The Block is back for a remarkable 20th season, this time at the stunning Victorian location of Phillip Island.
The Island is about two hours drive from Melbourne and a perfect location for our 10 new Blockheads to try and chase their renovating dreams.
The site they will be building at is an abandoned resort. Scotty explains initially there were eight two bedroom villas on the resort, but it has been transformed and our Blockheads will renovate five houses across the site.
Our contestants start to arrive one by one to start their Block journey. The contestants are:
Carpenter Jesse (29) and claims specialist Paige (27), engaged couple from WA
Electrician Kristian (31) and restaurant manager Mimi, (28), married couple from SA
Plumber Ricky (34) and IT worker Haydn (37), best friends from Melbourne.
Events account director and furniture designer Courtney (32) and landscape business development manager Grant (29), married from NSW
Hairdresser and business owner Kylie (37) and electrician/plumber Brad (32) from QLD.
They all arrive with squeals of delight and greet each other with smiles and laughter.
Scott arrives in his Ford with his dog Frankie, who is back for her second season of The Block.
This year there is no house decider challenge, and our contestants randomly pick a house by choosing a penguin – which is very fitting as Phillip’s island number one tourist attraction is the penguin parade.
The houses are locked in.
Jesse and Paige get House No.1, Kristian and Mimi pick the two story house, House No.2, Ricky and Haydn pick House No.3, Courtney and Grant pick House No.2, which leaves House No.4 for Kylie and Brad.
Thanks to Comm Bank, our contestants have a budget of $250,000 to build the house.
As the contestants check out their new houses they get a message to head to Mitre 10 in Cowes, to pick up some tools and also tents that they will be sleeping in.
It’s also revealed thanks to Domain they will be renovating their main bathroom which is always a huge challenge.
The contestants meet Foreman Dan on day two of The Block, after sleeping the night in their tent on the harsh concrete slabs on The Block.
Dan is head Forman this year, after Keith decided to step back from the role to spend more time with his family in Melbourne.
Plumber Tom is back again on The Block, this time thanks to Reece.
Our contestants get cracking on their bathrooms with some interesting choices, including Kylie who wants an all black bathroom.
They all go shopping with some mixed results.
Kylie is very headstrong and won’t budge from the black theme, even if it means slowing down her husband Brad back on The Block.
Paige also struggles to find anything and her mood plummets, in a sign to come for her and her husband Jesse. It might be just day two on The Block, but the Perth engaged couple are already struggling. Nothing is going right for Jesse, materials aren’t being delivered on time and he starts spiraling too.
The contestants all move their tents to a lake next door to The Block and Tent City is born, it’s set to be their home for the next couple of weeks on The Block.
