The 20th season of The Block is coming. The series this year is set in the sleepy hamlet of Cowes on Phillip Island. It will go to air on Nine in what is truly a Block-buster year for the broadcaster.
The network bookends the year with the biggest shows on television – Married at First Sight and The Block. In 2024, it has the Paris Olympics in July and August. By the time The Block season 20 goes to air, there won’t be many people who won’t have seen a promo.
See also: The Block remains a ratings champ, one of the richest TV prize shows in the world
Work on the new Block properties has been underway for some time. The location is a former holiday park just a few minutes from Cowes.
First reveal of houses for buyers
The series held its Buyer’s Choice event last night.
Local real estate agents invited 20 guests each. The crowd of around 100 met at Cowes RSL and were loaded onto two buses. The journey to the former holiday park was around 10 minutes. All the former accommodation has been demolished for the new builds.
Buyers’ Jury guests were told it was still a construction site and to be careful where they walked. The visitors were allowed to take photos, but asked if they wouldn’t mind holding until the episodes aired.
In Mediaweek’s exclusive photos, we have been careful not to drop any spoilers. If you don’t want to see the new Block McCafe, look away now!
Each house was hosted by a different agent with drinks and snacks on offer. The new Blockheads were on hand, some taking more time with the guests than others. It was a busy night!
The builds were still in progress with the kitchens and living areas finished. Also some of the bedrooms and bathrooms.
The Block host Scott Cam with Phillip Island Buyers’ Jury member Katrina Lawrence
Building site gridlocked with guests
All the houses were multi-storey properties, but access wasn’t available upstairs to all the homes.
The whole site was almost gridlocked with visitors, with around 100 visitors plus camera crews capturing the jury buyers’ reactions. There were also Block judges, the foremen, EP Julian Cress and hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft. And a handful of tradies who explained the whole site is as busy as this every day as they struggle to make each week’s deadline.
After visiting each of the properties, the visitors voted on which they thought was best. The Mediaweek spy said the properties were all very different. One house stood out because of its higher position and water glimpses. The downside: it was closer to the road. No spoilers, but the jury vote was split with a surprise winner.
The identities of special guests for the Buyers’ Jury reveal are staying secret, for now. But if former buyers Danny Wallis and Adrian Portelli were there, this might be their transport.