The Block, returns to Channel 9 for an unbelievable 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.
In the biggest shakeup in Block history, for the first time there will be no house plans for contestants to work off – we’re tearing them up. This year, Blockheads must not only renovate the mammoth project, they’ll also have to design the layout and inclusions of their houses themselves from scratch.
The location for this blockbuster faceoff has The Block in a setting it has never attempted before, a traditional Australian cul-de-sac. Bronte Court in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Hampton will be transformed as the couples battle it out to create five luxury family homes.
In a season packed with firsts, this one will literally dig deeper than ever, with each property having an underground excavation for contestants to create a massive basement in their homes.
The five houses to be renovated are on separate blocks that range from the smallest, 587 square metres, to the biggest, 911 square metres for house number five. These are the largest blocks of land in the history of the show.
Scott Cam, who returns to host his 15th series of The Block, said:
“Expect the unexpected. This build was extremely tough to plan and work out where things would go for many of our contestants because of this new twist. The plans have been thrown out the window and it leads to plenty of stuff-ups!
Meet the contestants!
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, 39, makeup artist
With her signature purple hair, Tanya is well known in Melbourne and other
parts of Australia as a makeup artist.
With over 11,000 followers on Instagram, she has developed a strong fan following and has celebrity clients. She knows what the TV industry is like, but being on The Block is a completely different beast.
“I am so used to doing hair and makeup and making talent feel good,” she said. “But being on the other side of the camera is something that took me a while to get used to.”
Tanya is personable and always “makes an entrance” when she walks into a room. She is a determined type and her persistence will hold her in good stead in this pressure cooker environment.
Vito, 45, window furnisher
Over the years Vito has had many professions, and as a qualified barber he is set to be the resident snipper on The Block, something he is hoping will win him a few friends and favours.
He is so close to his wife that he doesn’t do anything without her input.
“I need her with me,” he said. “I trust Tanya with my life. That’s the way it’s going to be on The Block, I am only going to trust Tanya.”
Italian in background, family is everything to Vito, who wants to give their kids a goal to look up to by appearing on The Block.
“We want to set the best example for our kids, mum and dad doing their best when dealing with the highs and lows. We always make sure that we work together as a team. When we do, we can do anything,” he said.
TOGETHER
Tanya leans on Vito and Vito leans on Tanya. That is going to be the theme for this Melbourne couple on site this year.
There is always drama and conflict on The Block. Tanya and Vito plan on using their immensely close bond to stick together and get through it all.
Vito is a keen cyclist. Church and faith are an important part of Tanya and Vito’s life. Vito’s dad is a bricklayer and he had a go at being a brickie early on in life.
Some of the celebrities Tanya has done makeup for include Tina Arena and Chrissie Swan.
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, 27, studying mental health
Josh worked in sales and the corporate world before he headed to the Love Island villa in Fiji in 2019. He ended up finding love and winning the show alongside Anna McEvoy, and moved to Melbourne to be with her.
After giving the relationship a really good shot, they split amicably last year during COVID-19 lockdown.
Josh then quarantined in Darwin at the Howard Springs facility and moved back to Sydney to live with his parents, where he realised his purpose.
Mental health is his passion and he is currently studying and looking to inspire others.
“I suffered a lot with social anxiety growing up and had to come through it, so now I want to work with and help other people,” he said.
Luke, 27, synthetic grass installer
In starting up his own synthetic grass installation business, The Block has come at a perfect time for Luke. He is looking to settle down after becoming engaged to Oliva and hopes The Block will set them up for the future.
Luke plans on spending most of his time on the tools because of his trade background. However, he isn’t afraid to lend his eye for style and offer an opinion to Josh when it comes to shopping.
“I do backyards, so hopefully we will win backyard week, and if we don’t it will be really disappointing. As for the other rooms, wish us luck,” Luke said.
TOGETHER
The twins say they wouldn’t do The Block with anyone else by their side. They know they will bicker at times, but they always get over it and support each other as families do.
“We can be really angry at each other, then five minutes later we are sweet. Blood is thicker than water and we will show people that,” Luke said.
FAST FACTS ABOUT JOSH AND LUKE
The twins grew up and live on Sydney’s northern beaches. Family is very important to the boys. They aren’t afraid to ask for help from their dad who has a background in real estate.
Luke once tried out for the Royal Marine Commandos. Luke was a champion 400-metre runner, making the national finals in the Under 20 category with a personal best time of 48 seconds. Josh has the most Instagram followers of any Block contestant this year, with 164,000 on his personal account.
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, 33, country singer
Kirsty is an established country music singer who has performed all over Australia to a loyal fanbase. She has been to Nashville with Jesse, trying to break into the US market, and had planned to go back there before COVID hit.
“I’ve been singing all my life, that’s my passion, my career and my life,” she said. “I come from a musical family and it just comes naturally to me.”
Kirsty has had success in the country music world in Australia with her album Burn Baby Burn, which topped the ARIA country charts in 2016. She is a proud Indigenous woman who continues to explore her family history, “something I am learning about every day”, she said.
Jesse, 32, videographer
All his life Jesse has worked hard and being on The Block will be no different.
He got his first job at a pizza shop when he was 13, paid $5 an hour.
He realises the value of real estate and the opportunity The Block presents for
him and Kirsty.
“We both come from nothing. We have humble beginnings, so real estate means a lot to us. It is a way of making a difference in our lives,” he said.
After training as a fitter and machinist, Jesse has worked as a videographer
in the music industry i, including making a number of clips with his wife.
TOGETHER
After applying for The Block since 2012, Kirsty and Jesse are going to relish every single opportunity and moment the experience brings. Even when things are tough, they will remember just how lucky they are to be building a luxury family home in Hampton.
They cried when they got the call to pack their bags and come to Bronte Court to start work, but don’t expect any more tears – this duo plan on having their game faces ready.
They rarely fight and they work very well together. But will the stress of The Block and the big build test even the strongest of relationships?
FAST FACTS ABOUT KIRSTY AND JESSE
The couple owned and operated a 60-seat café that had seven employees in their hometown of Wangi Wangi for three years, before going to Nashville. They are huge fans of Ronnie and Georgia.
“Hamptons beach vibe” is their preferred style of renovating. Kirsty and Jesse got married on 4/4/2014 at 4pm. Kirsty has won two Golden Guitar Awards for country music.
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, professional renovator, 45
Ronnie is no stranger to hard work and vigilant regimes. He gets up every morning at 4.30am to go to the gym before a long working day.
He feels he has all the skills to win the contest, having renovated homes since his early twenties and previously worked as a real estate agent.
Despite being an avid gym goer, Ronnie is worried about being “Block-fit” going into a second run on the show.
“I need to keep myself in top shape. The Block is a workout like nothing else. You have to be mentally and physically ready for this brutal and relentless challenge. You have to be fighting fit to do something like The Block,” he said.
Not afraid to stir the pot, Ronnie will live and breathe every second
of his time on the show just like he did in 2017.
Georgia, professional renovator, 37
Feisty and with an eye for style, Georgia is a force to be reckoned with.
She again plans to take on the role of shopping and styling in Hampton, and The Block in Elsternwick showed her that anything is possible under the most trying circumstances.
“You don’t understand what you are capable of until you do something like this,” Georgia said.
Back home in Perth, Georgia juggles working on business and raising their two children, Leo, 9, and Charlotte, 6. She admits it will be tough being away from the kids, especially as they know what to expect.
“There were lots of tears saying goodbye to the kids again,” she said. “I promised them a pool at the end of this to get them over the line, so we’re counting on that win.”
Georgia is also an accomplished brand ambassador, television presenter and home stylist.
TOGETHER
The explosive dynamic between Ronnie and Georgia that we saw on The Block in 2017 will be there again as they get things off their chest, move on, and do the job. They bounce off each other well, they know what they are doing, and they are coming into Fans v Faves as confident as ever.
With their previous experience, Ronnie and Georgia believe they have the upper hand and know what is ahead. But nothing is ever certain on The Block, and with so many twists and turns expected in Hampton, it won’t be easy sailing this year for this pair.
FAST FACTS ABOUT RONNIE AND GEORGIA
Georgia has a background in musical theatre and studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. She previously performed in her own cabaret show.
Ronnie enjoys bike riding as exercise, and he plans to do that on the show.
The couple met in Perth when Georgia was 21 and Ronnie was a single dad with a toddler named Giordano, who is now 20.
Ronnie is passionate about beach volleyball and has competed in the United States.
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 prizemoney. 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, entrepreneur, 58
Mitch has three grown-up children and the couple have five grandchildren who are the delights of their lives.
Mitch recently resigned from his long-time job as a manager of business and innovation to be part of The Block again. He had committed to a new five-year contract, but when the TV producers came calling he knew it was the right decision to leave.
“I thought about it and said do I really want to be doing this for the next five years? I’d rather be back on The Block.”
With a steely determination and not afraid to give an opinion, added to his flair for design, Mitch should not be underestimated.
Mark, entrepreneur, 59
Mark spent the first 36 years of his life living in Adelaide, before moving to Sydney. A psychologist, he left his job working in personal injury and insurance after appearing on The Block in 2019 to focus on creating the Mitch and Mark brand.
“I think to come out of The Oslo and achieve what we did made us realise we can do anything,” he said.
Mark has a close relationship with his builders from The Oslo, Jason and Stevie Charles. The Charles brothers will be back on The Block with Mitch and Mark again.
“When we rang Jason and asked him to come back, he said he wouldn’t do it with anyone else, which was lovely,” Mark said.
Mark is always on site while Mitch shops. Mark is organised, not afraid to get on the tools, and another fierce competitor.
TOGETHER
As in 2019, Mitch and Mark will be prepared to do anything and everything it takes to win. They are excellent renovators who always consult each other.
Headstrong and with clear ideas, Mitch and Mark rubbed some contestants up the wrong way in 2019. Will it be the same at Bronte Court?
Whatever pans out, these two will be bringing their A-game once again, which might have the others shaking in their work boots.
FAST FACTS ABOUT MITCH AND MARK
Mitch has an incredible designer-shoe collection. In 2020, Mitch and Mark sold a renovated house they owned in Melbourne for $1.35 million. Mitch was a champion water skier when he was younger. They first appeared on television on The Aussie Property Flippers in 2017.
