The Block returns Sunday, August 8, at 7.00pm to Channel Nine and 9Now for a 17th season with a twist: Fans v Faves – a showdown of epic proportions.
The Block: Fans v Faves brings three unsuspecting yet hopeful couples face to face with two sets of very experienced returning, all-star couples.
For the first time, there will be no house plans for contestants to work off. This year, Blockheads must not only renovate the mammoth project, but they’ll also have to design the layout and inclusions of their houses themselves from scratch.
At stake is $100,000 for the winner of The Block, plus whatever profits their home can make on the critical auction day. All that’s standing in the way is five dilapidated houses and three fierce judges who will score the room reveals as they’re delivered each week.
Season 17
The location for this year has The Block in a setting it has never attempted before, a traditional Australian cul-de-sac. Bronte Court in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Hampton will be transformed as the couples battle it out to create five luxury family homes.
In a season packed with firsts, this one will literally dig deeper than ever, with each property having an underground excavation for contestants to create a massive basement in their homes.
The five houses to be renovated are on separate blocks that range from the smallest, 587 square metres, to the biggest, 911 square metres for house number five. These are the largest blocks of land in the history of the show.
The Block cast 2021
Contestants
See More: The Block Fans v Faves: Meet the contestants
The Faves returning this year are Perth’s Ronnie (45) and Georgia (37) from the 2017 Elsternwick series, and Sydney couple Mitch (58) and Mark (59) from the 2019 Oslo series – both renovation powerhouses who don’t plan on letting any newbies show them up.
Identical twins Josh and Luke (27), who made their television debut on Love Island Australia in 2019, will join two other newbie couples – Melbourne parents Tanya (39) and Vito (45), and country music kids Kirsty (33) and Jesse (32), hailing from Wangi Wangi just south of Newcastle.
The Hosts and Judges
Scott Cam, who returns to host his 15th series of The Block, said: “Expect the unexpected. This build was extremely tough to plan and work out where things would go for many of our contestants because of this new twist. The plans have been thrown out the window and it leads to plenty of stuff-ups!
“Some of our Blockheads have asked for guidance from Block architect Julian Brenchley and others have ignored many of his suggestions and trusted their own ideas, which will be very interesting to watch.”
Joining Scott Cam again this season will be his Block co-host Shelley Craft, site foremen Keith and Dan, and renovation judges: Neale Whitaker, Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer.
See More: The Block Fans V Faves: Everything you need to know about the judges
See More: The Block Fans v Faves: Everything you need to know about the hosts
Scott Cam and Shelley Craft
“Building in a cul-de-sac is such a unique first for The Block. We are building the classic Aussie dream for five lucky buyers, to help them discover that good neighbours do become good friends,” said Shelley.
“But before that, we will see some fiery renovators revealing some stunning spaces.”
The Block 2020
Viewers of the final episode of The Block for 2020 were as shocked as the Blockheads when bidding took off at a furious pace. The five properties sold for a combined $20m with three of the properties selling for over $4m and the other two just under that mark. The total profit for the contestants was $3,332,002 with winners Jimmy and Tam taking away $1,066,000.
The Block Auctions (in order of sale)
Luke and Jasmine
Reserve: $3,350,000
Sale price: $3,856,000
Profit: $506,000
Jimmy and Tam
Reserve: $3,290,000
Sale price: $4,256,000
Profit: 1,066,000 (inc $100,000 for the highest profit)
George and Sarah
Reserve: $3,350,000
Sale price: $4,000,0002
Profit: $650,002
David and Jade
Reserve: $3,340,000
Sale price: $3,800,000
Profit: $460,000
Harry and Tash
Reserve: $3,350,000
Sale price: $4,000,000
Profit: $650,000
The ratings took Nine over the top with the episode starting on 1,428,000 and then climbing to 1,792,000 for the reveal of the winner.