

(Gina Scarpa):    I'm wondering if with the woman you chose if you noticed anything different about her once the cameras were off and you actually got to spend some time alone together without so many people around.

Matt Grant:    Say that again - if I noticed anything different about the one I chose?

(Gina Scarpa):    Yeah once the cameras were off you guys have had some time together: time on the phone, time alone. Do you notice anything different about her with the cameras off either in a good way or a bad way?

Matt Grant:    Loads of stuff.

Cathy Rehl:    Be careful about that.

Matt Grant:    Yeah, yeah.

Cathy Rehl:    Can't give anything away that's going to give it away.

Matt Grant:    Oh Cathy you know me.

Cathy Rehl:    I know but I don't know what you know now, so...

Matt Grant:    No, no that's why I'm careful what I'm saying. I don't want to give it away.

There are stuff and unfortunately I'm going to have to really bring that off till next week because it's a really good question. And I don't want to kind of fidget around it now and not give you much depth there.

So let's wait for next Tuesday or whenever we do the conference call and there'll be some (unintelligible) because yes there's always the side when you go out with someone - I love that about relationships and you find out more. And unfortunately if I say too much it's going to give it away.

(Gina Scarpa):    All right, nobody better take my question next week. Okay just one more thing. I was wondering if there is any talk between you and ABC to have your wedding televised or if that's also something we'll have to wait on.

Cathy Rehl:    You will have to wait on that.

Matt Grant:    Something we'll have to wait on, yeah.

(Gina Scarpa):    Don't hate me Cathy, I'm sorry. (Unintelligible) Matt. Thanks so much.

Matt Grant:    No worries. Thank you.