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News.com.au
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Inside The Block's biggest controversies that stunned viewers
A reality television cheating scandal, a mid-reno walkout slammed as 'piss-poor' and a flashy billionaire who casually dropped more than $15m to buy every house on auction night. The Block has built more than 100 homes over its past 20 seasons, but it's the blow-ups, breakdowns and backstabbing that have really kept Australians watching. From topless party photos and marriage-ending flirtations to secret photos that blew up a season, the country's biggest renovation show has delivered some of the wildest moments in Australian TV history, and left more than a few contestants in tears. And now, with the show's 21st season on the horizon and rumours already swirling about tensions on set, we've gone back through the archives to rank the top 10 biggest scandals ever caught on camera, the moments that raised eyebrows, broke headlines, and left hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft shaking their heads. Lambo Guy's $15m power move (The Block 2024) A Melbourne tech billionaire with a fleet of Lamborghinis shocked viewers when he bought every single property at The Block 2024 finale, a move no one expected and fans are still talking about. Luxury car magnate Adrian Portelli, dubbed Lambo Guy, dropped a whopping $15.03m across the night, capping off the winners Maddy and Charlotte's haul with their record-breaking $1.65m profit with their house selling for a jaw-dropping $3.5m. Portelli later confirmed on Nova 100 that he had worked closely with Maddy and Charlotte, hand-selecting their bidding order, to help them secure the win. 'It worked – I've never said it was rigged. I made the decision,' Portelli said. Auctioneer Tom Panos added context, noting the finale wasn't a typical weekend auction but a media event, with buyers seeking exposure as much as homes Channel 9 confirmed the process followed standard open-auction rules, but social media lit up afterwards. Some viewers took to social media and cheered the strategy while others accused the show of favouring the billionaire. Portelli has vowed not to return for the show's 2025 season and will be hosting a new rival show My Reno Rules, alongside Dr Chris Brown on Channel 7 in 2026. Influencers dump Block mid renovation (The Block 2022) They came with the followers and the fitspo, but influencer Elle Ferguson and ex-AFL star Joel Patfull didn't even last a weekend before they walked off The Block. Just 48 hours into filming the 2022 Tree Change season, the couple pulled the pin and flew back to Sydney. The pair revealed in a post on Instagram that Joel's mother had suffered a serious fall and was being flown to hospital in Adelaide. But the show's host, Scott Cam, wasn't impressed. Days later, Cam revealed at the TV Week Logie Awards that they'd vanished in the night without explanation and accused them of putting the production in chaos: 'They never spoke to us … we flew them down, put them up in a hotel … and they left, it's piss-poor, to be honest.' Cam later doubled down, calling their exit 'unâ€'Australian' and saying it cost the show time and money, despite his insistence he still wished them well. Elle and Joel were swiftly replaced by Rachel and Ryan, who stepped in to fill their spot. It remains the shortest, most controversial contestant stint in Block history. Photo leak blows up Block (The Block 2021) It all began with a single photo, and it detonated one of the most explosive scandals The Block has ever seen. During the 2021 Fans vs. Faves season, contestants Tanya & Vito and Josh & Luke were caught in possession of a photograph of the show's production schedule, giving them insight into upcoming room reveals, challenge days, and timing, a major unfair advantage that sent shockwaves through the competition Rumours started when past contestants Ronnie and Georgia accused the twins of 'having the full schedule' after a surprising judging upset, they said it directly affected their heavy-scoring master bedroom build. Pressure built all season until, in the final weeks, Tanya admitted on camera: 'I took the photograph. I didn't get it sent to me. I actually took the photo.' Host Scott Cam labelled it 'the biggest cheating scandal in Block history', and both teams were hit with penalties, losing two points each on their front-garden scores in the final judgment. In the lead-up to auction, tensions simmered. Teams publicly spat accusations, including Josh and Luke blaming Tanya for dragging them into the scandal, and many fans felt the two-point penalty was too lenient. To this day, there's still debate from fans over whether the punishment was enough to compensate for the unfair lead they gained. Flirt fallout: Block pair exit show (The Block 2024) One week before the auctions, The Block: Phillip Island erupted in real-life drama when Brad Baker admitted his remarks to co-contestant Mimi Belperio were 'inappropriate'. sparking a dramatic reaction from his wife, Kylie. During Frontyard Week, footage captured Brad confessing: 'I was flirting with Mimi … Kylie overheard them, and very understandably, she's quite upset.' That evening, Kylie stormed off-site barefoot, visibly distressed, during the judging segment, leaving behind her car at the Aldi car park. Production and Brad later located her to ensure her safety. In tears, she told Brad on camera, 'I can't be on national television having my marriage breaking down.' The following night, Brad appeared in a stand-alone interview where he admitted: 'I've just single-handedly destroyed my family.' Host Scott Cam later addressed the remaining teams during Clubhouse Week, confirming that 'Kylie and Brad are not returning' for the auction finale, making them ineligible for the prize. Block's $8000 bath sparks controversy (The Block 2018) Influencers on The Block, Hayden and Sara made waves in 2018 when they centred their premium ensuite around a luxe brass bathtub, dubbed the 'Gatsby Bath.' The eyeâ€'watering $8000 price tag nearly doubled the room's expected cost, and prompted widespread controversy. Design briefs called it 'the hero piece' of their space. The paired marble herringbone floor earned praise from judge Shaynna Blaze. Upon entering the ensuite, she admitted the bath and marble floor were striking: 'I think that is a lot of money spent and I think it's great money spent,' she said. 'But, I think we need to talk about the rest of the bathroom.' The result? Their ensuite claimed the title of the most expensive bathroom in Block history, estimated at $75,000, but also placed them last in room rankings for three consecutive weeks. Sara said the entire apartment is built around the bathtub. 'But as the age-old adage goes, money can't buy love, nor can it buy you a win on The Block,' she said. The brass bath gamble generated headlines and online debate: was it genius luxury or budget folly? By the look of the scores, it was a glam gamble that didn't quite stack up and still remains the show's most expensive bathroom to date. Block stars penalised over piano purchase (The Block 2022) It was a living room reveal that iced their score, not crowned best design. During Living & Dining Week in 2022, Omar and Oz delivered a stunning room, complete with a baby grand piano that retailed for $36,000, but which they secured for an astonishing $7,500. Judge Shaynna Blaze immediately raised eyebrows: 'Do you remember last week I was saying … I was a bit worried about where they're getting the money from? And now we've got a baby grand … they're not winning every week.' Host Scott Cam confirmed the purchase broke the rule which stipulates contestants can't purchase items more than 50 per cent off retail price. 'You can't go and spend $7,000 on a piano … the retail price is $36,000 … 50 per cent of retail cost is $18,000 boys'. The result? A three-point deduction and disqualification from that week's win, even though the room scored a strong 28.5. Omar later said they thought the discount was legitimate since the seller was struggling to move it, but admitted nobody had flagged the rule earlier. Online fans were divided: some praised the design, others defended the penalty as 'textbook enforcement'. Despite the blunder, the boys went on to win the 2022 season of the show. Steph and Gian's rogue Dad drama (The Block 2023) What should have been a simple 'body corporate' meeting to clarify site safety instead exploded into accusations of rule-breaking and possible cheating. In the first week of The Block 2023, contestants Steph and Gian faced backlash during a snap meeting called by fellow teams Leah, Ash, Kristy, and Brett after Steph's father, builder Nick, stepped onto the onsite build to help fix their bathroom issues. Contestants warned that, per Block rules, anyone working on site must be inducted for safety and paid minimum wages. 'If he hasn't been inducted … and if he's installing a shower screen … that's cheating,' Eliza said. While Leah added the move 'bent the rules'. Steph responded openly, saying they 'didn't realise' the oversight but would ensure her father received induction and would be paid, adding 'We didn't cheat' in later interviews. Production didn't dock points, but the drama sparked a wider debate on what counts as cheating, and how far family can be involved before it crosses a line. In the end, the bathroom didn't win, placing last that week, but the 'rogue dad' moment has become one of the most talked-about rule skirmishes in the show's history. 'Bogan' spray sparks Block judge feud (The Block 2014: Glasshouse) It was one of the most savage feuds in Block history: contestant Deanne Jolly in full-offence mode against interior design judge Shaynna Blaze. The tension boiled over after Deanne's couple received sharp criticism on their ensuite. In the heat of the moment, Deanne exploded: 'She's a bogan from Wantirna who's got no f**king idea, and I will out-style you any day.' Reporters covering the episode called it an expletive-ridden rant and one of the show's most memorable outbursts. Despite the backlash, Deanne later defended herself: 'In the context of that day, not having slept for 36 hours … you get tired and say things perhaps you shouldn't,' she said. Deanne adding she still had 'nothing but respect' for Shaynna. Surfboard stirs cultural controversy on Block (The Block 2024) During a surfboard design challenge contestants Ricky Recard and Haydn Wise unveiled artwork that many viewers believed borrowed heavily from Indigenous dot-painting styles. The surfboard featured a bold orange base with circular dot motifs — which judge Darren Palmer admitted he found 'interesting,' saying: 'This is very orange … it's also got some … tones of Indigenous art to it.' Social media erupted, on Instagram, threads went viral, with comments such as: 'Take this down and apologise,' 'This blatant display of cultural appropriation is beyond disappointing.' The criticism prompted Channel 9 to release a statement saying Ricky and Haydn had 'reached out to a traditional owner of the land who guided them on the protocols around interpreting Indigenous art,' and that the artwork was 'inspired by, but never intended to be a mimic of an original Indigenous artwork.' Though it didn't result in penalties or removal of the surfboard, the controversy raised serious questions, turning a lighthearted decor challenge into a heated national debate on cultural sensitivity and creative boundaries. Spy-gate: Block duo caught cheating (The Block 2014) Brothers Shannon and Simon Voss hid a phone under the main bedroom bed to record the judges' private feedback during Season 9 (Glasshouse) of The Block. Judge Darren Palmer spotted the device while inspecting the power points under the bed. 'There's a major error down here … guess what he found?', Palmer said before pulling out the phone. Host Scott Cam and the judges then confronted the brothers on camera, asking whether their action was 'cheating'. Darren later confirmed to Yahoo News, he had to overdub his original 'cheeky f***ers' comment to 'cheeky monkeys' for broadcast. The stunt was one of the earliest controversies of the show's history, with the judges at the time saying the move was 'unprecedented'. Despite the scandal, the Voss brothers went on to win The Block: Glasshouse.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
How Daylesford is reaping The Block's rewards
The Block builds plenty more than the five houses viewers see on screen when it rolls into town, according to host Scott Cam. The Gold Logie winner says The Block had injected almost $8 million into Daylesford through its spending on crew accommodation, catering and building costs. Two iconic businesses —the old Phoenix at the Rex Theatre and Hepburn Spa — also underwent major refurbishments in challenges undertaken by the teams during production. 'The Block has brought almost $8 million here, just in this town, and that's without employing people and buying stuff from outside of Daylesford,' Cam enthused of building five luxury eco-friendly homes on the outskirts of town. The Raglan St site was initially proposed for the 2024 season, but planning approvals and backlash from the township delayed it. Despite that initial reluctance, Cam says the Daylesford community had made the Channel 9 reality show feel completely at home. So much so that the local fish and chip shop, the Daylesford Seafood Bar, even named a dish – the 'Scott Camburger' after the long-serving host (featuring his signature combo of BBQ and tomato sauce). In addition to bringing jobs and trade to local businesses, The Block lifts tourism, with the opening episode of the 2025 season spotlighting Daylesford's annual Chill Out Festival. For Shelley Craft, the latest season of The Block will also serve as an endorsement of the benefits of a tree change. Craft, who moved to Byron Bay with her family in 2016, hopes that showcasing the Daylesford lifestyle as well as the renovation projects will inspire others to follow her lead and consider moving to a regional township. 'I know it's not as easy as it sounds, but to live in a community like this in regional Australia is such a wonderful gift for anyone to experience,' she said. 'A lot of our crew got to do that for three months and went: 'You know, country living ain't bad'. 'I've always loved country living myself, and it's just so wonderful that they got a little taste of that. 'And I know there'd be a lot of families going: 'You know, maybe it's time we should move out of the city. Maybe Daylesford is the spot'.' Federal Ballarat MP Catherine King said she was really pleased to hear about the significant investment made in local businesses throughout the filming process. 'I've also heard how delighted the community was to host the program and how respectful everyone involved in the production was,' Ms King added. 'We're all excited to see Daylesford showcased in the upcoming season and I'm sure it'll encourage even more people to visit our stunning region.' Certainly, all 10 contestants have vowed to continue to visit Daylesford in the future and have urged friends and family to do the same after falling in love with the region known for its hot springs. 'Rural Victoria is idyllic and very beautiful,' West Australian contestant Can said after completing her renovation with her girlfriend Han. 'Coming to countryside, the fresh air very different from Perth. 'The quality of the drinking water here is insane too. It's so crisp. 'I actually spent some of my time growing up in rural Victoria as a child. My grandparents had a farm. So, there was a lot of childhood nostalgia, coming back to rural Victoria.' Fellow 2025 contestant Alicia added: 'I don't think that we would ever leave the Gold Coast because our families are there, but this is absolutely a place that we will continue to visit. 'We absolutely love Daylesford. And it's now on our radar and we have told all our friends about it.'
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Scott Cam reveals why The Block 2025 is different from previous seasons
Admitting he's had a gutful of difficult contestants, host Scott Cam is relieved the 21st season of the renovation juggernaut is going back to basics with far less toxic drama. The laidback host has declared this year's five teams the best crew he's ever seen in his 19 years at the helm of the Channel 9 reality series. 'Over the years, there've been some great contestants, but as a collective group, these have been my best,' Cam says. 'I think they've worked really hard, which I love. And resilience is a really important thing to me, and lack of complaining.' In recent years fans have accused the series of being more soap opera than renovation show, amid cheating scandals, nasty bickering and mean girl bullying. But for Cam the behaviour which has grated on him the most is the whingeing. 'The complaining annoys me because I've worked hard all my life, and when I was a young bloke, I worked like a Trojan. And so, I could have done this,' he shrugs. 'This lot worked really hard with a great deal of resilience, and they were good to the crew. 'That's the other big thing. They had a few blues with each other. So, it's not boring. But it's justified. And they were just good to everybody.' Co-host Shelley Craft agrees, saying the teams' positivity was a welcome reprieve after previous seasons. 'This year there are a bunch of very mature contestants,' she said. 'They've got their heads screwed on. I believe they're here with all the right motivations, and that made for a good show.' Accepting that everyone deals with stress differently, Craft pondered: 'But why are you here if you're going to be miserable?' 'I understand there'll be moments of that, but ultimately, you sign up for this, so get the most out of all the experiences. 'And obviously renovation is one thing, but there are so many great things that we do along the way that are once in a lifetime opportunities. 'So, you just want everyone to be in that frame of mind when they're coming in. It can be very hard to maintain for 12 weeks. I understand that. But these guys did it, and it made our job so much fun, and we felt so lucky.' As a longtime fan of The Block who has auditioned for previous seasons, Gold Coast contestant Alicia is grateful that she didn't make the cut until this year. 'Look, there's always going to be a little bit of drama,' she says. 'We're all here for our own reasons and our own purposes. There's absolutely drama, but at the end of the day, I feel like we were very cohesive as a group and we all love and care about each other.' South Australian hairdresser Mat, who is renovating his property with his best pal Robby, says fans would often stop him on shopping trips to ask: 'Please tell me there's no bitching' or 'please tell me there's no bullying'. 'And I was like: 'Nah, there's none of that!' In the pressure cooker of reality TV, tempers did flare on occasion, but Mat says 'there was never drama detrimental to any friendships or relationships.' The group became so tight knit that they hired a house together for their last night in Daylesford so that they could all be under the one roof to celebrate. 'And when we told the judges, Darren (Palmer) nearly fell off his chair,' Mat laughs. 'He was hitting Shaynna (Blaze)'s arm in shock [that we all got along] and she was just [incredulous] going: 'You're lying?''
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Viewers slam Nine over 'irresponsible' trailer for new season of The Block as they spot one glaring detail - but all is not what it seems
The new season of The Block is airing in a matter of weeks. A new trailer dropped on the Nine renovation show's social media last week, and not everyone was happy with what they saw. Several fans on Facebook noted that hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft were shown driving without seat belts on. Both Scott and Shelley are shown behind the wheel of large trucks, racing through gorgeous outback vistas - with no belt in sight. However it appears the hosts are actually stationary and only pretending to drive, with the scenery added later with some movie magic. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Regardless some viewers were unhappy with the trailer depicting what some called 'irresponsible' driving, whether real or faked. 'Where's your seat belts?' one person asked, later adding, 'it's obviously CGI… not a good example for the youngins watching though is it'. 'How irresponsible of Channel Nine to advertise in prime time showing celebrities driving on country roads and not wearing seat belts. Clearly not aware of the road toll related to driving on rural roads' one viewer said. 'Probably should have put ya seat belts on' one more said with another adding, 'Why aren't they wearing their seat belts Nine?' 'Everyone complaining about no one wearing seatbelts - it's pretty obvious they aren't actually driving…' someone else chimed in. 'Older model Kenworth have lap belts' reasoned one viewer with another agreeing, 'they aren't actually driving'. 'You don't need to wear seat belts when you aren't actually driving lol' one person reasoned. Regardless some viewers were unhappy with the trailer depicting what some called 'irresponsible' driving, whether real or faked This year's location for the series is the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Daylesford. Daylesford is located 114km from Melbourne and its unique combination of natural beauty, historic charm and vibrant local culture provides a stunning backdrop ideal for the show. Leaked photos of one of the completed homes reveal the upcoming 2025 installment has a very similar aesthetic to a previous season of the show. While Nine is remaining tight-lipped on the official name, whispers around the network suggest the new series could easily be branded as a sequel to the 2022 'Tree Change' season, which was set in Gisborne in the Macedon Ranges - just a short drive from this year's location. 'Honestly, the style and finish of the homes are nearly identical to what we saw in Tree Change,' the insider said. 'Same vibe, same tones, same country-chic energy.' Indeed, leaked photos of one completed property by same-sex couple Han and Can show a lot similarities, in particular the furniture. One image shows a living space complete with a large white modular lounge that takes pride of place in the room. The piece of furniture is almost identical to the couches which appeared in both Ankur and Sharon and Rachel and Ryan's living rooms back in 2022. Han and Can's living room is augmented by a plush feature wall to the rear of the lounge as well as beige curtains and some mood lighting. Meanwhile, other images show an equally spartan-yet-stylish open plan kitchen and living space, complete with a large fireplace encased in a marble feature wall. The kitchen appears to be an entertainer's delight, with the space boasting a large wine rack and a refrigerator specifically for wine. Despite being similar to the 2022 season, a production insider told Daily Mail Australia that the couple's luxe fit out was very 'on trend' for the location. 'It's sleek, chic and very on-brand for Daylesford,' they said. The series, which wrapped filming on June 1, is set to premiere slightly earlier than usual, with a launch tipped for the first week of August. While fans have come to expect fiery feuds and over-the-top drama, insiders say this season is shaping up to be very different. 'There's actually much less conflict this year,' one well-placed insider said. 'But that doesn't mean it's boring. There's a charm and warmth to this season that will surprise long-term fans.' However, the source added that not everyone is convinced that producers have fully tapped into the healthy holistic living vibe Daylesford is known for. 'There was a lot of talk early on that the season might embrace living off the land, healthy eating and holistic living, which the town is so well known for,' the insider said.
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The Block 2025: Fans slam new trailer over ‘irresponsible' detail
Fans of The Block have slammed the trailer for the new 2025 series over an 'irresponsible' detail in the clip. The hit renovation show is expected to air in August on Channel 9, with this year's contestants building homes from scratch in the regional Victoria town of Daylesford. In the teaser, hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft are 'back on the road' each driving a big red truck on route to the new countryside location. The trailer also featured a sneak peek of the teams competing – which include Emma and Ben, Cam and Han, Robby and Mat, Alicia and Sonny and Britt and Taz. But, fans of the series lashed out over the detail that Scott was not wearing a seatbelt while driving the truck. 'Probably should have put ya seatbelts on,' one viewer wrote. 'Why aren't they wearing their seatbelts, Nine?', another person questioned. 'How irresponsible of Channel 9 to advertise in prime time, showing celebrities driving on country roads and not wearing seatbelts,' a third person commented. Some viewers were convinced the scene was generated using CGI. 'They're not actually driving … watch the windows on the driver's side same scenery,' one fan wrote. 'It's obviously CGI,' another person added. The news comes as Adrian Portelli is selling off his entire Block compound at Phillip Island months after snapping up all five homes on the hit renovation show. The billionaire businessman posted on Instagram, begging fans to take all the properties off his hands. He put out a call for expressions of interest in making the multimillion-dollar purchase. 'For Sale. EOI. The Phillip Island Block Resort. Selling complex complete. Everything included. Will not sell houses separately,' Portelli posted. During last year's The Block grand final, the Aussie entrepreneur made history when he bought every single house for a whopping $15.03 million. It turned out the regular Block bidder used a buyer's agent for some to cover his tracks. Portelli announced he was done with The Block and would not be in the market for Block properties in 2025. 'That was a message that was my last appearance on the Block and I thought I'd go out with a bang,' he says. While he may have gone out with a bang, fans of the show weren't thrilled with the finale, with many getting on to call the show 'rigged', and lament that Portelli just chose who he wanted to win.
