Seven’s balloon-making competition, Blow Up, premieres at 7:30 pm Monday, 15 May on Channel Seven and 7plus.
In a celebration of skill, precision, creativity and joy, Blow Up transforms the humble balloon into jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring artistic creations.
10 talented Australian balloon artists will be hosted by acclaimed actor and funny-man Stephen Curry, as well as quick-witted comedian Becky Lucas. Blow Up will showcase the competitors’ creativity across several weeks of challenges, as they are charged with turning ordinary balloons into works of art.
See Also: Everything you need to know about Blow Up on Seven
Meet the contestants of Blow Up below:
Brendan Ord, 49, VIC
Highly respected for his skilled balloon work and known as a mentor to many in the Australian industry, Brendan Ord has taught and worked with some of the country’s most successful balloon artists.
With over 16 years’ experience as a twister, decorator, stylist and teacher, Brendan is the director of entertainment company Balloons by Design, specialising in bespoke commissions, parties and events, supported by up to 40 staff in peak periods.
Chloe Lim, 40, ACT
As a mum of three primary-school-aged children, Chloe successfully juggles her full-time job, her part-time balloon business and parenting duties.
Combining her love of science, books and balloons, Chloe has created fun and engaging science storytelling shows to encourage a love of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Getting a buzz out of making people smile with her balloon creations, Chloe plans to push outside her comfort zone and will bring her focus to every challenge to further build her skills.
Donna Cochrane, 42, QLD
Having started in the balloon world at 13, Donna Cochrane’s life-long passion for balloons began when she worked as a magician’s assistant on school holidays.
Fast forward to her wedding day where she and her husband Jason said “I do” against an enchanted balloon forest backdrop, featuring her own balloon wedding and bridesmaid dresses.
Working as a children’s entertainer for over 17 years and twisting balloons for over 29, she is known as “Miss Donna” when performing. As owner, operator and entertainer at Be Amazed Entertainment, Donna is well known among Australian and international balloon communities.
Justin Williams, 31, VIC
An established and well-known magician and circus performer, Justin Williams began twisting balloons age 13. He got bored of classic swords and poodles and began taking requests, creating anything his friends and family could dream up.
Justin writes, directs and performs shows for a living, performing sell-out stage shows at theatres and Spiegeltents around the world, including at the iconic Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
With a vast repertoire of balloon techniques, Justin prides himself on creating any design by sight, grabbing balloons and twisting until he gets it right – perseverance is key. Justin loves elaborate, small, detailed sculptures and hates making the same thing twice!
Matt Falloon, 38, NSW
A born entertainer, Matt Falloon is a world-renowned balloon artist and mentor within the industry.
Matt is a prolific twister who can create intricate and detailed small sculptures all the way up to large-scale, high-quality installations and designs.
Starting as a magician, Matt has 27 years of industry experience. His first paid gig was aged 11. Since quitting the corporate world a decade ago, Matt has run his own leading children’s entertainment and balloon-twisting business: Matt Falloon and his Trained Balloons.
Matt’s skill has been recognised internationally, with his sculptures winning awards at more than 10 international conventions. He has also taught in Japan, Europe, UK, USA and Israel. Matt is most proud to have been the 2015 Dewey Award recipient, presented to a rising star in recognition of both innovation and industry contribution.
Michelle Ferron, 33, VIC
For Michelle Ferron, 2023 will mark 20 years of working as a childrens’ entertainer. Best known as a party entertainer and balloon twister, Michelle began twisting aged 18 and in 2009 created her own business, Kiddly-Winks Children’s Entertainment.
With its mission to make kids smile, the business has 24 team members across Australia. Performing as Zoom the magician, Michelle does ventriloquism, magic shows, face painting and, of course, balloon twisting. She loves her work and finds it very fulfilling.
Nicole Brusic, 50, SA
Balloon twisting started out as a hobby for this former music teacher, but Nicole Brusic was soon hooked. Now with her own successful business, Nifty Entertainment, Nicole’s work focuses on interactive entertaining, balloon twisting and décor at expos, conventions, shopping centres, corporate events and parties.
With 13 years of experience, Nicole has also taught numerous times and been a delegate at Australian and international balloon conventions.
Despite her years of experience, Nicole still feels like a newbie at times, given the industry’s ever- evolving nature. She credits the industry with keeping her youthful.
Robbie Kay, 34, SA
A carpenter by day for 15 years Robbie has also pursued his passion for working as a magician after being introduced to magic by his grandfather. Now a multi-award-winning performer, Robbie is a regular at Adelaide Fringe Festival, a stage fixture for the last eight years.
As a leading stage and close-up magician, Robbie is an expert on impressive sleight of hand and out-of-this-world illusions. With a knack for picking up skills quickly, Robbie is self-taught, with his love for balloon twisting spurred by a passion for magic. He now incorporates balloons into his shows, private events and kids’ parties.
Robbie is keen to add to his repertoire, having mainly used twisting techniques in his work so far. He loves that balloons can go beyond what anyone thinks possible, limited only by imagination.
Tammie Timmers, 37, VIC
Having worked in the balloon industry for 11 years, with five additional years twisting on top of that, Tammie started out twisting for children’s birthday parties, but these days focuses more on large balloon sculptures, dress couture and balloon art.
Happy and fun-loving, Tammie’s creations have been shown worldwide, and she has won numerous awards alongside her husband, including at conventions in Las Vegas. Making balloons is incredibly emotional for Tammie because she loves how they can make people feel, from young kids to older people.
Trevor Timmers, 37, VIC
Having previously worked in the tourism, events and real estate industries, Trevor Timmers has well and truly found his niche in the balloon world, standing side by side with wife Tammie running their successful business, Pimp My Balloons.
Starting balloon twisting for parties, Trevor is now particularly skilled in the decorator space, focusing on large balloon sculptures and wearables, with use of large-scale framing a speciality.
A big man with a big heart, Trevor prides himself on being Tammie’s ‘MacGyver’, always on hand to help bring her visions to life. Used to working symbiotically and complementing each other’s skills, the pair may find it tough working solo in the competition and going head-to-head.
Blow Up premieres Monday 15th May at 7:30 pm on Seven and 7Plus.