The Block returns Sunday, August 8, at 7.00pm to Channel Nine and 9Now for a 17th season with a twist: Fans v Faves – a showdown of epic proportions.
The Block: Fans v Faves brings three unsuspecting yet hopeful couples face to face with two sets of very experienced returning, all-star couples.
For the first time, there will be no house plans for contestants to work off. This year, Blockheads must not only renovate the mammoth project, but they’ll also have to design the layout and inclusions of their houses themselves from scratch.
At stake is $100,000 for the winner of The Block, plus whatever profits their home can make on the critical auction day.
Tanya and Vito – Fans
Parents from Melbourne, VIC
Together for two decades and married for 18 years, with children Eva (12) and Josiah (8), Tanya and Vito are as close as couples can get.
They have watched The Block with their family for as long as they can remember and can’t believe they made the cut this year.
Tanya and Vito have big personalities and are not afraid to either show or hide their emotions – they plan on making a big impact on the program, that is certain.
Experience:
Tanya and Vito, who have always lived in Melbourne’s north-west suburbs, have built three houses of their own during their marriage.
The most recent one – where they live with their two children – in Airport West is their pride and joy. They believe this experience of building homes will help them immensely on The Block.
“We understand trades and what it takes to get the job done,” Vito said. Their style is loud and bright and colourful, like them, so look out.
“The Block is something we have watched for years so it’s just amazing to be on it. We can’t believe this is happening to us,” Tanya said.
Tanya and Vito
Josh and Luke – Fans
Identical twins from Sydney, NSW
We met Josh and Luke when they made their television debut on Love Island Australia in 2019.
Charismatic, passionate and loveable, these twins are set to entertain Australia again, but will charisma be enough to get them through the rough and tumble of The Block? That remains to be seen.
Experience:
When it comes to renovation experience, it’s probably fair to say Josh and Luke are the most inexperienced Blockheads in program history.
While massive fans of the show, neither has renovated before. But they see this as an advantage, because other contestants may dismiss them and not realise they are tough competitors.
The youngest couple this year, they want to show everyone they can do it. “We might be the juniors and not have much renovating experience, but we are going to give it our best shot,” Luke said.
Josh and Luke
Kirsty and Jesse – Fans
Married from Wangi Wangi, NSW
Together since they were 16 and married now for seven years, Kirsty and Jesse are a rock- solid couple. Whatever they do they give 100 per cent and going on The Block will be no different. Coming from humble beginnings, they see this as a huge opportunity to get ahead in life.
Experience:
Kirsty and Jesse bought their first house together when they were 18. After Jesse got his apprenticeship as a fitter and machinist two years earlier, he set a goal to buy a property as soon as he could. “I think I blew my first pay, but after that I saved half my pay until I was 18, so we could buy a house for $165,000,” he said.
They did up that house and sold it, making $60,000 and catching the renovation bug. Since then they have bought and flipped six houses.
Kirsty and Jesse
Ronnie and Georgia – Faves
Parents from Perth, WA
With their first appearance on The Block in 2017 in the Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick, Ronnie and Georgia became fan favourites. Hugely competitive and outspoken, there’s never a dull moment for these two.
They have unfinished business after finishing third in 2017. They took home $161,000 from Elsternwick but they want to come away with the ultimate prize this year.
Experience:
Ronnie and Georgia renovate and flip houses for a living, so the pressure on this Perth couple to perform is huge. They know that this means their build on The Block has to be pretty well perfect.
“I want to do a really good job, and returning as all-stars brings even more expectation and pressure,” Georgia said. “We are our own worst critics.”
They hope their previous experience on the show will work in their favour. “We will be a little bit smarter and a little bit wiser this season,” Georgia said.
Ronnie and Georgia
Mitch and Mark – Faves
Grandads from Sydney, NSW
Australia first met the fabulous Sydney couple Mitch and Mark on The Block in 2019 at The Oslo in St Kilda. They came fifth but still took home $384,000 in prize money. Now they return to The Block to show more of what they can do and snatch the crown as winners.
Together for 16 years, Mitch and Mark work incredibly well together. They aren’t afraid to speak their mind and never fade into the background. They are a force to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to the amount of work they can do in a short time.
Experience:
Mitch and Mark know their stuff when it comes to renovation and flipping houses. They are now up to house number 20, and before going on The Block they were getting ready to start renovating their own home on the northern beaches.
“There is nothing like finishing a project after planning it for so long and seeing it come to life – we love it,” Mark said.
They plan to use their experience in renovating and being on the show before to maximum advantage, but this might mean occasionally letting their guard down.
“Last time we got so caught up with the build and doing well that we didn’t allow ourselves the time to have as much fun as we could have,” Mitch said.
Mitch and Mark