Lol and Lil whipped up a batch of Fried Chicken Bao Buns during their My Kitchen Rules’ (MKR)Ultimate Instant Restaurant round, which received a perfect score from Colin Fassnidge.
However, viewers weren’t as taken by Lol and Lil’s bao buns, with many claiming that the girls bought pre-made buns and believed they shouldn’t have received a high score for this reason.
“I’m sure I saw them buy packets of the bao buns. Cheating, that’s a big no-no. They should have been made from scratch,” one person wrote on Facebook.
“STORE-bought bao buns with some shaved carrot (at least pickle them or something?) score a 10?” Another wrote on Reddit.
A third claimed, “At the start of the show, when they are doing their shopping, they throw [the pre-made bao buns] into their trolley.”
However, Lol and Lil told Chattr that they did make the bao buns from scratch.
“We didn’t purchase any Bao Buns; we made them ourselves. We made an extra batch of dough, which was used after the first buns deflated once they were steamed,” they said.
And upon closer inspection of their Woolworths haul, it appears the girls only bought potato starch to make the buns — not pre-made ones.
The potato starch that Lol and Lil bought at Woolworths. Image: Seven.
How did Lol and Lil go at their Ultimate Instant Restaurant?
Lol and Lil didn’t manage to top the leaderboard at the Ultimate Instant Restaurant; however, they’ve already been guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals. The team that scores the lowest in the current round will be eliminated. With just three Instant Restaurants complete, Lol and Lil are already ahead of Danielle and Marko on the MKR leaderboard.
Along with their bao buns, the friends from Logan served up a French Onion Soup for entree, which also received an eight from Manu.
For main, they opted for Rotisserie Chicken Gyros with Pickled Red Onions and Tzatziki and Beef Bulgogi Egg Net. Both dishes weren’t well received by the judges, scoring a five and two, respectively.
Things picked up for their dessert, with Colin awarding a seven for their dessert of Chocolate Tart with Raspberry Coulis, and Manu awarding a ten for their Chai Poached Pear with Salted Caramel.
My Kitchen Rules (MKR) airs on Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:30pm on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
The Voice Australia2025 is heading into its fourteenth grand final — and for the first time ever, it’s an all-female showdown.
Last Sunday night’s semi-final had us riding every emotion possible. From powerhouse vocals to tear-jerking moments, it was clear every contestant was fighting hard to be in the top four.
When is The Voice grand finale on?
TheVoice Australia2025 grand finale airs on Sunday, November 2 2025, at 7pm on Seven and 7plus.
The Voice Judges 2025. Image: Seven.
Who’s in The Voice finale?
After the Semi-Final showdown, Alyssa Delpopolo (Team Kate) and Cle Morgan (Team Ronan) joined Cassie Henderson (Team Melanie C) and Bella Parnell (Team Richard) — making this the show’s first-ever all-female finale lineup.
Ronan Keating had one of the biggest calls to make of the night, torn between Cle and Ellaphon. In the end, Ronan chose Cle after her performance of Counting Crow’s Round Here — a rendition Ronan called “next level.”
“They both gave me an equal performance. Everything I asked of both my artists, they gave me,” Ronan said.
“Me being me, I went and chose two artists that are emotional performers. I wear my heart on my sleeve when I perform — and that’s exactly what these two artists do.”
Kate Miller-Heidke locked in Alyssa, who was actually discovered in the audience and had originally joined Team Ronan. Her performance of Raye’s Tears, secured her a finale place over Sienna Langenheim’s powerful take on Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way.
“Alyssa has a gift. She’s just outrageously good at singing. To watch her grow through this process and learn how not just to be a great singer but to tell a story, to communicate with the audience, to make it about connection, bringing people on a journey, all of that, I just couldn’t be happier,” Kate said.
Cassie Henderson and Melanie C on The Voice 2025. Image: Seven.
How to vote in The Voice grand final
Voting is officially open, and it’s up to Australia to decide who will be crowned the winner of The Voice 2025.
To vote, just text the name of which contestant you want to win – Alyssa, Bella, Cassie or Cle – to 0417 779 677 (standard terms and conditions apply).
The winner will score a $100,000 cash prize plus an all-inclusive recording development package — covering everything from production and mixing to mastering and label support with some of Australia’s best in the biz.
The Voice Australia 2025 finale airs on November 2 at 7pm on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
The Love Island Australia 2025 villa has officially opened its doors to a new lineup of singles searching for love.
The first episode saw five single girls and five single guys move into the colourful abode, but it wasn’t long before the first two bombshells were dropped.
While theLove Island Australia 2025 cast may be busy chasing romance and dodging elimination, at least they’ll be doing it against the backdrop of a luxurious, sun-drenched villa.
But, where exactly is the Love Island villa located? Read on to find out.
Outdoor seating areas on Love Island Australia 2025Images: Nine.
Where is the Love Island Australia 2025 villa?
The Love Island 2025 villa is no stranger to sexy singles; in fact, it’s a familiar setting for longtime fans, with seasons one, four, five and six all filmed at the very same location.
Set against the idyllic backdrop of Mallorca, Spain, the luxurious villa once again plays host to a new batch of Islanders hoping to find love beneath the Mediterranean sun.
Have all of the Love Island Australia seasons been filmed in the same villa?
While the current Love Island Australia villa has hosted past Islanders, not all of the seasons have been filmed there.
Love Island Australia season two was filmed in Fiji, and season three in Australia’s own Byron Bay.
The Love Island Australia 2025 lounge and bedrooms.Images: Nine.
Can fans stay at the Spanish Love Island Australia villa when the show isn’t filming?
The very same villa that Love Island Australia 2025 was filmed in was available for rent back in 2018, but it doesn’t appear to be available as public accommodation these days.
Back in 2018, Nine Travel reported that the Spanish villa was available for rent through Villa Retreats, sans the iconic bright decor.
While the Islanders are generally packed into one or two large rooms to sleep, the villa itself actually has six large bedrooms and offers spectacular ocean views overlooking the Bay of Pollença.
After The Block 2025 auctions saw two homes go unsold and only one team walk away with a major profit, viewers are calling for the show to return to its roots with more affordable builds — a move that winners Britt and Taz back.
However, with The Block 2026 heading to Melbourne’s affluent seaside suburb of Mount Eliza, the couple doubt ‘mum-and-dad buyers’ will be competing at the next auctions.
“It would probably be a great direction if it did go a little bit towards the more neutral buyers. Like, we were lucky enough to, yesterday, we sold to a beautiful Melbourne family, which is great,” Taz told Chattr.
“But, you look to next year and it’s a Mount Eliza on the beach with views of the ocean and the city. I don’t think it’s going to be in the reach of your everyday, sort of people, certainly not for the people that we are.”
While Taz predicts next year’s reserves will be sky-high, he says it would be a good move for future seasons to have contestants work on homes that sell at a more affordable price point, one that’s within reach of everyday buyers.
“[The Mount Eliza houses are] going to be monster reserves and monster auctions. But, you know, looking past that, there’s every chance it could, but I just don’t see it going in that direction [next year].”
Han and Can with their real estate agents at The Block 2025 auctions. Image: Nine.
The Block fans call for a season aimed at everyday buyers
Britt and Taz were the only team to walk away from The Block 2025 auction with a huge profit, bagging $420,000 for their house sale and an additional $100,000 for winning. Sonny and Alicia made $120,000 while Robby and Mat made $110,000. Neither Emma and Ben’s nor Han and Can’s houses sold and were passed in.
The results were a stark contrast to the 2024 auctions, when billionaire Adrian Portelli bought all five houses and every team walked away with between $650,000 and $1.65 million. With Adrian sitting out this year’s auctions and everyday buyers priced out by multi-million-dollar house prices, viewers are now calling for a more affordable season.
“Go back to basics-build normal family homes so more people can bid!” One fan wrote on The Block Facebook group.
“Just finished watching the final auction and what a disappointment…feel so bad for all of the contestants this year. The last couple of years have ruined it for this season. Adrian and Danny [Wallis] have also ruined the show. Please [Channel 9], can you go back to the full budget given out at the start and more affordable houses… back to basics, please.”
A third person added that while it’s enjoyable to watch the contestants build mansions, it doesn’t make for an interesting auction.
“Stop creating 2 and 3-million-dollar homes. They look amazing, don’t get me wrong. I love seeing people’s creative ideas. Maybe build what us non-rich people can afford,” they penned.
The climate of Mount Eliza’s current housing market
Channel 9 officially confirmed that Mount Eliza will be the site of The Block’s 22nd season. The seaside suburb is home to luxurious mansions, and it’s nestled on Victoria’s Morning Peninsula, which is located a one-hour drive from Melbourne’s CBD.
According to Real Estate, next season of the hit show will see teams of two transform a prime Old Mornington Rd property into five multimillion-dollar family homes with bay views, with insiders touting that it will be one of the show’s most ambitious builds yet.
According to the same website, the median house price in Mount Eliza is $1,615,000, and four-bedroom houses have a median price of $1,775,000.
While the area is considerably upmarket, it hasn’t seen any growth since May 2021, when median house prices peaked at $1,775,000 and has experienced a -0.9% growth in the past year.
Britt and Taz walked away from The Block 2025 auctions over half a million dollars richer, but not every team had reason to celebrate — two left with nothing. The winning couple have shared how they celebrated their success and which of their fellow contestants were there to toast the win.
In a post-auction interview, Britt told Chattr that despite their huge windfall, it was hard for her and Taz to feel fully at ease celebrating their win.
“It was hard to celebrate. Like, all these people who we’d become friends with, you know, they didn’t get rewarded for their hard work as well,” she explained.
However, the WA couple still wanted to take the chance to thank the people involved with their reno and enjoy the win with their loved ones.
“We came back for a party with our family and friends like we’d said, win, lose or draw. We didn’t care. We’re here with our best friends. We’re here with our family. We just had a great time. It was a beautiful time on The Block,” Taz said.
“It was hard work, but you know, if it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it, and do it easily. So we had the best time. And our real estate, our builders, everyone who built this house was there, but, yeah, win, lose or draw, we were always going to celebrate.”
Taz added that despite leaving The Blockwithout a dollar and with an unsold house — all while caring for a newborn — Emma and Ben still showed up to their party to offer their congratulations.
“Ben and Em came to our house as well and had a couple of drinks, which was great, and they spent most of the night, as well. We had a really good time, and they’re the most beautiful people.
“We did see Robby and Mat for a fair bit as well, which is great to have a chat with them and really sort of console them a bit as well… It was bittersweet.”
Britt and Taz added that even though all of their fellow contestants may not have made it to their after-party, they were all hugely supportive at the auctions, despite their own shortcomings.
“Our hearts were breaking for them. But you know what? Everyone was still genuinely, really beautiful, and were like, ‘Congratulations — you guys deserve it. Don’t let this take the moment away from you.’ So everyone was still very, very supportive.” Britt told Chattr.
After 12 weeks of drama, blood, sweat, and plenty of tears, tools are officially down — The Block 2025 has wrapped for another year! So, which house came out on top, and did this year’s Blockheads cash in big, or walk away empty-handed? Keep reading to find out.
AUCTION 1 – House 3: Britt and Taz
Britt and Taz on The Block 2025. Image: Nine.
Britt and Taz were the first to kick off The Block 2025 auction night. The cop couple from WA watched nervously from a separate room as their wellness home went under the hammer.
The bidding war came down to The Block regular Danny Wallis and a mystery bidder with a rep on-site. Things got tense as Danny threw out one of his signature bids (cue everyone doing the math in real time). But in the end, the hammer fell at $3,410,000, landing Britt and Taz with a $420,000 profit!
The boys from Adelaide were feeling hopeful after Britt and Taz’s incredible result. As this year’s front-runners (and total fan favourites), they had one of the most-loved homes in the mix heading into auction day.
Kicking things off were some familiar faces — The Block regular Danny, buyers’ agent Frank Valentic, pub owner Mitch Duncan, and artist David Bromley, whose own artwork features throughout their home.
In the end, it was Danny who snapped up his twelfth Block home (yes, twelfth!) — paying $3,099,999.10 and leaving the Adelaide besties with a tidy $109,999.10 profit.
Despite the profit made, the boys were left devastated.
The momentum came to a halt with heartbreaking results for new parents Em and Ben from House 1. The bidding reached $2.97 million — which was under their reserve — before it was paused.
After some tense back-and-forth, a vendor bid of $3.1 million was placed — but with no further interest, the house was officially passed in.
Reserve: $2,990,000 Winning Bid: N/A Profit: N/A
AUCTION 4 – House 4: Sonny and Alicia
Sonny and Alicia on The Block 2025. Image: Nine.
Sonny and Alicia in House 4 entered the auction with low expectations after two disappointing results in a row. But thanks to a $50,000 reduction off their reserve after winning the final front yard week, they were in a slightly stronger position than the other teams. Add in a bonus caravan on the property, and they had a competitive edge.
To avoid another Em & Ben-style pause, the auctioneer kicked things off with a vendor bid of $3.05 million.
Then… crickets. The room fell silent for what felt like forever.
Finally, one of The Block’s regular buyer advocates, Frank from Advantage Property Consulting, saved the day with a bid of $3,060,000, securing a tidy $120,000 profit for the Queensland parents.
The girls entered the auction with no registered bidders, so the vibes were already low. Still, they held their hopes high that a cash buyer would swoop in and save the day.
They kicked off the bidding with a vendor bid of $3.10 million, but unfortunately, the silence was deafening, and the property was passed in.
Britt and Taz were the only team to walk away from The Block 2025 auctions genuinely thrilled — bagging over half a million dollars.
While the WA couple made a $420,000 profit on their house and scored an extra $100,000 for winning, Sonny and Alicia received $120,000 for three months of hard work, and Robby and Mat got $110,000. It was an even grimmer result for Emma and Ben, and Han and Can, who didn’t sell their houses.
Britt and Taz were the first team up at the auction, and their sale jumped up at a rapid pace. However, when Mat and Robby took the stand next, the speed of the auction slowed down significantly. Generally, the first auction sets the standard for the ones that follow, but it also means that once a house is sold, there are fewer buyers for the other teams.
So, with The Block 2025 reserves set at $2,990,000, and only a few millionaires in the room, do Britt and Taz think they would have had the same huge sale if they hadn’t gone first?
In an interview with Chattr, Britt, and Taz revealed that their buyer had his eyes firmly on their house and wasn’t interested in the other properties, so they believe he would have held out for their house.
“At the start, he was [interested in Mat and Robby’s house], but in the end, he was only in on our house, so he was a unique buyer to us,” Britt said.
Britt and Taz during their auction. Image: Nine.
Taz echoed Britt’s sentiment, saying that while he believes the same person still would have bought their house, if another team had gone before them and their property had been sold close to the reserve, it could have affected Britt and Taz’s final sale price.
“We very much had the buyers. And I think people really, really were emotionally invested in our house. So I do still think it was good for Robby and Mat, and everyone else, to go second. Because if they had come out and only went 100 grand over, then that’s what the buyers would have thought [the houses were selling for].”
Taz pointed out that Robby and Mat’s auctioneer made it clear when the bidding had climbed over the reserve — something that can unintentionally dampen momentum. Since all five houses shared the same layout and likely had similar reserve prices, once bidders realised they were already over that threshold, they may have been less inclined to keep pushing higher.
“Their auctioneer did come in and say they were on the market when they hit three million. So that was really, really telling, and we didn’t see that when we were watching from the Sawmill,” he said.
Why did Britt and Taz’s house sell for so much more than the other The Block properties?
While Britt and Taz are fully aware that they produced a beautiful house, they believe the moves they made after The Block had finished filming ultimately helped them win.
The couple — who are based in Newman, WA with their family — made the trip back over to Daylesford after filming wrapped, and spent a lot of time fixing up defects and meeting potential buyers.
“We sacrificed time with the family, we’ve taken leave without pay [to be on The Block]. So, as soon as we got the certificate after filming, we came straight back as soon as we could, to walk buyers through, to fix up any inconsistencies and to finish with the least amount of defects, to absolutely put everything into it. And I think that was the difference,” Taz explained.
“Those bidders, those buyers, built that personal connection with us because we’re the ones walking through the house, because who can sell the house, in a sense, better than us, the people who built it. And I think those little touches just go a mile,” Britt added.
Taz said past The Block contestants who’d had successful auctions had recommended that they spend time at the property pre-auction.
“And that was the advice from Steph and Gian and from Eliza and Liberty, who spent so much time back in their houses, walking those buyers through, and that’s why people just fought tooth and nail for their house.”
Britt with The Block 2023 winner Steph Ottavio. Image: Nine.
When asked about what Britt and Taz did day-to-day at their house ahead of the auctions, the WA couple explained that their schedule was pretty jam-packed.
“Basically, every Saturday and Sunday is taken up by open houses,” Taz said.
“But the thing is, with these people, a lot of them have money. They have a very strict, tight schedule. So you might get a call the very next day saying, We’ve actually got two buyers, one’s coming in at 12, and one coming in at three. You just keep walking buyers through, and you always make yourself available.”
Britt added that beyond that, they wanted to be there in case they crossed paths with a potential buyer during a promotional event.
“Even sponsors will be walking through every day, from pretty much eight o’clock till sometimes 10 o’clock at night, there were numerous events in the house. And, sometimes you just don’t know who’s in the room. You don’t know who’s who. We treat everyone the same, whether it be a cleaner, whether it be a billionaire, because you just honestly don’t know. So I think the fact that we could talk to numerous people was a huge benefit.”
Britt and Taz’s hard work certainly paid off! Huge congrats to the winning couple.
In an Aussie TV first, when The Golden Bachelor premiered earlier this week, Channel Nine put on a red carpet screening, bringing together all of the ladies and Bachelor Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden for a reunion.
Previously for shows like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, we’ve never seen our leading man or lady interact publicly with ALL of their contestants before the show even kicks off.
In fact in the media world, it’s usually solo interviews with the leading person to promote the show, and we only chat to the contestants afterwards as they’re being eliminated, or when the happy couple goes live after the big finale.
So what happened on this Aussie-first red carpet? Come on the journey with us as we unravel it.
Here’s what happened at The Golden Bachelor premiere
As the ladies all walked the red carpet, talking to various press outlets, one thing was obvious: the camaraderie and female friendship was a strong focus for this season.
The Golden Bachie ladies stuck together on the red carpet. Image: Chattr
Often arm in arm, and sticking together in pairs or groups of three, the ladies were excited to see the premiere of their upcoming season, with others notably keeping an eye out for Bear.
Lauren was very excited to get a photo with the Bachie himself, which was kinda giving vibes of, well, she hasn’t seen him very recently. So we’re ruling her out as the winner!
Laura Junner, Abbie Chatfield’s mum, happily posed on the carpet with Abbie and Adam Hyde, but didn’t engage much with the media, and while she may have interacted with Bear inside, we didn’t see her interact with him much on the red carpet. So we’re also ruling her out as a winner!
Laura stuck with her daughter Abbie. Image: Chattr
But one interaction DID catch our eye. And it was when Jan was in the background of interviews, waiting in turn with another fan-favourite Janette.
As Jan took her heels off to give her feet a break, she stayed chatting with Janette with the two of them keeping close the whole event, Janette’s arm often around Jan.
Jan took a cheeky heels break. Image: Chattr
Enter, Bear in the background.
Is it just us or is he looking directly at Jan?
Does Bear have eyes for just one lady? Image: Chattr
As it turns out, with our very own eyes, we watched him come over and greet Jan with a kiss on the cheek and a hug, while only briefly touching Janette’s arm, and not actively interacting with many of the other ladies on the red carpet.
Is it because he had already greeted Janette earlier? Is it because Jan is the one? Or is she the one who got away?
With Jan winning the First Impressions rose, we know on the show that Bear is keen on her, but months later in person, it also appeared that he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
However, it must be noted that Bear has remained very coy in interviews when talking about his final choice, even calling his final decision ‘unexpected’, which doesn’t necessarily align with Jan who is currently an obvious frontrunner.
“It will be totally unexpected to everyone, I think,” he said previously told Sky News. “All I can tell you is, I made the right decision.”
Insider spills on Bear’s actions during the screening of the episode
While media were situated in a different screening room to the cast, an insider who attended the event told Chattr that Bear sat with someone not from the show during the screening of the first episode, and left the room on two occasions.
The insider said: “Bear left the room when Kim gate-crashed the cocktail party, and when he gave Jan the First Impressions rose. Coincidence? Or could these be his final two?”
Love to chat about Reality TV? Want to share all your thoughts about Golden Bachelor, MKR, The Block and more in live threads? Join us in our new Facebook group and come chat!
A plot of land nicknamed the unofficial “sixth Block lot” is up for sale in Daylesford — home to host Scott Cam’s iconic Sawmill Shed, where contestants take part in judging and challenges.
The Sawmill is a premium Stratco shed that is currently on-site and will be included in the sale. Plans to transform it into a contemporary four-bedroom home called Barn House have also been drawn up by The Block architect Julian Brenchley of Group Architects.
Belle Propertie’s Natalie Fagan and Ashlee McKee are the realtors for the property, and the former told Domain about the listing.
“Lot 106 has stunning views, so it gives you the same sort of grandeur as what The Block houses have with the land size, the location, the possibilities,” Natalie said.
“Essentially, you’ll have no neighbours to your north. It’s just an open paddock, and it’s stunning,” she added of the view.
The Block 2025 contestants in Scotty’s Sawmill Shed. Image: Nine.
How far from The Block houses is the sixth lot?
The buyer of the plot of land where Scott’s Sawmill Shed sits will be neighbours with the purchasers of Robby and Mat’s renovated house.
The sixth lot — which is located at 2 Armistice Way, Daylesford — is just a stone’s throw from House One.
An aerial view of The Block site. Image: Google Maps.
How much is the sixth Block lot?
The plot of land is 2649 square metres and has been listed for sale at $1.1 million.
If you’re interested in purchasing the sixth Block lot, you can check out the listing here and reach out to the realtors.
When are The Block auctions?
The Block 2025 auctions will take place on Saturday, October 25, at The Block site in Daylesford. So, the attendees and contestants will know who the winner is — and whether the houses sold — then.
However, fans will have to wait until Sunday night to watch the auction action unfold on Channel 9 and 9Now.
The Block auction airs on October 26th at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
One of Australian reality TV’s biggest nights is almost here — The Block auctions — and fans are wondering whether they can be there to watch it all unfold in person on Saturday.
While the all-important auctions won’t air until Sunday night at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now, they’re actually taking place the day before in Daylesford.
In past seasons, fans have been able to attend in person, which is a fun day out for those eager to see the action up close.
So, can the public attendThe Block 2025 auctions? Read on to find out.
The Block 2022 auctions. Image: Nine.
Will The Block fans be able to watch the auctions in person?
Unfortunately not. The auctions are invite-only, and only those on the list will be able to attend the event. The crowd will include a mix of registered bidders, professional buyer’s agents, and contestants’ family members.
When and where are the auctions taking place?
The auctions will take place on Saturday at The Block site in Daylesford. So, the attendees and contestants will know who the winner is — and whether the houses sold — then.
However, fans will have to wait until Sunday night to watch the auction action unfold on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Each house will be given a reserve ahead of the auctions, and interested buyers will make bids. Whatever the house sells for (if it sells) over the reserve goes in the contestant’s pocket. Plus, the team that makes the biggest profit will also score a $100,000 prize.
The reserves haven’t been revealed yet, and some of the houses boast state-of-the-art amenities that they’ve earned through challenge wins, such as Mat and Robby’s pickleball court and Britt and Taz’s smart kitchen appliances.
“It might be a different story this week when we find out the auction reserve,” Emma said. “But, so far, we’ve been told that all the reserves are the same because they go off the original floor plan of the house design.”
The Block auction airs on October 26th at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Ready to swap your nine-to-five for three months of renovating a house on national TV? Then it’s time to apply for The Block 2026.
Applications are open to couples and friends from across Australia who believe they have the creativity, stamina, and patience (for both renovations and each other) to take on the challenge. No professional experience is required, just a willingness to commit fully.
Selected couples will spend approximately 12 weeks transforming rundown properties into dream homes, navigating deadlines, design challenges, and the occasional sleepless night along the way.
Next year’s season will be taking place in Mount Eliza, a beachside suburb on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia.
So, if you’re thinking of applying for The Block 2026, here’s what to know.
The guidelines stipulate that hopefuls will need to be available for a 12-week shoot period from February 2026. Applicants will need to fill out a fairly extensive questionnaire. It begins with basic identity questions and then launches into more detailed questions. Among them are “What is your dream job?” and “What influences and inspires your design?”.
Finally, you’ll be asked to upload a video of you and your teammate.
When do applications for The Block 2026 close?
If you’re thinking about applying to be on The Block 2026, then you’d better get in quickly! Applications officially close at midnight on Friday, October 31, 2025.
Han and Can on The Block. Image: Nine.
How hard is it to get cast?
The Block receives thousands of applications every year, and some Redditors have detailed their experiences of applying for the show.
“We applied last year and got to the top 26, but are still undecided if we will again. I was curious about how others who have applied and not got in,” one person wrote.
They added that they didn’t spend much time on their application, but managed to almost get cast on the popular renovation show.
“We didn’t even really try last year, we just chucked our hat in the ring… and were totally shocked to get as far as we did. I mean, we did the in-person interviews and hadn’t even looked up Daylesford lol, we would try to be a bit more prepped next time,” they added.
Good luck to all The Block 2026 applicants!
The Block auction airs on October 26th on Channel 9 and 9Now.
The Block 2025 auctions are just days away, and in the lead-up, the contestants have been back at their houses meeting potential buyers.
However, making the trip to Daylesford has been a little harder for Emma and Ben, who welcomed their baby boy Bailey Coulter Cox into the world a month ago. Bailey was born four weeks early, so the couple were only able to take him home in early October.
Despite having a newborn in their life, the Melbourne-based couple told Chattr they’ve still been able to make plenty of trips to meet buyers at their renovated house.
“We’ve been back and forth from the Block the last week; we only got Bailey out of the hospital a week ago. So, since having Bailey out, we’ve been up and back and doing events and meeting potential buyers. So we’re getting there as much as we can. We’re actually going there after this as well,” Emma explained.
Emma and Ben added that Britt and Taz — who are from Western Australia — don’t have the luxury of driving back and forth to the Victorian properties, so they’ve been spending a lot of time at their renovated house.
Britt and Taz at their completed Block house. Image: Nine.
“Britt and Taz have been there the most; they’ve just taken work off. That was our intention, too. But with Bailey arriving early, it just meant we’ve had to be home for midwife appointments and hospital things,” Ben said.
“So realistically, we would have liked to have been out there a bit more, but we’re making the trip out as much as we can for the really important stuff.”
Emma pointed out that with a newborn baby, it’s important not to have him around too many people, especially with all the crowds and activity at The Block houses.
“It’s quite busy at The Block. They’ve got lots of events and sponsors and people walking through the houses most days. So we thought that with a brand new, fresh baby, it might be a bit harder to be there. 24/7, as well.”
What will the reserve prices be at The Block 2025 auctions?
Neither the official reserve prices nor the auction order has been revealed yet for the 2025 Block houses. So, viewers will watch that play out ahead of the actual auctions, which air on Sunday, October 26.
However, the price guides released earlier in the season have given an indication of what they might be. The official price guides on the real estate website Domain, where all five properties are listed, have been priced between $3 million and $3.3 million.
This year, all of the houses originally had the same floor plan, suggesting that they’d have the same reserve. But, there have been a substantial amount of sponsor prizes given away, including Britt and Taz’s win of kitchen appliances worth around $175,000, as well as Mat and Robby’s $50,000 pickleball court and their $50,000 outdoor fireplace.
“It might be a different story this week when we find out the auction reserve,” Emma said. “But, so far, we’ve been told that all the reserves are the same because they go off the original floor plan of the house design.”
The Block auction airs on October 26th on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Filming for The Block 2025 wrapped in June, but the season didn’t hit screens until late July — so by the time viewers were watching the drama unfold, the teams had already finished their renovations and had moved past all the on-site bickering.
However, watching it all play out on TV screens apparently resurfaced some bad blood between the contestants. In an interview with Chattr, Ben and Emma hinted that some tensions had flared up again as the episodes went to air.
“We’re getting to the final week of the episodes, and we’ve got to remind ourselves that we finished the show all really friendly, and as you watch it back, you sort of relive the moments as if they just happened,” Ben told Chattr.
“And so, you know, it opened old wounds for some, but I think everyone will move past it and be back to being friends like we were when we finished the show.”
Sonny, Alicia, Britt and Taz having a disagreement after a Body Corp meeting. Image: Nine.
Where do Emma and Ben stand with the other teams?
Emma shared that she and Ben have stayed on good terms with all of their fellow Blockheads since filming wrapped.
“We actually had an event last night, and we were all hanging out, taking selfies with each other, having a good time. So I guess we can talk on our behalf. We definitely get along with everyone in the crew, still. We chat to everyone, see, catch up with them when we’re at the Block.”
Ben added that he believes that most of their neighbours are still friendly, and said that he had a great relationship with Robby and Mat — despite the competing wine cellar drama that viewers saw play out on TV.
“They were really good sports about it,” he explained. “They, you know, said their two cents worth, and it was all part of the show, and in the spirit of competition. But, I reckon they were champs. They were honest to God, the best sports, and we got along well with them.”
The Block auction airs on October 26th on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Michael and Rielli were sent to the elimination challenge, where they competed against Danielle and Marko, and were sent home after losing by one point. Perhaps one of the most detrimental moments of the cook was when Michael dropped a tray of ribs.
In an interview with Chattr, Danielle said she had a mixed reaction when she saw Michael make the monumental slip.
“When Michael dropped the tray of ribs, like, there was a part of it that felt bad for them, like, obviously not a nice feeling. But then at the same time, I guess him dropping it brought us a little bit closer to possibly getting ahead of them,” she said.
Michael picking up the tray of ribs. Image: Seven.
“They definitely have that different side to them. Obviously, you see one side on the TV and that sort of stuff, but both of them are actually really good people,” he said.
Danielle added: “We got on really well with Michael and Riley, and they definitely have a softer side. I think they just didn’t want to go home. And also, like they’re really proud of what they do as well, they didn’t want to embarrass themselves.”
While Marko and Danielle were sad to see Michael and Rielli go, they admitted it was better than the alternative — being sent home themselves.
“It was bittersweet when Michael and Rielli were eliminated, to be honest. We both felt happy that one more team is eliminated, which means we’re getting closer to winning, but sad as sharing the MKR experience with Michael and Rielli was super fun and they definitely made things interesting to say the least.
How Marko and Danielle feel about the third round of MKR Instant Restaurants
At the end of Monday night’s episode, Colin and Manu revealed that the remaining contestants will be touring around Australia once again for the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round.
Speaking to Chattr, Danielle and Marko said they were thrilled by the news, especially given how well their first Instant Restaurant went.
Marko and Danielle at the first Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
“To be honest, we actually were delighted! Clearly, we seem to thrive better in that environment, so we’re looking forward to proving ourselves again at the Ultimate Instant Restaurant,” Danielle said.
“Our strategy is to replicate as much as possible what we did in our first Instant Restaurant. That means aiming to accomplish as much as possible during preparation time before things get too hectic,” she added.
My Kitchen Rules (MKR) airs on Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:30pm on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
The Amazing Race Australia2025 finale was a nail-biter, with Steve and Bernie Curry completing the final puzzle moments before Rob Mills and Georgie Tunny. The two teams raced to the finish, but while viewers saw Bernie and Steve reach the mat first and Rob and Georgie arrive just after, was the race really as close as it looked?
In a post-win interview, winners Steve and Bernie told Chattr that the race was unbelievably tight.
“Less than four seconds. Yeah, it was close,” Steve explained.
“We were almost to the point where we arrived at this beautiful, sort of Temple, hotel thing, and there were all these people who were doing high fives along the way,” Bernie added. “And there was a chance that, if we were goofing around too much there, that they would have come in behind us [and won].”
“Imagine you lose 100 grand because you’re busy high-fiving the locals,” Steve laughed.
Rob and Georgie reaching the mat just after the Curry brothers. Image: Ten.
However, on the plus side, if Georgie and Rob did manage to beat out Steve and Bernie at the last minute and win the show, they would have gotten married on the mat.
“They didn’t show this in the edit, but we still offered them the chance. We said we’d still like to see it, and they chose not to,” Steve explained, adding that the couple didn’t want to take away from Steve and Bernie’s moment.
Steve and Bernie’s strategic winning move
A smart move made early on by Bernie ended up playing a huge part in the brothers’ win on The Amazing Race Australia 2025.
The season’s final challenge was a memory puzzle that involved keeping track of logos that popped up throughout the entire race. Having watched previous seasons with similar final puzzles, Bernie came prepared.
“Bernie is a student of these shows. Loves these shows. And he did say at the very start of the race, he said, ‘Mate, I will guarantee you there will be a puzzle at the end which revolves around our recollection of symbols,'” Steve told Chattr.
Bernie and Steve putting together the final puzzle. Image: Ten.
“So we’d get to that mat, and you’re so cooked. You’re so cooked every time you get to the mat, that my brain isn’t thinking about symbols or retaining them. His was.”
Bernie had an idea that the final challenges would involve the symbols along the way at some point, so he jotted them down after every stop.
“I noticed a bunch of them. I didn’t see all of them, but I did say, ‘Steve, see, look, look up the flag there. See that little, that little symbol, little star’. And then we’d go home to the hotel that night, and I’d pull out the notebook, and I’d go, ‘Right. What did we do? Where did we start? We started here. What did we see? There’s a star symbol?”
Bernie admitted that he and Steve had high hopes of winning the entire show, which is why they were so diligent about taking note of the symbols.
“You wouldn’t be writing down these symbols if you didn’t feel as though you were going to get to the point where you’re going to use the symbols, so you had to have some sort of confidence that there was a chance you might make it to that final puzzle if you’re going to be writing down the symbols.”
Throughout the season of The Amazing Race Australia 2025, Georgie Tunny and Rob Mills made it clear that if they won, they’d get officially married on the mat. Unfortunately for them — and for us as viewers — Georgie and Rob came a close second to the Curry brothers, and we missed out on the first The Amazing Race wedding ever.
During a post-elimination interview with Chattr, Georgie and Rob revealed just how close the wedding was to happening.
“We were just chatting [to producers] in the pre-interviews. And, people always ask us — which is lovely, legitimately —when are you guys getting married? And I was like, ‘Hey, if we win The Amazing Race and we win $100,000 for the Australian Children’s Music Foundation, we’ll get married.’ Because what could be better than that? And then the closer we got, we’re like, ‘Are we going to actually get married?'” Georgie explained.
Georgie Tunny and Rob Mills on The Amazing Race. Image: Ten.
“It was wild, but as we progressed, we’re like, ‘No, yep, that’s going to happen’. The producers were taking it seriously, like Beau had a full script in case we got married, in case we won. They got us rings that we have. There was this huge bouquet, which I saw after,” she added.
“We were like, ‘No, sorry guys, we did not win’ because they were prepping like we could have won, because we were the favourites heading into that last round.”
Georgie added that if they’d reached the mat first, host Beau Ryan was ready to officiate their wedding.
“Beau had done a three-hour online course, and we’re like, ‘We’re so sorry, Beau, because we didn’t win and we made you sit there and do all that’, but yeah, he was ready. So yeah, we were going to get married by Beau Ryan in Java.”
However, in hindsight, Rob added that their parents probably wouldn’t have been “furious” at them for saying “I do” in Java without them there.
Georgie Tunny and Rob Mills on The Amazing Race. Image: Ten.
Rob Mills and Georgie Tunny’s wedding plans
Rob and Georgie got engaged back in 2021 during a road trip in Sydney. The couple told Chattr that although their Amazing Race wedding was only moments from happening, they’re yet to make any firm plans for their actual big day.
“We think next year, next year could be the year, but we haven’t made any plans. And I hear that’s really important with weddings,” Georgie joked, with Rob added, “Apparently, you have to plan them.”
Georgie explained that part of the allure of getting married on The Amazing Race was the fact that they wouldn’t have to play into part in planning their own wedding.
“This is another part of the thing, because it would have been great to get away with the wedding and not plan anything and have, like, a full production team figure it out,” she said.
However, Rob added that despite not getting a televised wedding on The Amazing Race, the show’s producers are still keen to help them plan their big day.
“So at the end of the race, after the drinks, so many of the segment producers, or the challenge producers, came up and said, if you need us to progress, to plan anything for you, let us know.”
The premiere for The Golden Bachelor is just around the corner and we’re all a bit excited to see a different kind of love story play out on our screens, as widower Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden enters a new chapter of his love life.
Among the 20 women vying for his heart, there’s one familiar face: Laura Junner, a 64-year-old primary school teacher, and the mother of well-known Bachie star, podcaster, and influencer Abbie Chatfield.
Abbie first rose to fame on Matt Agnew’s season of The Bachelor in 2019, coming in as runner-up. She went on to launch a successful podcast career and is now one of Australia’s most well-known influencers.
So will Laura follow in her daughter’s footsteps and find her own love story? We can’t wait to find out.
Here’s everything we know about The Golden Bachelor’s Laura Junner
Laura resides in Queensland and is described as a ‘true pocket rocket with a heart of gold’. She’s been married twice and is ready to embrace life with a special someone by her side.
Saying her proudest achievement to date is her ‘two beautiful daughters’ (Abbie and Jolie) Laura said she applied for The Bachelor because it’s ‘definitely her time’. Laura said she’s looking for an emotionally present and kind partner.
With one daughter in the limelight, Laura isn’t a complete stranger to the Bachie world, and often appears on some of Abbie’s social media content. Plus, she had a brief cameo on Abbie’s season of The Bachelor, where she met Matt Agnew during hometown visits and politely sipped wine while he contemplated brutally dumping her daughter at the end of the show.
Laura’s first appearance on TV was on the 2019 season of The Bachelor. Image: Channel 10
What has happened on Laura’s journey on The Golden Bachelor so far?
The Golden Bachelor premieres on Monday October 20, silly! Come back for more updates then.
The Golden Bachelor will air Monday October 20 on Channel 9 and 9now.
Mat told New Idea that he’s having a baby boy with his long-time friend, Leah Cocks. He revealed that Leah, who’s in a same-sex relationship, initially approached him with the idea years ago.
“I didn’t know if I was ready at that stage of my life, and I think I was terrified because I have a very good life that I worked decades to be able to have,” he said.
About a year later, Mat decided he was ready to be a dad and asked Leah if she still wanted to go ahead with the process.
“I was ecstatic when it was a yes,” Leah told the publication, with Mat adding: “I wouldn’t have done it with just anyone. It’s only because it’s her”.
Leah said that, after a round of IVF, she found out she was pregnant the first week that Robby and Mat began filming The Block. However, she decided not to tell Mat while he was in Daylesford, because she didn’t want to distract him.
When Mat returned from the show, Leah was already three months pregnant, and decided to share the exciting news with him at his salon.
“After Mat returned, I booked in to get my hair done, the very last appointment that he had for the day, and I sat there in my baggy clothes and gave him a card. It had the ultrasound in it, and Mat just looked at me and said, ‘Congratulations!’”
It took Mat a moment to put the pieces together before realising the ultrasound was his baby. “I suddenly realised I’m going to be a dad!”
The Block auction airs on October 26th on Channel 9 and 9Now.
The reserve prices determine how much The Block 2025 houses need to sell for — and ultimately, how much profit the contestants take home. But do the bonus prizes they’ve won throughout the season have any impact on that number?
With the auctions just around the corner, The Block teams are still waiting to find out their official reserve prices. However, the price guides released earlier in the season have given an indication of what they might be.
The official price guides on the real estate website Domain, where all five properties are listed, have been priced between $3 million and $3.3 million.
This year, all of the houses originally had the same floor plan, suggesting that they’d have the same reserve. However, there have been some additional additions, such as a wine cellar by both Robby and Mat, as well as Emma and Ben.
Ben and Emma’s wine cellar. Image: Nine.Mat and Robby’s wine cellar. Image: Nine.
Additionally, the contestants have won a substantial amount of sponsor prizes, including Mat and Robby’s $50,000 pickleball court and their $50,000 outdoor fireplace, as well as Britt and Taz’s win of kitchen appliances worth around $175,000. So, will these bonuses increase the reserve prices for the contestants who won them?
According to Emma and Ben, neither the prizes from challenge wins nor the extra rooms will affect the reserve prices.
“No, it doesn’t, that’s what we’ve been told,” Ben told Chattr.
“It might be a different story this week when we find out the auction reserve,” Emma added. “But, so far, we’ve been told that all the reserves are the same because they go off the original floor plan of the house design.”
Ben and Emma on The Block. Image: Nine.
What order would Ben and Emma want to go in The Block auction?
Each year, the contestants clash over auction order, often arguing that the house tipped to make the biggest profit should go first to set the tone for the day. Going last in the auctions is often considered a strong placement, too, because buyers who’ve missed out earlier might get more competitive.
The order for the 2025 auction orders hasn’t been decided yet, and Emma and Ben told Chattr they’re still trying to decide which spot would be ideal for them.
“We’re still discussing that,” Ben explained. “We’ve discussed it with our agent, and he’s still a little bit on the fence about whether he wants to go higher or lower [in the order]. We’ve got a couple more days to work it out.”
Emma added that she and Ben wanted to work out the order with their fellow contestants.
“On one of the [Block] getaways. We spoke to Scotty about it, and he said that it’s been won and lost from every position. So he didn’t say there was an advantage going first or last or I don’t know.
“I think it’s something we need to put a bit more thought into as well. We have been thinking about it, but even more so, have put some thought into it with our real estate and chat to our neighbours and see where everyone wants to go.”
No wonder fans are calling Emma and Ben the sweetest pair The Block has ever seen.
The Block auction airs on October 26th on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Billionaire The Blockbuyer Adrian Portelli has been spotted filming a video in Emma and Ben’s Daylesford wine cellar, despite repeatedly indicating he wouldn’t be attending this year’s auctions.
Ray White real estate agent Jamee Favorito shared a video talking to Adrian about his path to success — and the background looked suspiciously familiar. It wasn’t long until followers pointed out in the comments section that Adrian and Jamee filmed the clip in Emma and Ben’s cellar.
“Bro at The Block… after they said he wouldn’t be back…” One person wrote. Another commented: “Stop buying the houses. I want to see actual auctions.” Jamee replied, saying that “someone just needs to outbid him”, and the user bit back, pointing out that it’s extremely hard to outbid a billionaire.
So, does Adrian’s appearance at House One mean that he’s a potential buyer? When Chattr asked Emma and Ben about Adrian visiting their house, they stayed coy.
“It’s AI, it’s AI,” Ben joked, notably not giving a simple explanation for Adrian’s visit.
On top of that, Jamee has repeatedly popped up at The Block this season, and Emma and Ben’s real estate agent is his Ray White colleague, Aaron Hill.
Will Adrian Portelli buy one of The Block 2025 houses?
During last year’s The Block auctions, where he spent $15 million and bought all five houses, Adrian Portelli said that it would be his last time at The Block auction day.
“I think this is the final one [auction day],” he said. “So, I’m going to hang the boots up and go out with a bang. So, I did.”
Then, earlier this year, The Block host Scott Cam told Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie that the show asked him not to come back, later reneaging and clarifying that Adrian wasn’t ‘banned’.
“We said to Adrian, ‘We’d love you not to come next year, if that’s alright…’ He said, ‘Yeah, okay, he won’t come,’” he explained.
“But he may come,” Scott continued. “We don’t know, but we do want to give mums and dads the opportunity to have a crack at a Block house … but if Adrian comes and wants to buy the lot of them, well, that rules them out.”
In July, the billionaire revealed he’d signed on for My Reno Rules, a new renovation series on Channel 7 — The Block’s rival network — making a return to the auctions seem even less likely.
However, as a Reddit user pointed out, Adrian initially said last year would be his last auction, not his last The Block purchase.
“He did say last year that he won’t be attending auctions but could send a buyer’s advocate like he did last year for two of the houses…” they wrote.
Another suggested that the clip of Adrian in Emma and Ben’s cellar might be a marketing technique to create buzz.
“Maybe done through the REA, because they know the level of interest in Portelli, and chasing clicks and views. Looks like it is working!”
Regardless, we can’t wait to see whether Adrian will attend this year’s auctions!
The Block auction airs on October 26th on Channel 9 and 9Now.
