Australia’s most iconic renovation show, The Block, returns this Sunday for its 21st season, marking a major milestone with its 1,000th episode. Ahead of the premiere, host Scott Cam joined Bec to chat about the season’s fresh approach, some new rules, and why it’s a big year for fans of the show.
“We’re very excited to be turning 21, and in the middle of the series is our 1,000th episode, which is pretty amazing,” Scott shared.
A Family Show at Heart
Having hosted 19 of the 21 seasons, Scott says it’s the family-friendly appeal that keeps viewers coming back year after year. “Mum, dad, and the three kids can sit down and watch our show,” he said. “We drifted away from that a little bit in the last couple of years, but we’ve come way back… we’re a very family-friendly series for our 21st.”
This year, viewers can expect a return to the “Block of Olds,” with contestants and homes that feel a little more like the classic seasons fans fell in love with.
Same Layout, Different Strategy
One of the biggest shakeups this year? For the first time ever, every house is identical in layout and size, which means contestants will need to work even harder to stand out.
“Each team has got to bring their A-game to their design and construction,” Scott explained. “They’ve got to come up with a couple of secret weapons that someone else hasn’t got.”
That means more wow factor in finishes, colours, and styling, and potentially more drama when teams try to value-add in creative (and competitive) ways.
New Rules and Curfews
This season also introduces strict curfews, designed to prioritise safety and help manage fatigue.
“We’ve got cut-off times, and that stretches out later as the week goes on,” Scott said. “For example, Monday night the site shuts at six o’clock, Tuesday at eight, and Saturday night it’s midnight.”
Instead of working around the clock, contestants will retreat to a specially-built offsite “miniature village” with caravans, giving them some well-earned rest between reno sprints.
“They’ve got to be really savvy with their design, construction, time and budget,” he added.
If Scott Were a Contestant?
While the beloved host says he’d never sign up as a contestant himself, he did offer this advice for would-be Blockheads:
“Budget would be the most important thing. Then I’d have a tradesman’s schedule written up on a whiteboard, so we know who’s coming in when and where.”
The Block premieres this Sunday, July 27 at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Listen to the full chat with Bec below.