Nine used State of Origin 2 last night to promote the 13th series of Australia’s longest-running reality program The Block.
This year features five massive family homes rescued from demolition and transported to a vacant allotment in Elsternwick in south-east Melbourne.
Host Scott Cam said: “I’m really proud that we were able to save these houses from demolition and deliver the great Australian dream of a big, modern family home. The scale of this project is like nothing we’ve attempted before – we’re transforming a street and it sure is going to test our latest crop of Blockheads.”
These relics from a bygone era have been “Home Sweet Home” to Aussie families for generations. Now these homes have all been cut down the middle, transported and painstakingly put back together on brand new foundations, ready to stand for another 90 years after The Block contestants lovingly restore them to their former glory – and then some.
The five eager new couples transforming the family homes are:
• Josh (28) and Elyse (24), dating for four years, from Melbourne, VIC
• Hannah (31) and Clint (33), married for five years, from Townsville, QLD
• Sticks (31) and Wombat (38), best mates for 15 years, from South Coast, NSW
• Ronnie (41) and Georgia (33), married for six years, from Perth, WA
• Jason (46) and Sarah (45), married for 18 years, from Melbourne, VIC
The show has distributed an astronomical cash total of $17,575,501.01 to contestants since premiering on Nine in 2003.