Will new reality show Blow Up Australia float to the top of the rankings charts?
After the finale of Farmer Wants a Wife, the 7 Network’s new reality show Blow Up Australia premieres May 15 2023.
Blow Up Australia hasn’t even started and it’s already been hit with controversy. TV industry rumours suggest Blow Up is a copycat of Channel 9’s successful Lego Masters Australia.
TV Blackbox investigates whether Blow Up Australia is a clear rip off or has it’s own unique twist.
The Premise:
Blow Up originates from the Netherlands. This is Australia’s first season of Blow Up Australia, quickly following Blow Up NZ which premiered earlier this year in New Zealand.
The Contestants:
Blow Up Australia’s 10 contestants – all experienced balloon artists – are ready to blow this contest wide open in the bid to win $100,000 and the title of Blow Up Australia Champion. The balloon artist community appears to be pretty small, as some of the contestants give off vibes they already know each other and this iteration of the franchise features two contestants who are husband and wife.
Blow Up Australia has contestants working in both team and individual challenges as they work their way towards the ultimate prize. With contrasting experiences and personalities amongst the teams, expect to see some drama in this show you won’t experience with other crafty competitions.
The Balloons:
Channel 7’s former golden child, My Kitchen Rules has been heavily criticised by it’s fans for being too much about the drama and not enough about the food. Loyal Channel 7 fans will be pleased to know Blow Up Australia is focused on the balloon art. In addition, the series gives viewers insight into the balloon making world, explaining some of the lingo including “balloon twisting” vs “balloon making”.
The Hosts and Judges:
The show is hosted by actor Stephen Curry and comedian Becky Lucas, promising a captivating and entertaining experience for viewers. The pair’s chemistry is strong and the two work together to encourage the contestants to success, without stealing the show.
Becky Lucas is true to herself and her say-it-as-is humour in the show. Neither of the hosts try too hard to steal the show’s spotlight from the contestants and their art.
Resident balloon expert Chris Adamo, alongside a panel of celebrity guest judges feature across the series and use their expertise to separate the good balloon displays from the great.
The Verdict:
There’s more to Blow Up Australia than being a balloon version of Lego Masters Australia. It’s format and challenges will truly test its contestants and Becky Lucas isn’t trying to distract the contestants with her comedy antics too much.
Craft shows have always been a bit hit and miss but if viewers turn away from Blow Up Australia, it won’t be due to the format. It’s going to take more than one episode to see if Becky Lucas and Stephen Curry have anything to match Hamish Blake’s antics which often are a highlight of Nine’s format.
Lego Masters Australia’s fanbase is strongly driven by fans of the beloved LEGO® bricks. Balloon art has never had as strong of a following, so it will be interesting if the balloon medium will capture viewers as bricks do.
