EXCLUSIVE:
In The Block‘s 20th season there are plenty of ‘firsts.’
The first ever holiday resort, at Phillip Island, is transformed into five luxury holiday homes. One will become a father for the first time during filming.
And while one team quitting is not a first it’s never happened so deep into production.
“We went into it with five great teams, a really interesting bunch of people. But although we were renovating a holiday park, The Block certainly didn’t turn out to be a holiday for everybody,” executive producer Julian Cress confirms to TV Tonight.
“We didn’t make it through the whole series with all five teams. We had to replace one of them along the way, which was a very dramatic moment. We’ve had a team leave previously in the show in Gisborne, but that was only after a couple of days.
“This time, we have a team, deciding to depart the show, a fair way in to the renovation, and then have another teamhave to come in and take over that build when quite a few rooms had already been revealed, That’s never happened before.
“It was a very difficult decision for them to come to, but there was a very strong reason why they decided to do it and very dramatic and will be unfolding in the coming weeks.”
Media reports have speculated Perth couple carpenter Jesse and claims specialist Paige bailed, but while talent sign contracts committing to production, Cress says there is no point trying to enforce it on The Block.
“It’s impossible to tell somebody to do The Block. If you don’t have enormous reserves of willpower, excitement, courage, and work ethic… if you even take your eye off the ball on The Block for a day, you get your arse handed to you. Nobody can do it unless they’re 100% committed to the task at hand,” he explains.
“I’m not saying these people left because they were lazy. They wanted to do it, but it just became enormously challenging at some point and their reasons for leaving, are pretty remarkable. I think it will start a very interesting conversation amongst the audience.”
That also left the show with no time to find a replacment, who had to accept that several rooms had already been completed.
“It’s hard enough doing The Block when you’re coming in with maybe a couple of months notice. But when you’re coming in with 24 hours notice, it’s really tough.”
Fans of The Block have come to expect nothing less of such dramas on the Nine reality hit. It’s been quite the ride with producers having to scramble to find a location when plans for Daylesford fell through before filming commenced in February.
“It was a pretty big and important series, from my point of view obviously, because not a lot of shows are making Season 20 and I didn’t want to screw it up. The real key thing for us was finding a great location and a great cast. The location proved to be a stumbling block for a while. As you know, we spent many, many months planning to film the show in Daylesford but that fell over at the last minute,” he continues.
“I’ve got to say we just got incredibly lucky to stumble across a holiday park for sale in Phillip Island. It has really proven to be one of the great, great locations we’ve ever moved the show.”
Producers: L to R: Julian Cress, Justin Sturzaker and David Barbour
The site is a hectare of land, previously home to nine holiday cabins, redesigned by architect Julian Brenchley.
“Somebody decided to build some 80s cabins in the 2000s. But you know what? That didn’t bother us, because we were never going to keep them anyway. What we what we found so appealing about it really was the location. Phillip Island, resonates certainly with Victorians, but I think all Australians, really. A lot of people have visited there over the years. It’s a family destination. It really is mums, dads and kids who go there for holidays and that is our audience So we felt that it would really resonate well with our audience,” says Cress.
“There really wasn’t much value, either aesthetically or practically, to keeping the old cabins, so the contestants had to demolish them at the beginning of the series. Then we stood up big frames all around them, and they got into renovating.
“It also allowed us to do something that we’ve never done before, which is always on our agenda, and that is to create five holiday houses in a gated community, and also renovate a tennis court, a swimming pool and a gigantic clubhouse, which will be seen in the climax of the series. It’s one of the most interesting things we’ve ever done on the show.”
The clubhouse also serves as Scott Cam’s HQ throughout the series before it is transformed towards the end of the season.
Judges L to R: Marty Fox, Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer.
Both foreman Keith Schleiger and judge Neale Whitaker step back this season with Dan Reilly and real estate agent Marty Fox stepping up as foreman and judge, respectively.
“Marty Fox has been a great inclusion in the show. I think the audience has found his judging to be right on the money. He brings something that a lot of people have been calling for for a long time, which is a dedicated Real Estate perspective. And obviously, as the CEO of one of the brightest real estate firms in the country he comes with an enormous amount of experience and laser view of it. I think he’s been fantastic in the show,” Cress observes.
“Dan and Keith do make an appearance in Season 20. They definitely wanted them to be a part of it, and were able to come and participate.”
Also returning for the 20th celebrations are ‘Allstar Blockheads’ Steph and Gian (2023), Eliza and Liberty (2023), Jimmy and Tam (2020), Alisa and Lysandra (2013, 2014), Ronnie and Georgia (2020, 2021), Michael and Carlene (2014), Kyal and Kara (2014), Tom and Sarah-Jane (2022), Omar and Oz (2022), Dale and Sophie (2012) and Andy and Deb (2019).
Cress insists while the departing couple does lead to high drama on the show, all parties remain friends.
“They’re awesome. We’re all friends. They do make a return to the show before it’s over. They’re very glad for all the support they were given, and believe that they they made the right decision,” he adds.
“The feedback we’ve had so far since the promos have been on has has been fantastic. People seem to be really excited about watching a series of The Block in Phillip Island, and we won’t be disappointing them with the quality of the show, in my opinion.”
The Block returns 7:30pm Monday on Nine.
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