Podcast | Norm and Jess (Budget Battlers) – In this episode of TV Central: One on One, host Aaron Ryan sits down with two of Australia’s most loved renovation personalities — Jess Eva and Norm Hogan — to talk about the return of Budget Battlers, the heartfelt renovation series changing lives across the country.
What started as a quiet Wednesday-night show has become a ratings favourite, loved for its warmth, authenticity, and community spirit. Now it’s back with Season 2 — bigger, bolder, and more emotional than ever.
🏠 What You’ll Hear in This Episode
1. The Return of Budget Battlers
- Jess and Norm share how it feels to be back for another season.
- The show began with little fanfare, yet built a loyal audience.
- Why viewers connected so deeply with the heart and honesty of Budget Battlers.
2. The Concept and Challenges
- What Budget Battlers is all about — transforming homes and lives on a tight budget.
- Each episode features a $10,000 budget and just five days to renovate an entire home.
- How Jess and Norm problem-solve, improvise, and pivot when things don’t go to plan.
3. The Heart of the Series
- Season 2 brings emotional, real-life stories from across Australia, including:
- Ebony in Aberfoyle Park
- Sandra in Maidstone
- Aunty Velda in Brisbane
- Maurice in Birchip
- Jess and Norm open up about the emotional impact of helping families rebuild their homes — and their lives.
4. The Team and New Faces
- Meet the new faces joining the Budget Battlers family:
- Melissa Tkautz (Real Housewives of Sydney)
- Lachlan Vidler
- The team from Human Kind
- What each new personality brings to the show — from design inspiration to practical know-how and community engagement.
5. Behind the Scenes with Maker Media
- Jess steps behind the camera this season as part of Maker Media, the company producing Budget Battlers.
- How the opportunity came about — and what it’s like balancing on-screen and production roles.
6. Looking Ahead
- Could there be a Budget Battlers Season 3, or even a special edition?
- Jess and Norm share what they hope audiences take away from this inspiring new season.
Link to 9Now HERE
Podcast | Norm and Jess (Budget Battlers)
TV Central Nine content HERE
Link to Norm / Jess on Instagram HERE
Thanks to Bayley Howe at Nine for organising this podcast
Pick your player below. The podcast is also available through Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Amazon, iheart Radio and more
Budget Battlers
Former Block favourites Jess Eva and Norm Hogan are back, transforming homes and changing lives when Budget Battlers returns on Wednesday, October 22, at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
In the second season of this feelgood renovation series, Jess and Norm put their budget skills to the test by reimagining entire homes in just five days, working with a tight renovation budget of just $10,000.
Joining the team are a mix of fresh faces and familiar favourites. Real Housewives of Sydney star Melissa Tkautz comes onboard, along with Atlas Property Group Director Lachlan Vidler, and Angela Williams and Dave Matthews from Human Kind. Supporting them are the ever-reliable volunteer tradie crew, with foreman Leigh, Moncur, Lawts and Glen all returning to roll up their sleeves.
From Victoria to South Australia, the stories at the heart of Budget Battlers are as powerful as the transformations. In Aberfoyle Park, South Australia, a group of school mums nominate Ebony, a young mother battling stage three bowel cancer.
In Maidstone, Victoria, the team step in to help Sandra, a selfless nurse who has spent her life caring for others. Despite insisting she doesn’t need help, Jess, Norm and the crew are determined to give her home a well-earned refresh.
In the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Aunty Velda’s home is in serious need of a renovation so it can keep on welcoming the community for generations to come.
Meanwhile in Birchip, Victoria, local legend Maurice is recognised for his quiet dedication as the whole town rallies to surprise him with a renovation he never saw coming.
With a new home to renovate each week, Budget Battlers is bigger, bolder and more heartfelt than ever. Full of tears, triumphs and jaw-dropping reveals, this must-watch renovation series proves that you don’t need a million-dollar budget to make a house feel like a cherished and priceless home.
Budget Battlers is produced by Maker Media for the 9Network.
BUDGET BATTLERS RETURNS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, AT 7.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
#Channel9 #BudgetBattlers
Norm and Jess in pictures
