Television in 2008 felt different. It was the era of low-rise jeans, Razr phones, and a version of reality TV that hadn't quite become the polished, influencer-generating machine we see today. Enter The Bachelor Season 12, subtitled "London Calling." This was the first time ABC decided to import their leading man from across the pond.
Matt Grant was the guy. A 27-year-old British financier with a posh accent and a 6'5" frame that made him look like he walked straight out of a rom-com. He was charming. He was polite. Honestly, he was exactly what the franchise needed after the double-rejection disaster of Brad Womack’s first season.
But behind the "British gentleman" branding, Season 12 was a chaotic, often bizarre journey that remains a fascinating time capsule of Bachelor Nation history.
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The British Invasion of the Mansion
Matt Grant didn't know what he was getting into. He’d never even seen the show before being cast. Imagine moving to Los Angeles to date 25 American women simultaneously while cameras track your every blink. It’s a lot.
The season kicked off on March 17, 2008. From the first limo exit, the cultural clash was obvious. While Matt was looking for something genuine, some of the contestants were playing a completely different game.
Take Stacey Elza, for example. In the premiere, she got so drunk she literally passed out. Before that, she tried to shove her thong into Matt’s pocket. He didn’t even have pockets. He was wearing a suit. It was painful to watch, but it set the tone: this wasn't going to be a quiet, dignified search for love.
Why Shayne Lamas Was the Ultimate Wildcard
If you watched The Bachelor Season 12, you remember Shayne Lamas. She wasn’t just another contestant. She was Hollywood royalty—sort of. Her dad was Lorenzo Lamas, the star of Renegade.
Critics at the time were skeptical. They thought she was there for fame, not Matt. Shayne was 22, an aspiring actress from Malibu, and arguably the most "L.A." person in the house. Matt, meanwhile, was a global financier from London. On paper? Zero sense.
But their chemistry was undeniable.
- The First Impression: Shayne wasn't the loudest, but she had a "cool girl" vibe that clearly threw Matt off his rhythm.
- The Family Approval: When Matt took the final two women to London, his brother Simon actually preferred the runner-up, Chelsea Wanstrath. He thought Chelsea was a better fit for Matt’s lifestyle.
- The Proposal: Matt ignored the warnings. In the finale, filmed in Barbados, he got down on one knee and proposed to Shayne.
He gave her a 2.85-carat Tacori ring. It was a huge moment. For a second, it felt like the "London Calling" experiment actually worked.
The Chelsea Wanstrath Heartbreak
Chelsea Wanstrath was the "safe" choice. She was a 25-year-old pharmaceutical sales rep from Durango, Colorado. She was grounded, athletic, and seemed to genuinely get Matt’s humor.
When Matt let her go in Barbados, it was one of those classic Bachelor moments where you could see the lead’s brain fighting his heart. He admitted he felt more "passion" for Shayne but more "ease" with Chelsea. Passion won. It usually does on this show.
Chelsea handled the rejection with a lot of grace, which made her a fan favorite. People wanted her to be the next Bachelorette, but the franchise ended up going with DeAnna Pappas instead.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Breakup
It didn’t last. Obviously.
Matt and Shayne announced their split in July 2008, just a few months after the finale aired. The "official" statement said they were heading in different directions. Boring, right?
The reality was more about the distance and the lifestyle gap. Matt was living in a different country (initially) and working in high finance. Shayne was trying to launch a reality TV career. In later interviews, Matt was pretty candid about the fact that they barely knew each other. He once joked that they spent maybe 10 total hours alone together before he proposed.
That’s the flaw of the 2008 era. There were no "FaceTime dates" or secret meetups like there are now. It was just a proposal to a stranger and a hope for the best.
The Legacy of London Calling
The Bachelor Season 12 was a bridge between the old-school show and the modern era. It was the final season to air in 90-minute episodes before the show moved to its standard two-hour format.
It also proved that the "Foreign Lead" gimmick worked for ratings, even if it didn't work for marriage. Matt Grant eventually found his happy ending, just not on TV. He married Rebecca Loring in 2017. Shayne Lamas went on to have a high-profile marriage to Nik Richie (they divorced in 2021) and has been open about her life as a mother and public figure.
Key Facts About Season 12
- Bachelor: Matt Grant (27 at the time).
- Winner: Shayne Lamas.
- Runner-up: Chelsea Wanstrath.
- Filming Locations: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, and Barbados.
- Original Air Date: March to May 2008.
What to Take Away from Season 12
If you’re looking back at Matt Grant’s season, don't just see it as a failed engagement. It’s a lesson in the difference between "vacation love" and "real-world love." Matt and Shayne fell in love in Barbados, but they couldn't survive Los Angeles.
If you are a fan of the older seasons, you should check out the 2008 archives of The Women Tell All for this season. It features some of the most aggressive "mean girl" dynamics in the show's history, specifically involving Marshana Ritchie and Ashlee Williss. It's a masterclass in how reality TV editing has evolved.
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The most actionable thing you can do as a fan? Watch the Barbados finale back-to-back with a modern finale. You'll notice the pacing is faster, the music is less dramatic, and the leads were allowed to be much more "human" and flawed back then. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the overly produced seasons of today.