The Block is back on Nine and 9Now on Sunday, August 7 at 7 pm for its 18th season, this time on a new site in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges in Gisborne South.
Five new couples from across Australia transform old run-down houses – two sourced from Queensland and three from Melbourne – into stunning new homes that combine country and contemporary living.
In addition to each building homestead, pairs must also plan and think about landscaping more than 700 square metres of land from the minute they arrive on set. Properties must also be designed with sustainability and resilience in mind.
The Block Tree Change – contestants
Returning this season to pass their verdict on the rooms built each week are judges Neale Whitaker, Darren Palmer and Shaynna Blaze.
Hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft are also back to guide and advise the contestants.
At stake is $100,000 for the winner of The Block, plus whatever profit the pair’s homes can make on auction day.
Tom, 34, and Sarah-Jane, 30 – Victoria
Tom and Sarah-Jane met at her sister’s wedding and have been together for seven years, married for three years.
They are doting parents to their one-year-old daughter Cleo and are participating in the show to give her a better future. While they haven’t renovated as many houses as some of the stronger couples in Block history, they make up for that with sheer guts and determination.
Tom is a successful plumber who runs his own business and will put his skills to the test on the site, while Sarah-Jane, who works in aged care as a social worker, will take on the role of stylist and shopper.
The pair admitted that since having a child, they tend to argue a bit, but that said that it never comes from a bad place. “We get our feelings out right there and then, and five minutes later, we get over it,” Sarah-Jane said.
Tom and Sarah-Jane
Ankur, 41, and Sharon, 35 – Victoria
Ankur and Sharon are no strangers to the glamorous Melbourne social scene, so stepping onto a construction site will be a new experience.
“This is something so out of my comfort zone,” Ankur said. “With accounting, it’s something you fall into, and you do it because it’s a safe and stable income. But after the lockdowns, I really wanted to grow and do something different and completely random, and what better way to do that than go on The Block?” he added.
Despite having the least experience building a house, Sharon – who starred on Neighbours – will draw on her experience living on a rural property in South Australia to make up for their renovation experience. “I grew up on a farm, and I’m a fix-it girl – that’s how my dad taught me,” the actress said.
The pair are proud Australians of Indian heritage and hope to be positive role models for their community in this series.
Ankur and Sharon
Dylan, 28, and Jenny, 25 – Queensland
Engaged couple Dylan and Jenny are coming to the show with plenty of experience and ready to win.
Dylan is a builder and runs his own company Smooth Sailing Designs, while his fiancée works with him as an apprentice tradie – a first for The Block.
They know the ins and outs of renovating a house and are currently building their dream home. Jenny said: “We are building our own dream home in Palm Beach, getting married and now doing this. It’s an amazing time.”
As a proud tradeswoman, Jenny wants to show Australia and inspire young girls that the construction industry is a great career path for women.
“When I tell people I am doing my apprenticeship, they always say you don’t build; you don’t do anything. But I do – I do everything,” she said.
Dylan and Jenny
Omar, 30, and Osman, 30 – New South Wales
Best friends Omar and Osman (aka Oz) are doing the show to make a difference for their children and community.
In the first few weeks of The Block, the practising Muslims were observing Ramadan while taking on the show’s challenges.
“We are Muslim, and I am Lebanese, but I am Australian Lebanese. I’m a proud Australian, and I want to show what two Muslim Aussies can do,” Oz said.
Omar and Osman
The two are no strangers to the construction industry, with Oz having worked in construction and Omar in demolition.
The boys can be jokers who light up the room, but there is a real competitive streak to them, and they will hustle.
“People will think we are just two boys from Western Sydney who have no taste, but I’m telling you that we are the wow factor The Block is looking for!” Oz said.
Omar and Osman
Joel, 37, and Elle, 38 – New South Wales
Joel is a former AFL player for the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney Giants. Elle is one of Australia’s original influencers, with a loyal following of close to 700,000 on Instagram.
The Bondi couple, who have been engaged for five years and are planning on tying the knot soon, was inspired to audition for The Block after watching the show during lockdown.
“It was on four nights a week, and I think we really did say, ‘We could do it, and it would be fun,” Elle said.
The former footy star has a building background, having renovated houses in Brisbane, and also comes from a family of tradies in Adelaide.
Elle comes to the show armed with a diploma in interior design and her keen eye for design. She also has experience having worked on building General Pants stores around the world from the ground up.
Joel and Elle
The Block: Tree Change premieres Sunday, August 8, at 7:00 pm on Nine and 9Now
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Top image:
Top row: Ankur and Sharon, Dylan and Jenny, Omar and Osman
Second row: Tom and Sarah-Jane, Joel and Elle