Australian balloon artists are ready to inflate their chances of winning a massive $100,000 prize in Seven’s unique reality contest, “Blow Up”.
A captivating mix of creativity and competition, Blow Up promises to burst onto screens on Monday 15th May at 7:30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Stephen Curry, a household name since his stellar performance in the classic Aussie film ‘The Castle’, and the award-winning comedian Becky Lucas, renowned since her break in the 2013 National RAW Comedy finals, are teaming up to host this vibrant and quirky show. The duo will navigate the colourful world of balloon artistry with witty banter and insightful commentary, adding a dash of fun and excitement to the proceedings.
Chris Adamo, a veteran with 26 years in the balloon industry, will serve as the esteemed judge. As the founder of Sydney’s premier balloon styling company The Balloon Crew, Adamo is well-placed to critique the breathtaking creations and decode the complexities of balloon artistry for the audience.
The competition features ten talented Australian balloon artists, each bringing their unique skills, creativity, and passion for balloon artistry to the table. Among them are industry heavyweights such as Brendan Ord, the director of Balloons by Design and Matt Falloon, a world-renowned balloon artist.
Rising stars like Robbie Kay, a multi-award-winning magician and balloon twister, and Chloe Lim, a scientist turned part-time balloon artist, are also set to make their mark.
The contestants will face a variety of challenges, including solo and team builds, and fierce Balloon Battles where they must showcase their best work to stay in the competition. Throughout the show, audiences will witness the creation of awe-inspiring balloon sculptures, the result of hours of painstaking work and boundless imagination.
From intricate small designs to large-scale installations, “Blow Up” is set to take viewers on a visual extravaganza while shedding light on the dynamic, ever-evolving world of balloon artistry.
MEET THE CAST OF BLOW UP
Brendan Ord – 49 Vic
Highly respected for his skilled balloon work and known as a mentor to many in the Australian industry, Brendan Ord has taught and worked with some of the country’s most successful balloon artists. With over 16 years’ experience as a twister, decorator, stylist and teacher, Brendan is the director of entertainment company Balloons by Design, specialising in bespoke commissions, parties and events, supported by up to 40 staff in peak periods. Full of enthusiasm and passion for his industry, Brendan is credited with creating and running the biggest balloon convention in Australia, OzJam, where he also teaches at. Noted for his open and supportive nature, Brendan is looking forwardto being around “balloonies” aka balloon family – during the competition. Outside of balloons, Brendan loves spending time with his two teenage sons, watching footy and going fishing, and is kept busy serving as president of his local junior football club.
Chloe Lim 40 ACT
A newer member of the balloon artist community, Dr Chloe Lim has many strings to her bow. Born and raised in Malaysia before moving to New Zealand for her university studies, Chloe later moved to Australia to earn two further degrees, including her PhD in Medical Science. A molecular biologist by trade, Chloe has worked in medical research towards a cure for metastatic breast cancer before transitioning into the government sector. As a mum of three primary-school-aged children (including twins!), Chloe successfully juggles her full-time job, her part-time balloon business and parenting duties. Combining her love of science, books and balloons, Chloe has created fun and engaging science storytelling shows to encourage a love of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Getting a buzz out of making people smile with her balloon creations, Chloe plans to push outside her comfort zone and will bring her focus to every challenge to further build her skills.
Donna Cochrane – 42 Qld
Having started in the balloon world at 13, Donna Cochrane’s life-long passion for balloons began when she worked as a magician’s assistant on school holidays. Fast forward to her wedding day where she and her husband Jason said “I do” against an enchanted balloon forest backdrop, featuring her own balloon wedding and bridesmaid dresses. Working as a children’s entertainer for over 17 years and twisting balloons for over 29, she is known as “Miss Donna” when performing. As owner, operator and entertainer at Be Amazed Entertainment, Donna is well known among Australian and international balloon communities. With a hugely creative eye, Donna is known for her big, bold designs and meticulous attention to detail. She has received seven international awards for her twisting designs at worldwide conventions; four of which were for her exquisite balloon dresses. Donna has also taught at international balloon meets and has been a part of two Guinness World Record team builds. Feisty, fun and competitive, Donna has her eye on the prize of taking home the title of Blow Up champion!
Justin Williams – 31 Vic
An established and well-known magician and circus performer, Justin Williams began twisting balloons age 13. He got bored of classic swords and poodles and began taking requests, creating anything his friends and family could dream up. Turning that talent into a business, Justin is now co-director of the entertainment company Showmen Productions. Justin writes, directs and performs shows for a living, performing sell-out stage shows at theatres and Spiegeltents around the world, including at the iconic Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With a vast repertoire of balloon techniques, Justin prides himself on creating any design by sight, grabbing balloons and twisting until he gets it right – perseverance is key. Justin loves elaborate, small, detailed sculptures and hates making the same thing twice! Known for his creativity and big ideas, Justin is a bundle of energy who loves a challenge and thinks he will thrive in the competitive Blow Up landscape.
Matt Falloon – 38 NSW
A born entertainer, Matt Falloon is a world-renowned balloon artist and mentor within the industry. Matt is a prolific twister who can create intricate and detailed small sculptures all the way up to large-scale, high-quality installations and designs. Starting as a magician, Matt has 27 years of industry experience. His first paid gig was aged 11. Since quitting the corporate world a decade ago, Matt has run his own leading children’s entertainment and balloon-twisting business: Matt Falloon and his Trained Balloons. Matt’s skill has been recognised internationally, with his sculptures winning awards at more than 10 international conventions. He has also taught in Japan, Europe, UK, USA and Israel. Matt is most proud to have been the 2015 Dewey Award recipient, presented to a rising star in recognition of both innovation and industry contribution. As a pop culture and science fiction mega-fan and self-confessed nerd, Matt will be inspired by the unbridled imagination of the fantasy world to bring next-level creations to life during Blow Up.
Michelle Ferron – 33 Vic
For Michelle Ferron, 2023 will mark 20 years of working as a childrens’ entertainer. Best known as a party entertainer and balloon twister, Michelle began twisting aged 18 and in 2009 created her own business, Kiddly-Winks Children’s Entertainment. With its mission to make kids smile, the business has 24 team members across Australia. Performing as Zoom the magician, Michelle does ventriloquism, magic shows, face painting and, of course, balloon twisting. She loves her work and finds it very fulfilling. In 2018 Michelle won second place at the Twist and Shout convention in America, for a unicorn balloon design that became known as ‘Michelle’s unicorn’ and attracted worldwide attention. She has also taken home awards at the Australian convention OzJam. Though she cuts a diminutive figure, expect big things from this pocket rocket on Blow Up Australia!
Nicole Brusic – 50 SA
Balloon twisting started out as a hobby for this former music teacher, but Nicole Brusic was soon hooked. Now with her own successful business, Nifty Entertainment, Nicole’s work focuses on interactive entertaining, balloon twisting and décor at expos, conventions, shopping centres, corporate events and parties. With 13 years of experience, Nicole has also taught numerous times and been a delegate at Australian and international balloon conventions. Despite her years of experience, Nicole still feels like a newbie at times, given the industry’s everevolving nature. She credits the industry with keeping her youthful. As one of the country’s most respected twisters, Nicole brings her calm approach and steady hand to the competition at Blow Up, and her quick wit and an endless supply of puns keep the mood light. Super competitive by nature, Nicole is here to give the competition her all and is excited to spend time with other talented balloon artists as they pit their creativity and skills head-to-head.
Robbie Kay – 34 SA
He might be the newest kid on the balloon block at Blow Up, but that won’t get in the way of Robbie Kay giving the competition all he’s got. A carpenter by day for 15 years Robbie has also pursued his passion for working as a magician after being introduced to magic by his grandfather. Now a multi-award-winning performer, Robbie is a regular at Adelaide Fringe Festival, a stage fixture for the last eight years. As a leading stage and close-up magician, Robbie is an expert on impressive sleight of hand and out-of-this-world illusions. With a knack for picking up skills quickly, Robbie is self-taught, with his love for balloon twisting spurred by a passion for magic. He now incorporates balloons into his shows, private events and kids’ parties. Robbie is keen to add to his repertoire, having mainly used twisting techniques in his work so far. He loves that balloons can go beyond what anyone thinks possible, limited only by imagination. Supported back home by his biggest fans, wife Lauren and two-year-old son Carter, Robbie will no doubt have some tricks up his sleeve to conjure cool creations during the competition, dreaming of swapping the chippy life for that of a magician and balloon twister extraordinaire.
Tammie Timmers – 37 Vic
Tammie Timmers lives and breathes balloons. As a full-time balloon artist from the Mornington Peninsula, Tammie runs Pimp My Balloons with her husband Trevor, who despite their obvious love, will face off with her on Blow Up. Having worked in the balloon industry for 11 years, with five additional years twisting on top of that, Tammie started out twisting for children’s birthday parties, but these days focuses more on large balloon sculptures, dress couture and balloon art. Happy and fun-loving, Tammie’s creations have been shown worldwide, and she has won numerous awards alongside her husband, including at conventions in Las Vegas. Making balloons is incredibly emotional for Tammie because she loves how they can make people feel, from young kids to older people. Outside of their businesses, Tammie and Trevor love spending time with their two-year-old daughter Thaya, who is naturally in awe of mum and dad’s work and is already skilled at inflating balloons herself. The pair will give the competition their all for their littlest cheerleader back home.
Trevor Timmers – 37 Vic
Having previously worked in the tourism, events and real estate industries, Trevor Timmers has well and truly found his niche in the balloon world, standing side by side with wife Tammie running their successful business, Pimp My Balloons. Meeting by chance on a plane trip 11 years ago, it was clear right away that Tammie and Trevor were meant to be, and it wasn’t long until Trevor joined his now wife in the balloon game. Starting balloon twisting for parties, Trevor is now particularly skilled in the decorator space, focusing on large balloon sculptures and wearables, with use of large-scale framing a speciality. A big man with a big heart, Trevor prides himself on being Tammie’s ‘MacGyver’, always on hand to help bring her visions to life. Used to working symbiotically and complementing each other’s skills, the pair may find it tough working solo in the competition and going head-to-head. When it comes to creating, Trevor’s engineering brain always considers the architectural side of his builds. His creations have impressed worldwide, winning numerous awards with Tammie, including at conventions in Las Vegas and Australia.
