Podcast | Julian Cress (The Block) – Australia in the 1950s was known as the Golden Age. A time where proud Australians worked to build homes for their families. Homes exactly like the five houses on this season of The Block, the 19th one in the series so far.
Julian Cress is the co-creator and has been the executive producer of The Block for the entire 19 seasons and has built nothing short of an empire for Channel 9.
On this podcast with co-creator and executive producer of The Block, Julian Cress, chats about:
- having fun with the 1950’s theme
- whether the theme chose him or he chose the theme
- contestants with no building / renovating experience at all
- the new batch of contestants
- drama versus build and finding that balance
- new judge, Marty Fox
- where it all began as we go back to season 1 with Jamie Durie
- The Block being axed early in its run
- why The Block predominately films in Victoria
- the false clickbait headlines
- how his life got this point as an executive producer on The Block
- learning curves from previous seasons
- what to look forward to this season with The Block
The Block – Sunday 6 August, 2023 at 7 O’Block on Channel 9 and 9Now
TV Central Nine content HERE
Thanks to Christabel Huynh at Nine for organising this podcast
Pick your player below. The podcast is also available through Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Amazon, iheart Radio and more
The Block
Get ready, Australia. The Block, the number one renovation reality program, returns for an incredible 19th season on Sunday, August 6, at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Set in the family-friendly Melbourne suburb of Hampton East, the new series features five houses designed and built in the 1950s and located on the aptly named Charming Street. These grand old dames are now aged in their 70s and way overdue for a contemporary update.
For the first time in Block history, host Scott Cam will be providing contestants with the full renovation schedule ahead of time this season. So get your cameras out, Blockheads, it’s photo time.
Adding to the year of Block firsts and amping up the stakes at play during the 48-hour House Decider Challenge, contestants will be seeing all finished designs of the houses on Day 1. Who will prevail and get the house of their choice?
Not only will they get the schedule and designs up front, but in another first, they’ll receive their entire budgets as well.
However, the Blockheads will soon find out that it’s not all smooth sailing when renovating an original 1950s home – structural issues, extreme weather events, and a mountain of demolition will test our five keen couples every step of the way.
Plus, The Block’s state-versus-state rivalry will be amplified by the sheer closeness of the houses this year. Who knew being able to peak into your neighbours builds would cause such tension?
The couples in contention are: sisters Eliza and Liberty Paschke (personal assistant, 37, and integration producer, 34, VIC); parents Kyle and Leslie Cottone (firefighter, 36, and teaching aide, 34, WA); parents Leah and Ash Milton (first aid officer, 31, and builder, 36, QLD); married couple Kristy and Brett Beames (project manager, 34, and safety officer, 34, SA); and newlyweds Steph and Gian Ottavio (architect, 27, and start up worker, 27, NSW).
Real estate expert Marty Fox isn’t the only new addition to the lineup this season. The formidable foremen Keith Schleiger and Dan Reilly will be joined on site with the fan favourite from last year, Tom Calleja.
The nation fell in love with Tom and his wife Sarah-Jane because of their work ethic and relatable marital bickering, and he jumped at the chance to work with Scotty and come back as this year’s official Block plumber.
The designs of the amazing homes in this series again come from The Block’s resident architect, Julian Brenchley.
At stake is $100,000 for the overall winner of The Block, on top of any profit the five couples can all make on the critical auction day. Plus bragging rights for the winners’ state.
Since premiering on Channel 9 in 2003, Australia’s richest reality program has awarded a total of $32,592,807.65 in prizemoney.
Julian Cress
