Latest news with #Block2025
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Others will catch on': The Block foreman Dan Reilly says 2025 season the most competitive yet with one couple's innovative approach set be copied
The Block 2025 is set to be the most competitive season yet, as one couple's innovative approach could be copied, according to the show's foreman Dan Reilly. Nine's hit renovation series kicked off in the Victorian town of Daylesford last week, with five homes built from scratch set to go under the hammer. Unlike previous seasons, each property has the exact same floor plan, putting the Blockheads under pressure to deliver rooms with a difference. And best mates Robby and Mat haven't wasted any time, getting plans approved to install an underground wine cellar at the back of house 5. The South Australian barbers have already emerged as this season's front-runners after winning week one's bathroom reveal on Sunday. The boys claimed the victory over the other four couples with a tidy score of 26.5/30 from judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer, and Marty Fox. However, speaking to Dan suggested Robby and Mat's fall from grace is fast approaching with other couples set to match their point of difference and install other bespoke features in their homes. 'Maybe others will catch on and start come up with some good ideas,' the foreman said with a cheeky grin at the TV WEEK Logie Awards in Sydney on Sunday evening. 'Every house is the exact same footprint, so it's really up to the contestants to try and come up with ideas of how they're going to differentiate from everyone else. 'How's their design going to be? Is it going to resonate with the buyers? 'And you've got to have big weapons, like we've seen the boys do, put a wine cellar.' Dan warned the couples who don't have 'weapons' up their sleeves will get 'done' at the auctions, which will cap off the season in November. The auctions will notably not feature star bidder Adrian Portelli, also known as 'Lambo guy' for his flashy designer yellow car on set. Portelli retired his bidding paddle after purchasing all five Phillip Island homes in 2024 for $15.3 million. He had dropped a total of $31.68 million on The Block houses since his first appearance on the hit renovation series in 2022. Asked whether the Blockheads are nervous about their auctions this year without Portelli's domination, Dan said other 'big players' are out to bid. 'What's exciting about Daylesford is that it is such a place that everyone wants to get into, because the Airbnb business up there is huge,' he said. 'Plus, there are a lot of big players in town with a lot of money, and we're already hearing they're looking and very interested in buying one or two. 'So I don't think they'll get passed in, and I think we'll still see some good prices at auction.' The 2025 Block homes are expansive, with an estimated $3 million-plus price, which is costly for the Daylesford market. According to PropTrack data, the median house price in the town is $819,000, an eight per cent decrease in the year to July. Buyers advocate and The Block regular Frank Valentic cast doubt over the success of the auctions without Portelli and major bidder Danny Wallace. 'I don't think there'll be many owner/occupiers buying this series, because it is well above Daylesford's median house price,' Mr Valentic told 'If these are going to be at circa $2 million or even $3 million-plus, I don't know if they'll get that far without the Danny Wallace and Adrian Portelli factor.'
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Block's 1,000th episode premieres tonight; meet the five teams competing in Daylesford
Australia's favourite renovation show is back, and this time, it's bringing bold personalities and new stakes to Daylesford, Victoria. Now in its 21st season, it is also the 1,000th episode of The Block. The Block 2025 premieres tonight, Sunday, July 27, on Channel 9 and 9Now, introducing five dynamic teams competing to turn five identical houses into standout dream homes. Each team comes with their own unique story, from best mates-turned-rookies to police officers juggling parenthood, and a couple who applied seven times before finally making the cut. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Degree MCA MBA others Leadership healthcare Public Policy Project Management Management Artificial Intelligence CXO Technology Digital Marketing Data Science Cybersecurity Finance Healthcare Data Science PGDM Product Management Others Operations Management Design Thinking Data Analytics Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details Also Read: She was smart, popular, and different; so why was Tiffany Salmond let go? When and where to watch Premieres : Sunday, July 27 Live Events Date and Time : Sunday, July 27 at 7:00 PM AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) Where : Channel 9 and 9Now (on demand) This year, the competition puts all five teams on a more even footing, with identical houses to renovate and brand-new rules aimed at promoting collaboration over conflict. But the personal stories behind the contestants are what truly set this season apart. Sonny and Alicia (Gold Coast, QLD) – The Family-First Tradie Team Sonny, a seasoned plumber, and Alicia, a former dental practice manager, are leaving their three children behind to chase their Block dream. The couple were nearly cast last year and say this opportunity is not just for themselves, but for their kids. Alicia puts it plainly: 'They're our reason for being here.' The pair bring modest reno experience but a strong team dynamic rooted in mutual respect. Robby and Mat (Adelaide, SA) – The Hairdresser Duo with Zero Reno Skills Best friends and business owners Robby and Mat are trading scissors for sledgehammers. With no renovation experience between them, they hope their business smarts and chemistry will carry them through. 'I'd sooner believe my house would burn down than end up on The Block,' Mat joked. The pair hope to break stereotypes and charm viewers with their unique friendship — 'a hairdresser and a barber, gay and straight.' Han and Can (Perth, WA) – Young Love Meets Big Pressure Han, a geologist, and Can, a marketing creative, met online just over a year ago and are now testing their relationship under the ultimate renovation stress. With family support and design ambition, they aim to bring a thoughtful and modern edge to their build. 'The Block made us stronger,' Can said, crediting their shared resilience for getting through the toughest moments. Britt and Taz (Newman, WA) – Police Officers From the Outback Married cops from remote Western Australia, Britt and Taz are juggling parenting and policing duties while tackling The Block's freezing conditions in Daylesford — a big change from their usual 40-degree summers. Taz, who is Aboriginal, sees their appearance as a chance to inspire Indigenous kids. They're keen DIYers but admit the scale of The Block is a leap: 'We've never done anything this big,' said Britt. Em and Ben (Melbourne, VIC) – The Experienced Locals After seven applications, Em and Ben finally made it. The Melbourne couple bring the most renovation experience to the show, having already flipped and built multiple homes. Em is a dance teacher and businesswoman, while Ben is an engineer and aspiring firefighter. They're hoping their polished teamwork and 'mid-century with a Daylesford twist' design will give them the winning edge.
Sky News AU
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Most competitive': The Block 2025 has one major twist that's set to make the hit series one of the closest races in history
The Block 2025 is sure to be filled with fresh twists and turns, but there's one that's set to make the hit series one of the closest races yet. Channel Nine's hit renovation show will return to screens at 7:30 pm on July 27, with a fresh round of Blockheads this year building homes from scratch, rather than renovating them, in the Victorian town of Daylesford. Blockheads Emma and Ben, Can and Han, Robby and Matt, Alicia and Sonny, and Brit and Taz will arrive in Daylesford to find only the frames of their homes are completed, bearing the responsibility to finish the rest. The challenge is no small feat to conquer, as each block has a land size of 2,300 square metres, with homes measuring 346 square metres. As well as building from the ground up, the Blockheads will no longer be allowed to work on their properties overnight, Domain reported. In past seasons, host Scotty Cam yelled "tools down" at 4 am, marking the end of the contestants' frantic scrambling to finish the day's job. Now, the building site will be locked each night, forcing the contestants to utilise their time management skills to complete their renovations on time. The Blockheads, after tools down, will also unwind from the day in self-contained onsite caravans rather than inside their uncompleted homes. Executive producer Julian Cress said the change was introduced with the teams' wellbeing in mind. 'It's been great for the contestants' general wellbeing just to be able to switch off and be with their neighbours at the end of a long day,' he said. Cress said the contestants, some of who finally made it on the show after applying for seven years in a row, pull out all the stops to produce quality homes, setting the scene for some stiff competition. 'I think that we've chosen some of the most competitive and talented contestants we've ever had, and the quality of the rooms they're producing is going to get Block fans very excited,' he said. The 2025 Block site is situated in one of Hygge Property's new housing developments, Middleton Field, located near the heart of Daylesford. The locations mean the completed Block renovations will be the first five homes drivers see when they arrive in the town. The new season could be branded a sequel to Tree Change in 2022 after photos of the newly-completed homes show similarities to the past series. The couple who wins the highest price at auction receives a grand prize of $100,000 plus the amount their home sells above the reserve. The Block has continuously built a strong lead in the prime-time TV ratings, surging ahead of Seven's My Kitchen Rules and The Voice.
