The Block on Channel 9 – Get ready, Australia. The country’s No. 1 renovation reality program is just around the corner and promises to be the most electrifying yet.
In 2023 The Block celebrates an incredible 19th season and viewers are set to be treated to a blockbuster series like no other.
The mother of all reality programs continues to reinvent itself and this year’s series promises a number of exciting firsts.
State versus state rivalry will be ignited as our five couples will each be flying the flag for their homeland states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
And in a move set to push our contestants to the brink, all teams will be given the arduous task of creating secondary accommodation on their properties. While adding value and something special to each home, will the extra workload be enough to tip one of our couples over the edge?
Set in the family-friendly suburb of Hampton East, this year’s series of the multi Logie Award winning program features five houses designed and built in the 1950s. Located on the aptly named Charming Street, these grand old dames are now aged in their 70s and are overdue for a contemporary update. Will our fresh-faced Blockheads be up to the challenge?
The five couples in contention for Block glory are:
- Personal assistant Eliza (37) and integration producer Liberty Paschke (34) – sisters from VIC
- Firefighter Kyle (36) and teaching aide Leslie Cottone (34) – parents from WA
- First aid officer Leah (32) and builder Ash Milton (38) – parents from QLD
- Project manager Kristy (34) and safety officer Brett Beams (34) – married from SA
- Architect Steph (27) and start-up worker Gian Ottavio (27) – married from NSW
Gold Logie-winning host Scott Cam, back for his 17th series of The Block, is promising a series like no other.
“This series is guaranteed to be a dead-set blockbuster,” he said.
“Our five new teams from across the country are all fired up to make their home states proud. But wait until you see their shock when they find out they’re building not one, but two new abodes, as we throw in a granny flat for good measure. And in a Block first, this year we give all teams their full building schedule ahead of time. Buckle up, Australia. The Block 2023 offers more twists, turns and curve-balls than ever before.”
Scott’s co-host Shelley Craft agrees that this year’s time warp back to the 1950s will provide plenty of surprises along the journey.
“This series’ houses may seem charming on the surface, but our contestants will be in for a shock as they uncover a host of pitfalls not evident upon first inspection,” she said.
“While there are plenty of laughs to be had, viewers can expect an equal number of tears.”
Plus, for the first time in over a decade, a new judge joins Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker.
Real estate expert, Marty Fox, who has sold two houses on The Block before – Harry and Tash’s in Brighton in 2020, and Rachel and Ryan’s in Gisborne in 2022 – will tag-team judging on Sunday nights as Neale partly steps back this season.
This year The Block also celebrates 20 years since the first series in Bondi went to air and changed the Australian television landscape forever.
Executive Producer Julian Cress, who created the show with fellow EP David Barbour, says the 20-year birthday is a fantastic achievement.
“We thought we were pretty lucky to get the show on air in the first year we made it,” he said
“Just getting The Block commissioned was a huge achievement and there is no way we thought we would still be here making the show 20 years later.
“But the great thing about it is we all still love making the show, and no two series of The Block are ever the same, as these five new teams will truly prove this year!”
The Block – coming soon to Channel 9 and 9Now
Media Release – Nine
TV Central Nine content HERE
