Tan told Chattr that Mark — who now has a girlfriend — was scouted for the dating show out of the blue.
“He got hit up for MAFS first years ago, then the same casting producer asked him for MKR, then he asked me,” he revealed.
Tan further elaborated about Mark’s MAFS offer in a Facebook group, telling fans that despite the fact that MKR and MAFS are on rival networks, the casting team often overlaps.
“There are casting agents that go around and recruit people. They work for multiple channels. And trust me, they KNOW what they’re doing,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the news that Tan was only cast on the show because Mark asked him may come as a shock to some viewers, who believed that Tan did all the heavy lifting during their time on MKR.
“Tan, you’re a great cook; unfortunately, you had the wrong person standing next to you. I think Mark would find a way to burn water,” one person wrote on Facebook.
Mark and Tan on MKR. Image: Seven.
Did Mark and Tan know each other well before MKR?
Mark and Tan’s opening segment revealed that they met each other five years ago at a martial arts event and have been friends ever since.
Tan confirmed to Chattr that he and Mark were close friends a while ago, but hadn’t seen each other for a while before MKR started filming, and only reconnected after Mark asked him to join him on the show.
“We partied a lot back in the day,” Tan said. “He moved to Melbourne though, so I didn’t see him for A whole year until MKR.”
Despite joining MKR 2025 as Mark’s plus one, Tan has more than proven himself to Australia as an incredible cook.
My Kitchen Rules (MKR) 2025 airs on Sundays and Mondays on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
Love to chat about Reality TV? Join us in our new Facebook group and come chat! Or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for more entertainment news.
As the Golden Bachelor airs, we’ve found ourselves deep in memories of the Bachelors that have been and gone on our screens over the years.
From the first-ever BachelorTim Robards, to the last failed attempt at the series, where three random men tried to capture our attention (and now, we only remember the name of one, Luke Bateman), we’ve seen so many beautiful, strange, and rogue storylines over the years when it comes to watching everyday Aussies finding love in a fairytale setting.
Remembering Blake Garvey…
One previous Bachie however really captured the attention of Australia when he did the unthinkable. Yes, we’re talking about Perth real estate agent Blake Garvey who infamously proposed to Sam Frost during the finale, only to swiftly backtrack and later start dating his second runner-up Louise Pillidge.
Blake became the first and only Aussie Bachelor to propose and then swiftly change his mind to go on and date third-placed Louise. Image: Network 10
It was an absolute SCANDAL back in the time. We’re talking headlines across websites, newspapers, magazines.
Sam, of course, went on to become our first-ever Bachelorette and Australia’s sweetheart.
And Blake and Louise were heavily scrutinised and pummelled by the media in their 18-month relationship, before they eventually broke up.
But years later, I present you with maybe a shocking take.
We’ve had over a decade to let the dust settle, so it’s time to grow up and accept the truth.
Let’s be honest: Blake Garvey and Louise Pillidge’s breakup shoot was iconic
It was a lose-lose for these guys. People weren’t happy to see them together, and people weren’t happy to see them break up.
Most shockingly, however, was the way they announced their breakup: In a staged New Idea interview, the couple confirmed their split alongside some photos of them looking forlornly out to the ocean, as well as somewhat disparagingly towards each other.
Blake and Louise’s bizarre breakup shoot in New Idea.
However, looking back, is this perhaps the FUNNIEST thing they could possibly ever do?
I say yes.
They knew everyone hated the way things went down and that the wider public wasn’t supportive of Blake’s decision. They stuck it out for 18 months, Louise moving to WA to be with Blake, and they even went to couples counselling to try and get through it.
However, all goods things must come to an end and with the couple knowing their relationship would be headline news, good or bad, they did it on their own terms.
Sure, a photoshoot for a breakup isn’t exactly normal. I cannot even imagine a world in where I’d ask my ex to participate in a breakup photoshoot with me. The man didn’t even want a real photo with me in our supposed happy times. But I digress!
Assuming Blake and Louise were aware of the fact that people would comment on their relationship regardless, they sent it out in flames while probably cashing in a pretty sweet pay cheque.
Imagine being paid a small house deposit (well, back in 2016 anyway) just to announce your breakup?
A magazine insider tells Chattr: “For an exclusive shoot like that, mags were paying well into the tens of thousands. Louise and Blake were probably looking at at least $50,000 for that photoshoot, if not more.”
Looks like they got the last laugh after all.
BRB texting my ex to see if he wants to do a belated pho- never mind, he’s blocked me.
Louise Pillidge is back in Queensland and working in marketing and PR. Image: Instagram.com
Where is Blake Garvey now?
So what happened to Blake Garvey? The man has pretty much dropped off the radar since his Bachie days, and look, who can blame him.
Blake appears to have Facebook and a (not very used) LinkedIn and isn’t easy to get ahold of these days, but is allegedly residing in WA and working in the real estate space.
Nine years ago Blake updated his Facebook during a trip to America, when a friend asked if he was ever coming back.
“Yep still here!” he wrote about his trip. “Sunny warm weather and total anonymity, why would I come back?!?”
Fair call, Blake, fair call.
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!
The My Kitchen Rules (MKR) 2025 cast made their way around Australia, and each team is cooked their own Instant Restaurants for the rest of the group.
In the first two rounds of the Instant Restaurants, the teams served a three-course meal, which was scored by the fellow contestants and MKR judges Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge. Then, in the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round, the contestants were tasked with cooking two entrees, mains and desserts.
The six teams of contestants gave an overall score out of 10 for all of the meals prepared, as did judges Manu and Colin.
All three rounds of the Instant Restaurants have been completed. In the first, Mel and Jacinta received the lowest score, so they were eliminated from the competition. Because Justin, Will, and Anne and Maree received the two highest scores, they were exempt from participating in round two.
The second Instant Restaurant round saw Maria and Bailey, Michael and Rielli and Lol and Lil joined by three new teams dubbed the Gatecrashers. It was Gatecrashers Danielle and Marko who topped the scoreboard, and Amy and Lara were eliminated.
After that, the remaining contestants battled it out in Kitchen HQ, and Anne and Maree and Michael and Rielli were sent home, before the rest of the competitors headed off for the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round.
In the final Instant Restaurant round, Mark and Tan were eliminated, which meant that Justin and Will, Lol and Lil, Danielle and Marko and Maria and Bailey became the official semi-finalists.
Here’s where the MKR scoreboard finished off.
The Overall MKR 2025 Leaderboard for the Ultimate Instant Restaurants
Justin and Will – 75 out of 100
Lol and Lil – 68 out of 100
Maria and Bailey – 64 out of 100
Danielle and Marko – 62 out of 100
Mark and Tan – 56 out of 100 – eliminated
Justin and Will
Justin and Will’s Ultimate Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
The Ultimate Instant Restaurant round marked Justin and Will’s second time touring the country for MKR, after they skipped the second round thanks to their top score in the first.
Once again, the boys were the first team off the rank for this round, welcoming the remaining contestants to their Sydney home.
Justin and Will set the bar high, with two tens from Manu for their Ouma’s Seafood Hotpot and Paris-Brest with Pistachio Crème, and then ended up with an impressive overall score of 75 out of 100.
Lol and Lil started off their third Instant Restaurant strong with an entree of French Onion Soup and Fried Chicken Bao Buns, which impressed Colin and Manu.
However, their main was a major letdown. They served up Rotisserie Chicken Gyros with Pickled Red Onions and Tzatziki and Beef Bulgogi Egg Net, which received criticism from both their fellow contestants and the judges.
The besties from Logan redeemed themselves with their desserts ofChai Poached Pear with Salted Caramel and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Raspberry and Chocolate Tart with Raspberry Coulis. But, it was only enough to give them a mediocre overall score of 68 out of 100.
Frontrunners Marko and Danielle took a fall from grace during the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round. They scored just 62 out of 100, landing at the bottom of the leaderboard and at risk of elimination.
The menu was ambitious and creative: Asian Scotch Fillet Taco with Slaw and Cevapi and Ajvar on Pita for entrée, mains of Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder with Honey-Roasted Carrots and Tzatziki and Tamarind and Chilli Lime Snapper with Cajun sauce and Sweet Potato Mash. For dessert, they served Coconut and Lime Panna Cotta with Cookie Crumble and Hong Kong Egg Tart.
After receiving the scores, Danielle was visibly upset, wiping away tears and saying, “We’re super disappointed in ourselves.”
At their third Instant Restaurant, Maria and Bailey served Octopus with Fava and Spicy Salsa Verde, as well as Feta Gnocchi with Prawn Bisque, Pepper Cream, and Ouzo Gel for entree.
For their main, they dished up Barramundi with Potato Scales, Mediterranean Vegetables and Lemon Velouté, and Scotch Fillet with Red Wine Jus and Potato Terrine, and for dessert, they made a warm Pistachio Cookie with Praline and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, and Pavlova with Earl Grey Ganache, Raspberry and Pink Peppercorn Coulis.
Mark and Tan were the final team to cook in the Ultimate Restaurant round, meaning that if they didn’t score higher than Marko and Danielle’s 62 out of 100, they would be eliminated. Unfortunately for them, that’s exactly what happened.
The friends from South Australia got off to a strong start with the entree of Pork and Prawn Dumplings with Thai Red Curry Sauce and Tuna Tartare with Fried Seaweed Crisps which recieved two eights from the judges.
But, their main Pad See Ew with Grilled Steak and the Pan-Seared Duck with Chilli Orange Sauce let them down, as did their undercooked Boozy Bitter Orange Steamed Puddings and an overbaked Thai Milk Tea Tart.
In the end, Mark and Tan recieved a score of 56 out of 100, and they were eliminated from the competition.
The Overall MKR 2025 Leaderboard for round two
Danielle and Marko – 84 out of 110
Mark and Tan – 80 out of 110
Michael and Rielli – 72 out of 110
Lol and Lil – 69 out of 110
Maria and Bailey – 62 out of 110
Amy and Lara – 58 out of 110 – eliminated
Amy and Lara – Eliminated
Amy and Lara. Image: Seven.
Amy and Lara were the last team to cook, and they kicked off their Instant Restaurant Only Pans with a ceviche featuring pork belly and peanut relish, which Manu loved and Colin described as a “flavour explosion”.
It was surf and turf with an eye fillet, lobster and truffle mash, which Manu called a “little bit of a disaster”, pointing out that the beef wasn’t “done properly” and that there was a lack of seasoning. Colin said his lobster was undercooked and their mash was underworked.
However, things picked up again with their dessert of white chocolate and passionfruit cheesecake, which was quite well received by both judges.
However, it wasn’t enough to get Amy and Lara over the line; they ultimately finished with a total score of 58, which meant they were eliminated from the competition.
Guest Teams scores: 26/50
Manu’s scores: 17/30
Colin’s scores: 15/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 58/110
Michael and Rielli
Michael and Rielli. Image: Seven.
The pressure was on for Michael and Rielli at their second Instant Restaurant, after grilling the teams over their dishes all week long.
And, they didn’t drop the ball, scoring a respectable 72 out of 110. While the couple received a relatively high score of 46 out of 60 from the judges, the guest teams were much harsher, awarding them just 26 out of 50.
Michael and Rielli made a Confit Duck Tart with Caramelised Onion for entrée, a Pistachio-Crusted Lamb Rack with Leek Purée and smashed, crispy potatoes for main and a Paris-Brest with hazelnut praline cream for dessert.
Guest Teams scores: 26/50
Manu’s scores: 24/30
Colin’s scores: 22/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 72/110
Lol and Lil
Lil and Lol. Image: Seven.
Lol and Lil upped their score at their second Instand Restaurant, and while it was nowhere near enough to put them at the top of the leaderboard, they didn’t land in last place.
For their entree, they made Pan-Seared Scallops, it was Pumpkin and Ricotta Ravioli for main, and a Lamington with a twist for dessert.
Colin and Manu were most impressed with their main, which landed them an eight from each judge. However, their dessert slightly missed the mark, with Manu noting that the base was dry and Colin saying it was too thick and detracted from the dish.
Guest Teams scores: 29/50
Manu’s scores: 20/30
Colin’s scores: 20/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 69/110
Mark and Tan
Mark and Tan. Image: Seven.
Mark and Tan had a successful night at their first Instant Restaurant, whipping up Grilled Octopus with Thai-style Chimichurri for an entree, Chicken Khao Soi for the main, and Passionfruit Crème Brûlée for dessert.
The judges were taken with both the entree and main, with Colin and Manu both awarding a nine and a ten, respectively. However, the dessert let the men down slightly earning a a six from Colin and a five from Manu.
While Mark and Tan finished up with an impressive score of 80, they weren’t able to top the leaderboard and Danielle and Marko remained in first place.
Guest Teams scores: 31/50
Manu’s scores: 25/30
Colin’s scores: 24/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 80/110
Maria and Bailey
Maria and Bailey. image: Seven.
For the second round of MKR 2025’s Instant Restaurants, Maria and Bailey started with a Moussaka as their entrée. The judges weren’t overly impressed, with Manu saying that while the technique was fantastic, the flavours were lacking.
They prepared a Sou Vide Chicken Skewer with Salsa Verde for their main, which received a five from Colin and seven from Manu.
Maria and Bailey finished off with a Dulce De Leche with Chocolate Whiskey and Pear and Caramel Sorbet. Manu said the pear sorbet was “gorgeous,” but the dulce de leche’s flavour was overpowered.
Guest Teams scores: 28/50
Manu’s scores: 17/30
Colin’s scores: 17/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 62/110
Danielle and Marko
Danielle and Marko. Image: Seven.
Danielle and Marko whipped up a Spicy Ahi Tuna on Crispy Rice for an entree, which Manu and Colin loved. They carried on their successful streak with their main on Pork Belly with Noodles, with Manu saying the pork was “done amazingly” and Colin adding that it “put a smile” on his face.
For dessert, the couple served Miso Brownies with Sesame Ice Cream and Miso Caramel Sauce, which, unsurprisingly, the judges loved, too.
Danielle and Marko received an overall score of 84, higher than any score from the first round.
Guest Teams scores: 34/50
Manu’s scores: 24/30
Colin’s scores: 26/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 84/110
The Overall MKR 2025 Leaderboard for round one
Justin and Will – 79 out of 110
Anne and Maree – 78 out of 110
Maria and Bailey – 68 out of 110
Michael and Rielli – 65 out of 110
Lol and Lil– 64 out of 110
Mel and Jacinta – 50 out of 110 – eliminated
Individual scores for the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round
Mel and Jacinta – Eliminated
It was a tough night for Jacinta and Mel. Their dishes were criticised by both the judges and their fellow contestants before they were informed that they had been eliminated from the competition.
Their entree of Bang Bang Cauliflower with Spiced Cashew Sauce and Pickled Cucumber was their strongest, with both judges noting that they loved the flavour combination.
Their main of Braised Beef with Black Rice, Lime and Corn Salad and Coconut Roti was critiqued by Manu, who said there were some “really dry pieces of beef”, with Colin adding that it was burnt on top.
Their dessert of Tofu Mocha Mousse with Coffee Liqueur and Coconut Sauce came out even weaker, receiving a three from both Colin and Manu. Colin called the texture a brick-like and pointed out that “you should not be able to stand a spoon in mousse.”
Their overall score of 50 put them much lower than Lol and Lil, who were sitting at the bottom of the leaderboard before Jacinta and Mel’s Instant Restaurant, and they were sent home.
Guest Teams scores: 22/50
Manu’s scores: 14/30
Colin’s scores: 14/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 50/110
Justin and Will
Justin and Will were the first team off the block on MKR 2025. They served up a heartfelt menu to set a strong culinary tone at their Instant Restaurant Tropic Like It’s Hot.
They served Ota Ika (Ceviche) with Taro crisps for entrée, Red Duck Curry with Coconut Rice for main, and Cape Malay Koeksister (South African fried doughnut) with spice syrup for dessert.
Their standout dish was their main, which impressed both judges and the other teams. Manu called it a “wonderful, ballsy curry”, and Colin said it was “near perfect,” though the undercooked rice let them down.
Guest Teams scores: 37/50
Manu’s scores: 21/30
Colin’s scores: 21/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 79/110
Anne and Maree
Mother-daughter duo Anne and Maree headed into the kitchen for their Instant Restaurant with their secret weapon – Yia-yia’s treasured handwritten recipe book passed down through generations.
The judges loved the entrée of Chargrilled Octopus with Spanakorizo. However, they said their main dish,Chicken and Lamb Souvlakia with Pita and Tzatziki, was flavourful butdidn’t hit the mark technically.
The dessert of Orange Semolina Cake with Chocolate and Candied Orange held deep sentimental value, as it was one of the first recipes Anne’s mother taught her.
Despite getting a higher score from the judges than Justin and Will, the guest teams score left them sitting lower on the leaderboard.
Guest Teams scores: 34/50
Manu’s scores: 22/30
Colin’s scores: 22/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 78/110
Michael and Rielli
Michael and Rielli sent shockwaves through the competition when they served up a main meal of Buttered Beef Tongue with Braised Cabbage and Potato Straws to the group, which notably included one vegan.
For their entree, they opted for Beetroot and Feta Cheesecake and a Raspberry Gel with Chocolate Mousse Dome for dessert.
Colin was impressed with the cook on the beef tongue but thought that the main’s garnish and lack of sauce let the dish down. Manu loved the dessert and said it was a “great finish”.
Guest Teams scores: 28/50
Manu’s scores: 18/30
Colin’s scores: 19/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 65/110
Lol and Lil
Lol and Lil launched their Instant Restaurant, Sugar, Spice and Everything, with their usual upbeat attitude. But not everything went to plan.
The judges deemed the prawns in their entree of Grilled Prawn and Mango Tortilla Bites undercooked, and the pastry in their hearty Chicken and Leek Pot Pie was burnt.
Fortunately, their dessert of Lemon Meringue Pie was a standout, which both judges enjoyed. However, it wasn’t enough to get them a strong score, and Lol and Lil ranked last on the leaderboard, with only Mel and Jacinta left to cook.
Guest Teams scores: 27/50
Manu’s scores: 18/30
Colin’s scores: 19/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 64/110
Maria and Bailey
Maria and Bailey had high expectations for their Instant Restaurant, Medusa. However, despite having an almost perfect entree of Spanakopita Raviolo with Feta Crème, Crispy Leek and Dill Oil, the rest of the night didn’t fare as well.
Their main was Citrus Beurre Blanc and Charred Leek, but Bailey forgot to add white wine to the sauce, resulting in a thick, unbalanced dish. Manu and Colin weren’t sure about their dessert of Citrus Panna Cotta either, with Colin calling it “odd and jarring”.
Guest Teams scores: 29/50
Manu’s scores: 19/30
Colin’s scores: 20/30
Overall MKR 2025 leaderboard score: 68/110
Watch My Kitchen Rules (MKR) 2025 on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
Mark and Tan were one of three Gatecrasher teams who joined My Kitchen Rules (MKR) 2025 partway through the season. They started off in round two of the Instant Restaurants and are not participating in the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round.
Mark, 35, and Tan, 27, are both from South Australia. They met five years ago at a martial arts event, where they shared a few post-match beers and instantly became close friends. Mark is a private business consultant. Meanwhile, Thai-born Tan moved to Australia when he was three and now owns a thriving hospitality business, managing three bars in Adelaide.
The men are the final team to cook in the Ultimate Restaurants, with the hope of topping the MKR leaderboard — but, with Justin and Will kicking off the round with a score of 75, they’ve got a tough act to beat.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about MKR’s Mark and Tan.
Mark and Tan on MKR. Image: Seven.
Why Mark and Tan joined My Kitchen Rules
Mark is a self-taught cook, while Tan honed his Thai cooking skills growing up.
“I have a Thai background, which means I grew up learning to cook traditional cuisine from my parents. All other cuisines are self-taught. Fortunately, I love cooking and I’m eager to explore new ideas and cuisines from different cultures. I watch food reels every day to learn something new,” he said.
Mark said that cooking with Tan was a driving force behind his choice to join MKR.
“MKR is a chance to try something different and interesting, combining the competition element and cooking alongside Tan,” he said.
Tan added that he’s looking forward to showcasing food from his culture on the show.
“To prove to myself that I can compete and do well in high-pressure environments, outside of businesses. I want to cook for people, showcase my background and make my family proud,” he said.
Tan at his restaurant Rue de Siam. Image: Instagram.
Will Mark and Tan be eliminated from MKR?
Mark and Tan did well in their first Instant Restaurant, coming second on the leaderboard with a score of 80 out of 110. They were pipped at the post by fellow gatecrashers Danielle and Marko, who scored a whopping 84.
However, Mark and Tan are yet to face off against current frontrunners Justin and Will, who skipped round two of the Instant Restaurants after earning immunity with their top score in round one.
ChatGPT said:
At the time of writing, Danielle and Marko sit at the bottom of the leaderboard, and with an elimination looming immediately after Mark and Tan’s Instant Restaurant tonight, one of the two teams will be sent home.
My Kitchen Rules (MKR) airs on Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:30pm on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
Tensions hit an all-time high when The Golden Bachelor ladies learned that only six of the remaining contestants would receive a rose in Monday’s episode. But in a shocking twist, Terri turned down Bear’s rose when he called her name.
Terri was the third golden offered a rose by Bear, but after expressing her concerns to a producer earlier in the episode, she didn’t feel a strong enough connection to continue.
“I thought long and hard about it, I’m not going to accept your rose,” she told the Bachelor.
Terri told New Idea that it wasn’t necessarily Bear that left a sour taste in her mouth, but rather the premise of the show, saying that hoping to be “picked by a man” isn’t who she is at her core
“You think you are going to be OK, but it’s a different feeling when you’re actually doing it,” she tells us.
“I felt I had a connection with Bear. He’s certainly my type of guy, but each week standing there waiting to see if you’re chosen, just didn’t sit right with me.”
Terri added that in the lead-up to the rose ceremony, she believed that Bear wouldn’t offer her a rose, so she’d already ended the relationship in her mind.
“My insecurities just crept in. I thought, ‘he’s not going to pick me.’ But he did. And I stood there for a moment because I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ It wasn’t until I was walking up there that I decided ‘no, I just can’t do this,’” she confesses.
“I just hate that rose ceremony.”
Terri and Bear on The Golden Bachelor. Image: Nine.
Have Terri and Bear spoken since she left The Golden Bachelor?
Terri stressed that she felt a genuine bond with Bear, but didn’t see herself finding her life partner on The Golden Bachelor.
“A part of me wonders ‘what if’ … I would’ve loved to have seen whether it was a true connection with Bear. I thought if it was real, maybe if I’d met him somewhere else, like in a family barbecue or through friends, it might’ve worked – but who knows?” she says.
“It just happened in that moment, and I wished him all the best … I didn’t really stand there and sort of go into why I made that decision. But, I’d like to one day maybe tell him,” she added.
“You meet some incredible ladies. I’ve made friends for life,” she said. “And of course, you might meet the man of your dreams! But, be prepared for the rose part! I want women to know that you don’t have to wait for a man to choose you. You can choose yourself first.”
The Golden Bachelor airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Gabby strutted into the Love Island Australia 2025 villa as the season’s first bombshell — and she’s had instant main character energy ever since.
From blowing the boys away from the moment she entered, to winning the girls over with her sweet personality, Gabby has well and truly made her mark on Love Island Australia.
But, while Gabby may be new to reality TV, she’s no stranger to the spotlight. Here’s everything you need to know about her.
Love Island Australia’s Gabby. Image: Nine.
Gabby was an established influencer before going on Love Island Australia
Gabby — real name Gabrielle McCarthy — had a successful career as an influencer before heading into the villa, boasting almost 100,000 followers on Instagram and 140,000 on TikTok.
The 21-year-old often shares snaps from her adventures around the world and recently opened up about how much travel means to her.
“Travelling is so important to me because it takes you out of your comfort zone, opens your eyes up, inspires you, educates you, forces you to try new things and makes you appreciate every single aspect of life,” she wrote on Instagram.
Where is Gabby from?
Gabby grew up in Mackay in regional Queensland before moving to the Gold Coast, where she’s now based.
Gabby on Love Island Australia. Image: Nine.
Who is Gabby coupled up with on Love Island Australia?
Gabby entered the Love Island Australia villa as a bombshell, once all of the other Islanders were coupled up.
However, she had her sights set on Jotham, who was paired up with Lacey. While Jotham had an initial attraction to Gabby, he decided to continue to pursue things with Lacey, before switching up and coming back to Gabby.
At the first firepit recoupling ceremony, Gabby had the first pick of who she wanted to couple up with, and she chose Jotham.
The couple are currently coupled up in the villa, but this is Love Island Australia — so anything can happen.
Love Island Australia 2025 drops Monday – Thursday on 9Now.
The Block’sforeman, Dan Reilly, and his wife, Dani, are expecting their second baby.
At the end of 2024, the couple shared the heartbreaking news that their first baby, Billie Vera Reilly, had passed away just 10 days after birth. Nearly a year later, they’re welcoming a little sibling for Billie.
The couple shared the heartwarming news in a joint Instagram post, snapping a beach photo with Dani’s baby bump on full display.
“As sure as the sun rises and sets each day, she is with us for this next chapter,” Dani began.
“Billie’s sibling coming 2026… To anyone navigating pregnancy and infant loss, IVF, or fertility challenges — we see you.”
The post was met with thousands of heartfelt comments.
“The green orb! Your Billie girl is right there with you. Congratulations to you both of this tremendously wonderful news. Sending you both so much love xx,” wrote GeorgiaMae6.
“Incredible news,ˆ sending so much love,” wrote Nardia Bartel.
Opening up during week two of The Block‘s latest season, Dan and Dani reflected on the grief they’ve endured this past year.
“I guess most people here would know our journey last year,” Dani shared.
“Due to complications from birth, we only got to spend 10 days with our beautiful Billie.”
“We’re actually very grateful for those 10 days – her time was spent in the NICU department at the Women’s Hospital in Melbourne,” added Dani.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t end in the way that it should have for us, but our time there, as Dan said, was really with Billie.”
“Getting to know the nurses and doctors at NICU — it’s something we will remember forever.”
Since Billie’s passing, the couple have founded a charity, Billie’s Besties, in memory of their beautiful daughter.
The fund supports the Women’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), aiming to ensure every critically ill and premature baby receives exceptional care. It also provides compassionate support for families during the most challenging moments, keeping Billie’s memory alive through acts of love and care.
Dan and Dani’s pregnancy sparks heartfelt reactions from The Block cast
The couple’s exciting announcement was flooded with comments from The Block family, celebrating the great news.
“Sending love and best wishes,” wrote the official Block Instagram page.
Sending you both love and joy from here forward, xxxx,” Shaynna Blaze commented.
“Oh, this is the most beautiful news! A huge and heartfelt congratulations to you both,” wrote Sarah and George from The Block season 16.
As 2025 draws to an end this means one particular thing. No, not that Mariah Carey is about to be defrosted and people will be complaining about Hot Cross Buns going on sale on Boxing Day.
Rather, it means that Home and Awayis about to torment us with a cliff-hanger season finale that will have us biting our nails until the new year.
The show recently dropped the dramatic promo for the season ending, with a train crash threatening the lives of our Summer Bay favourites.
Touted as one of the most “shocking disasters” in the show’s 38-year history, we’ll see our Summer Bay favourites board a train to a three-day music festival in Broken Hill where Remi and Sonny have secured a performance slot for Eddie on their new music label.
But as the festival-goers gear up for the trip of a lifetime (including a surprise proposal!) a catastrophic collision will trigger chaos and carnage.
Who will survive? We’ll probably have to wait until 2026 to find out no doubt.
Here’s all the questions we have after watching the dramatic Home and Away season finale promo.
1. Does Summer Bay all of a sudden have a train line? 2. And how long is this supposed train journey meant to take and are they just allowed to party the whole time? 3. And why a train crash of all things? 4. No bomb? No murder? No fire? No car crash? 5. Who are they trying to kill off this time? 6. And who is getting engaged? 7. Can we ever have an engagement or wedding storyline without a death? 8. Is there ever a day when something drastic doesn’t happen on this show???
If only they knew… Image: Seven
9. And if there’s no death (very highly likely given Theo died this year), who do we lowkey wish would die? 10. If Leah or Justin gets injured, will we see Theo visit them from the grave in a weird unconscious premonition?
We predict these smiles won’t be lasting too long! Image: Seven
11. Also why is Lacey so happy all the time, like she didn’t just lose the supposed love of her life? 12. Does this mean Jo is ready to get with Eddie over Tane? 13. Soooo, what exactly causes the crash? 14. Because how could a couple of bikes cause a complete derailment that injures or kills someone? 15. What will 2026 bring now? 16. And how long will we have to wait for it to come back on in 2026?
Home and Away airs Mondays – Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
Han and Can’s The Block house was one of two that didn’t sell at auction, and their realtor, Belle Property’s Natalie Fagan, has shared an update on how much interest it’s attracted since.
“We’re getting between six and 10 inquiries per day, so it’s a lot,” Natalie told Chattr. “And we’re hoping to start getting some qualified buyers through in the next week.”
The Block contestants get to keep whatever amount their house sells for over the reserve. And, while this year’s reserves sit at the ambitious figure of $2.99 million, Natalie told Chattr that she feels confident that the house will sell for a price that will leave Han and Can with a profit.
The Daylesford real estate agent added that she’s been in constant contact with Han and Can since the auctions took place, and said they’ve been in great spirits about the potential sale of the house they renovated.
“They’re amazing. They are genuinely amazing women. They have been really positive. They’ve been really upbeat,” she said.
“They understand that [the house not selling at auction is] a risk you take with the competition, which is what The Block is. But I think that they’ve been extremely gracious, and I think that they’ve handled the whole situation very, very well, and we are still in contact almost daily with them, and all of our interactions have been really lovely.”
Han and Can in their The Block kitchen. Image: Nine
Natalie went on to say that she feels Han and Can’s house will benefit from selling on the market, rather than at auction, and pointed out what sets their property apart from the other four.
“It gives us an opportunity to really showcase the listing as an individual, versus one of five, which I think is a plus. Auctions are very rare in Daylseford, and so private sales do tend to be the way that we usually work our sales process,” she said.
“It’s not like the rest. It’s so different. And I love that. I think that the other houses definitely have that sort of country chic aesthetic. But I think Han and Can did something which really stands out in terms of quality.
“The constant feedback we had from purchasers and buyers when they came through the property was that the quality of the finishes was outstanding, and it feels so much lighter and bigger, especially in the living areas, than the other houses, due to the layout and the colour scheme.”
However, while Natalie has been inundated with interest in Han and Can’s house, she did warn that the process of selling a house after The Block auction isn’t usually instantaneous.
“Typically, The Block houses, when they are passed in an auction, do take a little while to sell,” she advised.
“And, Daylesford does have a three to four months average days on market. That’s quite normal for here. I’d love to get them a speedy sale, but just because the days on market may be longer, that’s not unusual for the area.”
Han and Can at The Block auction. Image: Nine.
What happened at Han and Can’s The Block auctions?
Britt and Taz were the only team to walk away from The Block 2025 auctions with a truly life-changing result, bagging $420,000 for their house sale and an additional $100,000 prize money.
Alicia and Sonny made $120,000, largely thanks to their $50,000 reduction in their reserve, which they won for their front yard, while Robby and Mat made $109,000.
Neither Emma and Ben nor Han and Can sold their houses at the auction, and they were passed in and put on the market to sell in the traditional sense.
Han and Can’s house was the last to go up for auction, and after seeing the disappointing results from the auction before them, they placed a vendor bid at $3.1 million.
“The vendor bid is just a bid put forward by the auctioneer. Legally, you’re allowed to do that, which means that that bid has to be beaten, otherwise the House will pass in, and that’s basically it,” Taz explained to Chattr in a post-win interview. “Here’s my bid as a minimum. If you cannot beat that, we will negotiate privately.”
While there were interested buyers in the room, there wasn’t anyone willing to bid $3.1 million or more, and Han and Can’s house was passed in.
However, with all the interest Han and Can’s house has been racking up, it sounds like a sale will happen in the near future!
Alyssa Delpopolo was crowned the winner of The Voice Australia2025, and the 19-year-old has opened up to Chattr about how her coach, Kate Miller-Heidke, helped her manage her anxiety and build the confidence she needed to win the show.
During a post-win interview, Alyssa said that being announced the winner was “honestly the best feeling in the world” and put a lot of her success down to her coach, Kate.
“Kate was really amazing. She was such a great mentor and coach. She gave me so much guidance on how to deal with my anxiety, things like that. She was really amazing throughout the whole process,” she said.
Alyssa explained that Kate gave her specific ways to help her manage her anxiety before a performance.
“She gave me lots of strategies and techniques, trying to channel my body, taking deep breaths. I tend to just point out what’s happening in the room, like, just picture what I can see to kind of take my mind off it. That’s what she taught me. And I really think it’s given me more confidence, and helped to control my anxiety a lot more.”
Kate Miller-Heidke giving Alyssa Delpopolo some pre-show advice. Image: Seven.
Alyssa went on to say that throughout her time on The Voice 2025, she often doubted herself, but Kate helped her recognise her worth and reminded her that she deserved to be there.
“I had a lot of self-doubt during the show, and because I had Kate with me, she really helped me have more confidence and believe in myself more. So, I’m really grateful for that.”
“[She helped] to bring out my confidence and open me up from my shell as well. It’s really helped express who I am.”
What’s next for The Voice Australia 2025 winner Alyssa Delpopolo?
Now that Alyssa has conquered The Voice Australia 2025, the budding artist told Chattr that she has her sights firmly set on continuing to build her musical career.
The retail worker received a $100,000 cash prize and an all-inclusive recording development package for winning the hit reality show. And, rather than taking herself on a holiday to celebrate, or splurging on a big, personal purchase, Alyssa said that she’ll be investing her cash prize into her career.
Kate and Alyssa performing during The Voice Australia 2025 finale. Image: Seven.
“I’ll definitely [spend the money on] getting a head start on my music career, recording songs, things like that, maybe doing my own shows, that’s the goal.
“I’ve been working with some producers from my uni at JMC Academy, I am hoping to release a single at the end of this year, early next year,” she added.
While Alyssa stayed coy about what the single will be called, she revealed that the word “cruel” is in it and said that the song will be based on her “past experiences”.
If you peruse TikTok a lot in your spare time instead of going out to touch grass, see the sun, etc. then you may have come across a captivating dilemma from a Sydney jeweller that sent people across the world into an absolute spiral.
Let’s call it the Australian necklace-gate.
TL;DR: Why are Aussie influencers being accused of stealing a necklace?
We’ll try to summarise this briefly.
A Sydney jewellery brand, Luna Rae, recently went viral after posting a TikTok claiming that an Australian influencer had stolen a $360 gold-and-diamond necklace. According to the brand, the influencer bought the necklace, received it (as confirmed by delivery tracking), and later claimed the item never arrived, receiving a refund.
Luna Rae said they later spotted the influencer wearing what appeared to be the same necklace online, but they did not publicly name the person involved, which has obviously led to mass speculation as to who allegedly stole the necklace.
And now some people have gone as far as to speculate it’s a publicity stunt by the brand, because the identity of the influencer hasn’t been revealed and no legal action has been taken.
What have the Aussie influences being accused said?
Aussie influencers accused have taken to TikTok to rebut the claims, with Abbie and Laurina both posting responses to the false accusations.
“It’s wild that people will assume that I stole a necklace, that I committed a crime, because they see an outspoken woman,” Abbie said upon learning about necklace-gate through people accusing her of stealing.
Abbie ended up in tears as she talked about being sick of being accused of things she didn’t do.
“Every day I see a lie about myself on the internet,” she said. “And now these poeple who don’t like me say it must’ve been Abbie Chatfield who committed a crime”
Laurina, who appeared on Blake Garvey’s season of The Bachelor in 2014, also spoke out about the accusations.
“The necklace comments are getting old and, quite frankly, mean,” Laurina said. “It has nothing to do with me, I have never heard of Luna Rae, I have never engaged with them, and I’ve certainly never stolen from them.”
After the original Luna Rae post went viral due to people accusing a bunch of different influencers, the company called out the comments for being mean.
“So many people are supportive, but far out, everyone just wants to assume the worst in people. Abbie Chatfield, Jessika Power, Vanessa Romito… everyone else that everybody has named, no, definitely not, they haven’t done it,” the founder, Amy Bradley, said.
“We never asked for this, I’m just a brand owner giving an opinion on something shitty and everyone’s taken it so far.”
Amy went on to say it wasn’t a publicity stunt for the business which has been in operation for six years and said people on Google had started giving the company one-star reviews.
“Shame on people who think the worst of everyone and that’s just what TikTok is about.”
Needless to say, this video also caused backlash as people thought the brand didn’t take enough responsibility when it came to the repercussions of their original viral video.
“May I suggest a social media manager…” one person said with another saying, “What did you think would happen?”
“YOU should have said who stole the necklace instead of leaving it up to speculation,” someone else commented, with another agreeing, “She took no accountability, whatsoever! Blaming and shaming everyone for what she started.”
Others leapt to the defence of the small brand though.
“For all the haters…she asked advice regarding theft and chargebacks. Happens to small businesses all the time. She didn’t ask for a witch hunt by keyboard warriors,” one person said. “She’s spot on. People are being wrongly accused and attacked. That’s so wrong!”
While The Block 2025auctions may have been disappointing for the majority of the teams, Britt and Taz walked away with the life-changing amount of $520,000, and they’ve revealed how they plan to spend their winnings.
The WA couple sold their house for $3,410,000 — $420,000 over the reserve, which they get to keep, plus an additional $100,000 for winning the show.
The win has opened new doors for Britt and Taz, who told Chattr they plan to use the prize to build a better future for their family.
“It’s a bit boring, but essentially, that’s our mortgage paid off,” Britt shared. “And then a little bit left over to spoil the kids and maybe go on a holiday.”
The couple, who both work as police officers in the remote WA town of Newman, said the huge win will help them strike a better balance between work and family time.
“It just gives us breathing room, to be honest, that we don’t have to work in such hard spots and have to work such long hours. It’s not out of the ordinary for us in Newman to work anywhere from 14 to 19 hour shifts,” Britt said.
“Working, we don’t get to spend a lot of time together as a family or with one another, so now we have that stress off our shoulders that we don’t have to do that, we can spend more time as a family, do a bit of traveling, and we can focus on our careers and exciting things that we have planned going forward.”
Britt and Taz with their kids on The Block. Image: Nine.
Britt and Taz are happy they sold their house to a family
Britt and Taz spent 12 weeks renovating House Three, which included many sleepless nights and a whole lot of stressful situations.
Unlike the 2024 auctions, where all of the contestants’ renovated houses were bought by billionaire Adrian Portelli, Britt and Taz’s house was purchased by a family from Melbourne. The couple — who are a family of four themselves — said it was a feel-good moment knowing their hard work would be enjoyed by another household.
“We were lucky enough to sell to a beautiful Melbourne family, which is great,” Taz said.
However, the other bidder involved in Britt and Taz’s auction was serial Block buyer Danny Wallis, who’s bought 12 of the show’s properties. Taz pointed out that he would have been happy for their house to sell to Danny, too.
“Danny Wallis was fighting tooth and nail over our house as well, and we love Danny Wallis and everything he stands for, and he does a lot of charity things and community things that a lot of people do not know about,” Taz said.
“We cannot respect him highly enough. So if the house went to Danny, we would be over the moon. But for the house to go to a family, the auction just had what a lot of other auctions didn’t have, it had an emotional connection to the property.
“And I feel like Danny had that as well. He just really wanted our house. We ended up at dinner with him at one stage, and it was really good.”
The widower, 61, is giving love another chance after losing his wife Audrey to brain cancer in 2011. The dad of three has been focused on raising his sons in the years following, and as he ventures into the empty-nester stage of life, he’s ready to open up his heart again.
Or is he?
Despite giving the First Impressions rose to Jan, having a successful first date with Janette, and bonding with Kim over the death of their respective spouses, rumours are already starting to circulate that Bear may not choose anyone at the end.
Bear and Jan had an immediate connection. Image: Nine
And let’s be honest, some of his answers post-show aren’t doing anything to help said rumours.
Does Bear choose anyone on The Golden Bachelor? An investigation
Every hardcore Bachie fan remembers the days of the Honey Badger in 2018 getting all the way to the finale, having two beautiful choices, and choosing no one. At the time it was SHOCKING, but looking back, well, good for him for not caving into pressure and faking a three-month contractual relationship.
When being asked about his final choice in media interviews, Bear has kept it pretty vague, leading to people speculating that he may pick no one in the end.
He recently appeared on The Pickup, Britt Hockley and Laura Byrne’s radio show, and chatted with Britt and Matty J about the rumours swirling around his season, from picking no one to the other persistent rumours that he’s actually dating Golden Bachelor host Sam Armytage.
“If I had an extra rose… she’s beautiful, she’s absolutely beautiful,” Bear said about Sam, before Britt briefly talked him through what happened to her on the Honey Badger’s season and how he picked no one.
“I had that option as well,” Bear said. “I think you’ll have to wait and see.”
Bear also teased that an overnight stay may have even occurred during his season. “You don’t buy a new car without taking a test drive first,” he told a shocked Matty J and Britt.
When they put forward their own speculations — that Bear ends up with either Jan or Sunny — Bear said: “Jan is beautiful” as well as “Sunny is absolutely beautiful.”
He’s good at keeping coy, we’ll give him that!
Previously Bear had also told SkyNews.com.au that his choice at the end of the series will catch viewers off guard.
“It will be totally unexpected to everyone, I think,” he said. “All I can tell you is, I made the right decision.”
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!
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.
