Things got serious on Thursday night’s episode of The Bachelor, as one of the contestants made a very personal play for Richie’s heart.

Alex, best known for sharing a chocolate bath with Richie last week, showed Richie photos of her young child in a bid to let him know how serious she was about potentially committing to a long-term relationship.

Richie knew she had a child, but introducing photos of the young boy was as serious as any contestant has gotten this series.

“If you fall in love with me, you fall in love with him too,” Alex said. “You would come into his life as this positive role model that’s there for him, that supports him, that, you know, watches his footy game. But you’ve gotta love him as well, you know?”

Richie responded: “Absolutely … you’re so beautiful, Alex, you just explained that, like, perfectly.”

Watch it:

The other contestants weren’t so sure about Alex’s decision, but it ended up being the right one.

Richie seemed to enjoy getting to see Alex’s child, and he gave her a rose during the ceremony.

The last remaining intruder, Steph, was the unlucky lady to miss out and was sent home, much to the originals’ relief.

Terrible toddler

Earlier in the evening, Richie granted Faith a one-on-one date.

Richie said he always laughed when he was with Faith, so the date would have a comedic theme.

Enter (alleged) comedian Hamish Blake, who accompanied Richie and Faith on the date.

Only thing was, Blake initiated a weird role-play scenario. He dressed and acted like a three-year-old toddler named Rory, while Richie and Faith pretended to be mum and dad. The whole segment was about as funny as a kick in the knee.

Hamish, or Rory as he became known, kicked up an absolute fuss for Richie and Faith. Photo: Network Ten

The trio went for lunch (where Rory flipped a cafe table and emptied juice onto the floor), then went bowling (where Rory ran down one of the lanes and set off an alarm) and then forced Faith to take him to the toilet.

“I need mummy to sing the toilet song,” Rory, aka Hamish, said.

Faith found it funny but still complained: “This is not a date, it’s a nightmare.”

Another single date

Richie was flinging out single dates like they were going out of fashion, treating Rachel to a one-on-one experience.

Richie dragged Rachel around a fancy yard to five different stations that were meant to indulge the pair’s senses.

Rachel became emotional as Richie read her a letter from her mother. Photo: Network Ten

Sight (they took selfies), touch (hand massage), taste (ate Japanese food), smell (they made perfume), hearing (Richie read Rachel a letter from her Mum).

Clever Richie, you made Rachel cry with that letter.

“That was a really personal thing! The positive and supportive words that she had written in the letter, and it’s really encouraged me to just keep following my heart in this,” Rachel said.

“You’re really rare [Richie], you’re like a diamond I’ve been looking for.”