Another season of The Block is officially over, and our latest group of Blockheads has walked away with some serious prize money. But many fans wonder about the rules regarding that cash. When do the contestants receive their hefty winnings? And what about taxes?
As we covered recently, it turns out that contestants can’t divide their winnings—even in cases like Maddy and Charlotte, who took over House 1 from Jesse and Paige after they exited the competition. It’s just one of the rules that regulate how prize money is handled on The Block.
Let’s take a closer look at the cash received by contestants and when they can get their hands on their prizes.
How do contestants receive their prize money?
Eliza and Liberty Paschke, The Block contestants. Image: Nine
According to a February interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, former contestants Eliza and LibertyPaschke shared that prize money from The Block is paid to them “in instalments.”
The pair mentioned that this setup meant they “don’t have a choice but to sit on it.” So, while the exact roll-out of money may vary, this year’s winners will likely receive their winnings in periodic instalments, too.
Is prize money on The Block taxed?
Another question that comes up frequently is whether prize money on The Block is taxable.
According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), game-show winnings, including those from The Block, are generally not subject to tax. However, the ATO notes that if contestants receive “regular appearance fees” or winnings, those earnings may be treated differently.
While that’s quite the perk when you’re taking home hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, the slow rollout of the cash is probably not as enjoyed by the contestants of The Block.
Binge is upping the ante with its first original feature film, How To Make Gravy, which stars some huge Aussie names.
The movie is actually an adaptation of Paul Kelly’s iconic Australian song of the same name. It tells the story of an inmate writing a letter home as his family prepares to celebrate their first Christmas without him.
Aria award-winning musician Meg Washington and Nick Waterman have adapted the movie for the screen.
Paul Kelly’s thoughts on How to Make Gravy, the movie
Being an adaptation of a pretty iconic Paul Kelly song, many people are naturally quite interested to hear what he thinks of the project. Well, in a recent interview with The Betoota Advocate, he shared that he tried not to get too involved in the process and just allowed the team to create their film as they imagined it.
“My attitude was, that’s their piece of work, not mine. The song’s a starting off point, and I didn’t want to – certainly didn’t want to be hovering over them or trying to control it in any way.”
He continued, sharing that he feels it’s a good thing that the creatives behind the film moved away from his ideas somewhat and that he was amazed at how they were able to think up stories he’d never considered.
“I realised I don’t know much about the characters in that song – a lot of them are just names…”
The movie stars Daniel Henshall(Snowtown, Mystery Road: Origin) and Australian icon Hugo Weaving (Love Me, The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix), with Brenton Thwaites(Titans, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) and DamonHerriman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mr Inbetween, The Bikeriders)
The cast also includes Kate Mulvany(The Twelve, Hunters, Lambs of God), and, making her English-language debut, celebrated French actress Agathe Rouselle as well as Jonah Wren Phillips, Rose Statham, Izzy Westlake, Eloise Rothfield, Eugene Gilfedder and Kym Gyngell.
Of course, the film will stay true to its rock ‘n’ roll roots and will also feature cameo performances from Australian musicians, including powerhouse Adam Briggs and rising rap talent Dallas Woods.
Hugo Weaving. Twitter.
When does it come out?
How To Make Gravy will be available to stream on Binge from December 1.
Is there a trailer?
There is! Watch it below.
What else has been said about How To Make Gravy?
The execs over at Binge have released a few statements about How To Make Gravy, which give some interesting insight.
“It’s a great privilege to bring Paul Kelly’s iconic song to the screen. I’ve listened to the song for decades, often on my own Christmas road trip, conjuring up the characters, wondering if Stella made her flight and if the brothers made it down from Queensland. Come 2024, at last, we’ll know!” Alison Hurbert-Burns, Executive Director BINGE and Commissioning & Content Foxtel Group said.
“And with an all-star cast, and such talented creatives in Nick and Meg and our production partners at Warner Bros, we can’t wait to share it with Australia, in what we hope will become a beloved addition to Gravy Day, for many years to come.”
The directors Meg and Nick also weighed in.
“It’s a dream to be working with such an incredible cast and crew on our debut feature film. It’s a testament to Paul’s songwriting that the world and characters within the song are so vivid, and we are proud to have the honour of bringing it to life,” they said.
“It’s a uniquely Australian story, made for film lovers and music fans alike. We can’t wait to share our adaptation of How To Make Gravy with the world.”
My Kitchen Rules (MKR) 2024 has seen nine teams prepare meals for the judges Manu Fieldel and Colin Fassnidge. Those teams have been whittled down throughout the season, and just four remain; the semi-finalists.
Interestingly, only two of the semi-finalist teams are OG contestants, while the other two are MKR Gatecrashers — which are teams that were bought in during the second Instant Restaurant round as intruders.
With the MKR finale nearing closer, we take a closer look at 2024’s top four teams.
Simone and Viviana
Simone and Viviana at their Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
Italian besties Simone and Viviana have captured fans’ hearts with their quick senses of humour, as well as their impressive cooking skills.
Simone and Viviana received the highest score in My Kitchen Rules history at their second Instant Restaurant, a whopping 104 out of 110. They also topped the MKRleaderboard in round two with a score of 68 out of 100. Throughout the season, they’ve received eight perfect ten scores from the judges.
Maddie and Janey
Maddie and Janey at their My Kitchen Rules Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
Janey and Maddie have rubbed some of their co-stars the wrong way with some blunt criticisms of the food they’ve been served. However, there’s no denying that the mother-daughter duo can cook!
Being gate crashers, the Victorian team only participated in two Instant Restaurant rounds; they narrowly missed out on elimination when they came fourth in the second round. However, Maddie and Janey clearly took on the judge’s advice as they placed second in the Ultimate Instant Round.
Caz and Fergus
Caz and Fergus at their My Kitchen Rules Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
Caz and Fergus were another team that entered the competition as Gatecrashers. The mother-and-son team have stayed consistent throughout the season and repeatedly impressed the judges.
While they haven’t managed to score a ten from the judges so far, they came second in round two, and fourth in round three.
Mike and Pete
Mike and Pete at their MKR Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
Long-time besties Mike and Pete love to cook Italian-style food. During round one of the Instant Restaurants, Mike was dubbed the ‘Cannoli king’ after serving a perfect dessert that received a ten from both Colin and Manu.
The men placed third in all three rounds of MKR’s Instant Restaurants.
We can’t wait to see who takes home the crown this year!
Watch MKR on Mondays and Tuesdays at 7.30 pm on 7 and 7plus.
TheLove Island Australia villa is in for a shake-up as Kaylah Holmes, a bold Bombshell and former pro swimmer, prepares to enter. Here’s what to know about Kaylah and her plans to stir things up.
What do we know about Bombshell Kaylah Holmes?
Kaylah Holmes, Love Island Australia‘s new Bombshell. Image: Nine
Kaylah Holmes, 22, is a health and fitness coach from the NSW Central Coast. Once a dedicated competitive swimmer, she has since switched her focus to bodybuilding. Describing her approach to the show, Kaylah told Nine, “The girls can try to hold onto their guy, but to be honest, I tend to always get what I want.” With her confident attitude, Kaylah won’t let anything hold her back in the villa.
A quick look at Kaylah’s social media profiles shows the bodybuilder proudly displaying her training sessions and how she keeps her figure feeling strong, so you can expect a lot of intense workouts during her stay in the Love Island Australia villa.
Is Kaylah looking for love?
According to Nine, Kaylah is keen to find love and a serious relationship – so it seems nothing will be getting in the way of that for her.
She shared that she feels her best feature is her smile, and “I do like to use it to my advantage now and then.”
Speaking to producers about what she’s looking for in a man, Kaylah explained, “I’m looking for ‘mi marito’, so my future husband. The type of guy that I normally go for: tall, dark, handsome – can bicep curl me, maybe?”
Where can I follow her on social media?
If you’d like to take a peek at Kaylah’s socials you can find her on Instagram: @kaylah.holmes and TikTok: @kaylah.holmes.
Kaylah will join fellow Bombshell Krissy Bertone as well as other Bombshells Tommy Armour, Sophie Mills, and Taylor Reid. The question remains: will she find the partner she’s looking for in the villa?
The one thing Daniel would change about his journey
Daniel Pasquali on Dessert Masters. Image: Ten
Speaking with Chattr in an exclusive interview, Daniel shared, “It’s funny, because the reason why I picked the gold technique is because I’ve used it in the past, a lot of times.”
“I use it mainly to (sic) sphere objects like cake pops or chocolate spheres dipped in gold leaf, and I’ve never done a ring. But I thought, ‘Oh, must be the same, right?’ No, it’s not.”
If he had his time again, Daniel shared, “Yeah, absolutely… if I could go back in time, yes, I would change it. Just the ring. I would do like a nice diamond on top, maybe?”
Daniel reflects on his time on Dessert Masters
When Chattr asked Daniel how he feels now reflecting on his elimination from theDessert Masters competition, he said that while “it was sad to leave the competition… at the same time, I was happy to be involved.”
“I had the opportunity to learn too much from all the chefs, from the judges. And, plus, I met new nine people, nine friends!”
Daniel explained that when he was invited to join the show, “Without thinking twice, I said yes because I’m a very competitive person. I love to be creative, and, you know, I love a high-pressure environment, as well.”
“I was like, I don’t wanna play safe. I don’t wanna keep making just cakes, you know, like the stuff that I usually make… I told myself, ‘If I’m in the competition, I need to push myself. I need to play and try to learn new things.'”
He continued, sharing that he was looking for a fast-paced, challenging experience when joining Dessert Masters, and that’s precisely what he got.
When competing in an environment like that, Daniel shared, the key is, “You don’t have much time to think about it, so you kind of need to… trust your natural instinct.”
And in following that process, Daniel was able to deliver some incredible dishes, even landing the top dish with his Blueberry Lushington creation.
“I’m glad I never had any negative feedback about flavours or about textures,” he shared.
“Actually, they [the judges] always loved that. And I’m glad that I was in the bottom just once – when I left.”
Who does Daniel think will win Dessert Masters 2024?
When we asked Daniel which contestant he thinks has the potential to win the entire Dessert Masters competition in 2024, he shared that Jana Lai and Christy Tania are both “like magicians”.
“They are like these amazing two talented wizards that can create amazing things with simple ingredients,” he said.
What’s next for Daniel?
Now that Dessert Masters is over for Daniel, he shared that his focus is centred on fun new projects like baking classes and pop-up stores.
And when we asked if he’d be open to another cooking show, he gushed, “Oh my gosh, yes! I would love it.”
One thing’s for sure, we’ll be seeing much more glitter and gold in his future!
Dessert Masters airs on Mondays at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
The MKR cast headed around Australia and served up their best dishes in the hope of topping the My Kitchen Rules 2024 leaderboard.
In each episode of the Instant Restaurant rounds one and two, each of the teams invited the MKR judgesManu Fieldeland Colin Fassnidge– as well as the other contestants – into their homes for a three-course meal.
The team cooking the meal was given feedback from the judges after each course, and at the end of dinner, the contestants and the judges put together a score for the meal.
The MKR 2024 teams. Image: Seven.
Each of the five teams of contestants gave an overall score out of 10 for all of the meals prepared, meaning that their score made up 50 points out of 110. Meanwhile, Manu and Colin scored each course out of 10, so their points make up 60 out of 110.
By the end of the Instant Restaurant rounds, the two teams with the lowest score were eliminated from the competition. Another team was eliminated from the show at the conclusion of round two.
Now, the remaining teams have completed the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round. Read on to find out where the MKR 2024 leaderboard currently stands.
The Overall MKR 2024 Leaderboard: Ultimate Instant Restaurant round
Simone and Viviana – 68 out of 100.
Janey and Maddie – 63 out of 100.
Mike and Pete – 63 out of 100.
Caz and Fergus – 62 out of 100.
Rob and Liam – 57 out of 100.
Individual scores for the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round
Janey and Maddie, 63
Maddie and Janey at their Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
Maddie and Janey were the last team to cook in the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round, which meant that it would either be them, or Rob and Liam — who had the lowest score for the round — eliminated.
For entree, the mother and daughter duo served up Fettuccine with Blue Swimmer Crab with Lemon and Chilli or Smoked Trout and Leek Tart for entrée.
For main they made Pan Fried Chicken Breast with Wild Mushroom Cream and Truffle Potatoes and Seafood Pie with Paris Mash and Tomato Relish. Dessert was Piña Colada with Coconut Sorbet and Salted Chocolate Tart with Mint Ice Cream.
Mike and Pete at their Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
Mike and Pete strayed from their usual Italian cuisine at their third Instant Restaurant.
For entree, they made Fish and Chips with Chilli Sauce or Mushroom Risotto. For the main they served Cauliflower steak with Cannellini Bean puree and Chimichurri sauce or Squid Ink Pasta with King Prawns.
They finished up with a dessert of CrèmeBrûlée or Apple Custard Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.
Overall, the men received a high enough score to stay off the bottom of the Ultimate Instant Restaurant leaderboard.
Guest Teams scores: 23/40
Manu’s scores: 21/30
Colin’s scores: 19/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 63/100
Simone and Viviana, 68
Simone and Viviana at their second Ultimate Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
What did Simone and Viviana cook at their Ultimate Instant Restaurant? The Italian besties dished up Prosciutto and Melon Cheesecake and Crostini di Polenta for entrée.
For their mains, they chose Pappardelle with Duck Ragu or Risotto with Scampi and Stracciatella. Simone and Viviana finished up with Tiramisu and Sfogliatella Ricca for dessert.
Guest Teams scores: 25/40
Manu’s scores: 25/30
Colin’s scores: 18/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 68/100
Caz and Fergus, 62
Caz and Fergus at their Ultimate Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
What did Caz and Fergus cook at their Ultimate Instant Restaurant? The mum and son duo made Scallops Squared and Chicken Liver Parfait with Fig Chutney for entree.
For their mains, they opted for Slow Roasted Duck Massaman or Steak Frites with Café De Paris Butter, Bone Marrow and Green Salad.
Their desserts were Mascarpone Meringue Cake and Little Blackberry Puddings with Crème Anglaise.
Guest Teams scores: 23/40
Manu’s scores: 19/30
Colin’s scores: 20/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 62/100
Rob and Liam, 57 – Eliminated
Rob and Liam standing in front of their competitors. Image: Seven.
What did Rob and Liam cook for the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round? The brothers first entree was Beef Cheek Tacos with Smoked Cheese Sauce and Pico de Gallo, and the second was Morcilla Spring Rolls with Red Pepper Sauce and Charred Chorizo Crumb.
For main they served Peri Peri Woodfired Chicken with Chargrilled Corn and Garlic Aioli and Sticky Pork Ribs with Charred Sprouts and Chimichurri.
For Dessert, the boys dished up Passionfruit Bavarois with Lime Sorbet and Tequila and Churros with Pistachio Mascarpone Cream and Liqueur and Chocolate Sauce.
Guest Teams scores: 21/40
Manu’s scores: 16/30
Colin’s scores: 20/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 57/100
The Overall Kitchen HQ Scores
The MKR teams that made it through both rounds of the Instant Restaurants progressed through to Kitchen HQ. There they will undertake cooking challenges and compete in Elimination Cooks until there is just one team left standing.
MKR Contestants being at the Elimination Cook. Image: Seven.
Elimination Cook One
Simone and Viviana – 27 out of 30
Mike and Pete – 21 out of 30
Hannah and Lawrence – 19 out of 30 – Eliminated
The Overall MKR 2024 Leaderboard: Round Two
After round one was completed, the remaining teams—apart from the pair that topped the leaderboard and are immune—were sent around Australia again with three new pairs of Gatecrashers for round two.
Robert and Andrea are MKR gatecrashers. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round two? Married couple Robert and Andrea wanted to honour their German heritage with their Instant Restaurant Unser Bayerischer Hof — which translates to “Our Bavarian yard”.
For the entree, they served Leberknödel Suppe (Liver dumplings in broth), and for the main, they made Fleischkaese Bratwurst with Potato Salad and Red Cabbage. For dessert, they dished up Black Forest Cake.
Guest Teams scores: 20/50
Manu’s scores: 13/30
Colin’s scores: 13/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 46/110
Mike and Pete, 70
Mike and Pete with Manu and Colin on MKR. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round two?Mike and Pete’s second Instant Restaurant had a similar result to their first experience.
They served Gnocchi with Burnt Butter Sage for the entree and Eye Fillet with Polenta Chips and Brussels Sprouts for the main. For dessert, they dished up Drunken Pear with Vanilla Ice cream.
Manu and Colin raved about their entree, but the judges were sorely disappointed with the dessert. Colin scored it a 4, and Manu a 5.
Guest Teams scores: 33/50
Manu’s scores: 19/30
Colin’s scores: 18/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score for round two: 70/110
Hannah and Lawrence, 53
Hannah and Lawrence with Pete and Manu on MKR. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round two? Hannah and Lawrence returned to their Instant Restaurant Missing Piece in round two.
This time, they served an entrée of Chargrilled Octopus with Roasted Capsicum and Chilli sauce and Crispy Pork Belly, Mashed Cauliflower, Vermouth Jus and Apple Sauce for the main. For dessert, they cooked Gaufre de Bruxelles (Belgium waffles) with Strawberry Lime sauce and Dark Chocolate.
Guest Teams scores: 25/50
Manu’s scores: 14/30
Colin’s scores: 14/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 53/110
Janey and Maddie, 65
Janey and Maddie are MKR gatecrashers. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round two?Janey and Maddie held a black-tie affair for their first Instant Restaurant, and all their guests were dressed up to the nines.
They served Seared Scallops with Citrus Beurre Blanc and Capers for entree and Duck breast with Beetroot and Cherry Sauce for the main. For dessert, they dished up Liquorice Ice cream with Macaron shells and Raspberry Coulis.
Guest Teams scores: 28/50
Manu’s scores: 18/30
Colin’s scores: 19/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 65/110
Caz and Fergus, 72
Caz and Fergus are Gatecrashers. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round two? Caz and Fergus were the first Instant Restaurant of round two, and their competitors gathered at their Tunes and Spoons restaurant in their NSW home.
For entree, they whipped up a Twice Baked Leek and Cheese Souffle. The mum and son’s main was a Pinenut and Pistachio Toothfish Vichyssoise, and for dessert, they served Miso Caramel Cheesecake with Shichimi Togarashi.
Guest Teams scores: 31/50
Manu’s scores: 21/30
Colin’s scores: 20/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score for round two: 72/110
Simone and Viviana
MKR’s Simone and Viviana got the highest score ever. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round two? At their second Instant Restaurant, Simone and Viviana received the highest score in MKR history. They served an entree of Beef Tartare with Crumbed Yogurt and Crostini and a main of Prawn and Potato Ravioli with Prawn Bisque. For dessert, they served the table Millefoglie.
Guest teams scores: 46/50
Manu’s scores: 29/30
Colin’s scores: 29/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score for round two: 104/110
The Overall MKR 2024 Leaderboard: Round One
Round one saw Rob and Liam top the leaderboard with a score of 84. Danny and Sonia and Ash and Cassie were at the bottom and got sent home from the competition.
Rob and Liam – 84 out of 110
Simone and Viviana – 74 out of 110
Mike and Pete – 72 out of 110
Hannah and Lawrence – 68 out of 110
Ash and Cassie – 60 out of 110
Danny and Sonia – 56 out of 110
Individual scores for round one
Rob and Liam, 84
Rob and Liam were the first contestants on the MKR 2024 leaderboard. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round one?Rob and Liam—otherwise known as the ‘bros with the mos’—specialise in making delicious sauces, which they demonstrated during the Instant Restaurant round.
The brothers served local Safety Beach Mussels in a Cajun sauce for their entree, Beef Short Ribs with Nduja Cauliflower Cheese for the main, and Peanut Butter S’mores with Bourbon Caramel sauce for dessert.
Guest Teams scores: 37/50
Manu’s scores: 24/30
Colin’s scores: 23/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 84/110
Ash and Cassie, 60 – Eliminated
Ash and Cassie were eliminated on MKR. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round one? Ash and Cassie’s Instant Restaurant was called Dieticians Dishing It and they went for healthy Asian-inspired meals.
They got off to a strong start with their entrée of Duck Pancakes, However, their main meal, Crispy Pork Belly with Green Papaya Salad, wasn’t cooked for long enough which drew some criticism.
The women made Coconut Kaffir Lime Panna Cotta with Lime Syrup and Ginger Crumb for dessert, which received moderately good feedback from the judges and their fellow MKR contestants.
Guest Teams scores: 26/50
Manu’s scores: 17/30
Colin’s scores: 17/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 60/110
Simone and Viviana, 74
Simone and Viviana came second on the MKR leaderboard in round one. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round one? Best friends Simone and Viviana invited their fellow contestants into their Instant Restaurant Sotto le Stelle (Under the Stars).
For their entree, they served a Ricotta and Prawn Cannoli Salati entrée, which received a flawless ten-point score from Manu.
For the main they made Tagliatelle Ragu Di Polpo (Octopus) which also scored a ten from both judges and for dessert, they dished up a Pistachio Tortino.
Danny and Sonia were eliminated on MKR. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round one? Danny and Sonia cooked up a storm for the contestants in their Instant Restaurant The Broasis.
The true-blue Aussie siblings made an entree of Townsville Mud Crab with Mango Chilli Dip.
They followed that with a main of filet mignon with garlic prawn toppers, beer-battered wedges, and bacon bronccoli salad. However, Danny ignored Colin’s advice to sear an expensive cut of meat before putting it in the oven, which left it soggy.
For dessert, they served Espresso Martini Trifle dessert, which, unfortunately, didn’t set.
Guest Teams scores: 26/50
Manu’s scores: 14/30
Colin’s scores: 16/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 56/110
Hannah and Lawrence, 68
Hannah and Lawrence on MKR. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round one?Hannah and Lawrence served the contestants a three-course meal from their Instant Restaurant Missing Piece.
For a starter, they made Croquettes de fromage with Ginger Brussels sprouts and jamon and Jalapeno Aioli, and for the main, they served Lamb Rump with Crispy Onion Rings, Carrot puree, and Carrot-Top Salsa.
Hannah and Lawrence’s dessert of Baked Apples with Brandy Caramel and Cinnamon Ice cream wasn’t received well by the judges or the contestants.
Guest Teams scores: 31/50
Manu’s scores: 19/30
Colin’s scores: 18/30
Overall MKR 2024 leaderboard score: 68/110
Mike and Pete, 72
Mike and Pete on MKR. Image: Seven.
What did they cook for round one? Mike and Pete’s Instant Restaurant was the last of round one, and after critiquing all of their competitors’ dishes harshly, they’d set high expectations for their own food.
At their Instant restaurant Twisted Lemons, they served Crayfish Ravioli in Mariana Sauce for the entree, an Osso Buco with Soft Polenta and Broccolini for the main and Sicilian Cannoli with Ricotta for dessert.
While their entrees and mains failed to impress the judges and competitors alike, both Colin and Manu awarded them a 10 for their dessert. The score put them in third place and kept them safe from elimination.
The Block 2024 wrapped up with Maddy and Charlotte winning big for House 1, but for long-time viewers, there’s one question that remains: doJesse and Paigeget any money for their contributions to the property?
Do Jesse and Paige get a share of the winnings?
Jesse and Paige, former contestants on The Block 2024. Image: Nine
Maddy shared, “We have been told that contractually, it’s ours as we sold it, but you know, they have been looked after and they’ll be just fine.
“They were very gracious and sent us a message and congratulated us and were very excited which was really lovely,” she said.
Why can’t Maddy and Charlotte split their winnings?
Maddy and Charlotte, winners of The Block 2024. Image: Nine
Though Maddy and Charlotte might have considered sharing their prize, a source told Yahoo that show rules prohibit contestants from splitting winnings.
“In most competition reality [shows], the contracts will state that you can not make an agreement to split prize money and the reason is more obvious than what people would think. You can’t pal up with other contestants as it creates an advantage and that is unfair to the other competitors,” the source explained.
Further, Jesse and Paige were reportedly made aware they’d forfeit house profits upon leaving.
Show creator Julian Cress shared with TV Week: “Maddy and Charlotte will take home whatever profit they make above their reserve. But without going into detail, Jesse and Paige won’t leave the show empty-handed for the work they’d done.”
Things are heating up on Love Island Australia 2024, with contestants pairing up and some sent packing from the villa. Among the standout personalities this season is Tommy Armour—an Adelaide-based electrician who’s bringing more than just a bold mullet to the table. Known as the “Egg Man” for his quirky eating habits, he’s quickly becoming a fan favourite. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Bombshell Tommy the talk of the villa.
Who is Tommy Armour, the Love Island Australia Bombshell?
Tommy, Bombshell from Love Island Australia 2024. Image: Nine
Tommy, 24, is described as an “Aussie larrikin” and sports a distinctive mullet hairstyle. Introduced to the Love Island Australia series by his ex-girlfriend, he’s been a devoted fan of the show ever since. When he joined the villa in early November, his look and laid-back charm quickly turned heads, giving this season a fun twist with his personality and curious habits.
Why is Tommy Called the “Egg Man”?
Tommy’s unique habit of eating eggs—shell and all—has made him something of a viral sensation on TikTok. Known as the “Egg Man” among his followers, Tommy revealed in an interview with Nine that his bizarre habit started rather randomly:
“I was already eating eggs on demand when I woke up, and then maybe a bit of shell fell in one day, and it got a bit crunchy… and it just stuck. Maybe I like the texture, I don’t know,” he explained. The routine gained him enough notoriety to be featured on The Today Show.
Now, Tommy hopes that while he searches for love on Love Island Australia, he’ll find a partner who shares or at least appreciates his egg-eating habit. For viewers, his fun-loving attitude and quirky hobby are part of what makes him a unique addition to this season’s cast.
Stream Love Island Australia Mondays to Thursdays on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Well, folks, another season of The Block has come to a close, and this year’s auction day delivered some serious wins. If you’re keen to know who walked away with the big bucks and what each team earned, here’s a rundown of how The Block 2024 auction played out.
How much did each house on The Block sell for?
Grant and Courtney were thrilled with their auction results on The Block 2024. Image: Nine
In a twist, all five homes from The Block 2024 were snapped up by the same buyer, Adrian Portelli, for a combined total of $15.03 million. Here’s what each house sold for:
House 1, Maddy and Charlotte: $3.5 million
House 2, Grant and Courtney: $3.4 million
House 3, Ricky and Haydn: $2.7 million
House 4, Kylie and Brad: $2.6 million
House 5, Kristian and Mimi: $2.93 million
Let’s get into what each team earned from the auctions.
Grant and Courtney’s Mediterranean marvel
House 2, the stunning Mediterranean property designed by Grant and Courtney, kicked off the auction. With a reserve set at $1.95 million, Adrian outbid JacobNajjar to secure the house for $3.4 million. This landed Grant and Courtney $1.35 million in prize money.
Kylie and Brad’s dream house
Up next was Kylie and Brad’s House 4, which sold for $2.6 million against its reserve of $1.95 million. The couple pocketed $650,000. Brad reflected on their journey, telling Nine, “I think we’re definitely stronger after it [The Block]. To walk away with something and it be worth it, 100%”.
Kristian and Mimi’s coastal home
House 5 saw regular The Block buyer Danny Wallis initially interested, but Adrian ultimately secured it for $2.93 million (as a mystery buyer), well above the reserve of $1.90 million. Kristian and Mimi walked away with $1.03 million in earnings.
Ricky and Haydn’s beach escape
House 3, the beach-inspired retreat by Ricky and Haydn, came in with a reserve of $1.95 million. It sold to Adrian for $2.7 million, bringing the team’s total to $750,000.
Maddy and Charlotte’s elegant house
In the final auction, Maddy and Charlotte’shouse sparked major bidding action, with an opening bid of $2.5 million. Adrian closed with a final offer of $3.5 million, awarding the sisters $1.5 million in prize money plus an extra $100,000 for their efforts. With their impressive earnings, Maddy and Charlotte claimed victory in The Block 2024.
Reflecting on his decision to big high, Adrian shared, “I just saw the girls having a hard time and just getting bullied, and I don’t stand for that shit.
“They deserve it. I think they just had a hard time throughout the show,” he told reporters, according to Domain.
The Block 2024 winners
Maddy and Charlotte win The Block 2024 with their auction result. Image: Nine
With $1.5 millionin prize money, Maddy and Charlotte are officially this year’s champions! Maddy expressed her joy, telling media, “It took us a second to be like, ‘No, no. Like, you just won The Block.’ And I think I was a bit of a stunned mullet,” adding, “I was expecting anticipation and to be, like, ‘Oh, what’s gonna happen next?’ It was like, ‘Well, you’ve won.’ It’s like … time to go. It was the quickest auction of the day; it was over so quickly”.
Adrian Portelliburst ontoThe Blockscene in 2022 when he made a record-breaking bid on Omar and Oz’s house —and he’s become a regular fixture ever since.
Adrian unofficially stepped into the shoes of Danny Wallis, who was well-known for purchasing multiple houses at The Block auctions.
The same year Adrian bought Omar andOz’s house, he also purchased Ankur and Sharon’s house off-market.
The Block billionaire is also known as ‘Lambo Guy’ thanks to his affinity for buying expensive cars, and he runs a multi-million property empire. Here’s everything you need to know about him.
Adrian Portelli with Omar and Oz after he bought their house. Image: Instagram.
What is Adrian Portelli’s net worth?
In 2024, Adrian made the AFR Young Rich List, and his net worth was published at a whopping $1.03 billion.
He founded LMCT+, a discount membership service and big-ticket giveaway business, which accounts for the majority of his wealth. Some of the prizes on Adrian’s website include thehouses he bought on The Block.
Which houses on The Block has Adrian Portelli bought?
Adrian purchased two The Block 2022 houses: Omar and Oz’s and Ankur and Sharon’s. Then, in the following year, he spent big once again.
At The Block 2023 auction, Adrian bought Steph and Gian,Eliza and Liberty and Kyle and Lesley’s. Steph and Gian’s house sold for five million dollars, meaning that they took home a record-breaking $1.75 million.
The Block 2024: Which houses did Adrian Portelli buy?
In 2024, Adrian bought all five of the houses on The Block, spending a total of $15.03 million in this year’s auction.
According to Nine, Adrian revealed that not only did he buy the first four properties, but he was also the mystery buyer who purchased Kristian and Mimi’s home.
In a video from Nine, Adrian told Kristian and Mimi, “You know that right, I bought your house as well? I bought all of them!”
Speaking with Nine, he said, “I didn’t want anyone to know my game plan. So that was my little spin on things to make sure I got the deal done.
“If I bought all the houses coming up to the fifth one, everyone knew what I was going to do.
The billionaire explained that he would be using the properties from The Block 2024 as a bundle package for his business LMCT+.
In an Instagram post, he wrote:
“And as mayor of Portelli town, I would like to announce a world first. LET’S GIVE AWAY A FKN RESORT!!! 1 Giveaway – 1 Prize – Winner takes the whole resort OR take $8,000,000 Instant Tax-Free Cash!”
Best friends Ricky Recard and Haydn Wise have been entertaining viewers as they worked on their beach-style house on The Block 2024, but how do we think they’ll perform when it comes time to go to auction?
Ahead, we’ll bring you photos from every room of Ricky and Haydn’s house on The Block 2024, along with some useful insights from the judges.
House 3: A closer look at Ricky and Haydn’s house on The Block 2024
Ricky and Haydn house facade, The Block 2024. Image: Domain
Ricky and Haydn’s house is located at 3/113-119 Justice Road, Cowes VIC 3922, and it boasts five bedrooms, three bathrooms and four car spots.
Per the Domain listing, this house is described as a “fusion of luxury, style, and comfort that offers a truly unique living experience” and “modern coastal luxury resort style living”.
If you’re interested in the judge’s thoughts, here is how the boys’ house scored in every week of The Block 2024.
Front Yard and Façade: 36.5
Backyard and Pool: 32
Final Bedroom and Laundry: 29
Office and Rumpus Rooms: 28
Living and Dining Room: 25
Second Guest Bathroom: 25
Kitchen: 23
Main Bedroom and Walk-in Robe: 21.5
Guest Bedroom: 26.5
Main Ensuite: 4
Guest Bedroom: 22
Guest Bathroom: 24
Ricky and Haydn’s bedrooms
Each of the bedrooms for Ricky and Haydn keeps that coastal, beachy vibe with pastels and soft neutrals. The final bedroom landed them a perfect ten from judge Shaynna, and the curved wall in their guest bedroom was referred to as “sophisticated”.
Ricky and Haydn house bedroom, The Block 2024: Image: DomainRicky and Haydn house bedroom, The Block 2024: Image: DomainHouse 3 bedroom, The Block. Image: DomainHouse 3 bedroom, The Block. Image: Domain
Exterior areas
Ricky and Haydn’s outdoor space was one that was mostly enjoyed by the judges of The Block. Their backyard was referred to as “fun”, and we can’t argue with that feedback!
Ricky and Haydn house exterior The Block 2024. Image: DomainHouse 3 exterior The Block 2024. Image: Domain
Ricky and Haydn’s kitchen and dining space
Ricky and Haydn house kitchen, The Block 2024. Image: DomainHouse 3 kitchen, The Block 2024. Image: Domain
Bathrooms and laundry
Ricky and Haydn house bathroom, The Block 2024. Image: DomainHouse 3 bathroom, The Block 2024. Image: DomainRicky and Haydn house bathroom, The Block 2024. Image: DomainHouse 3 laundry, The Block 2024. Image: Domain
Ricky and Haydn’s rumpus area and office
Ricky and Haydn house rumpus and office, The Block 2024. Image: DomainRicky and Haydn house rumpus and office, The Block 2024. Image: Domain
During the Backyard Week, Mimi and her co-star Brad (who’s married to Kylie) spent one of the nights on the show drinking wine while finishing their areas. As far as fans were informed during the season, Brad flirted with Mimi, which led Kylie to storm off and quit the show altogether.
The scandalous happenings have raised questions from viewers on social media, with many of them criticising Mimi, who’s married to Kristian, for crossing a line in both her, and Brad and Kylie’s relationship.
While Mimi remained tight-lipped after the first part of the scandal aired during the October 28 episode, she’s now seemingly touched on the impact the backlash has caused her.
What did Mimi say about the The Block cheating scandal?
Mimi took to Instagram and published a long post airing her feelings. While she didn’t directly touch on the love-triangle scandal, she did say that everyone makes “mistakes”.
“I think that it’s important to remind ourselves, that not one single person in this world is perfect and that we all make mistakes. It is something incredibly special about humans and it’s what makes us all interesting and unique individuals,” she began.
“But with these mistakes, gives each of us an opportunity to decide whether or not we want to learn from them or make them again.
“To be honest, there’s no wrong or right answer, but choosing to learn from them is challenging, uncomfortable and will allow you to evolve and transform into a better version of yourself.”
Kristian and Mimi on The Block. Image: Nine.
Mimi also urged fans to be kind when writing comments about The Block contestants online.
“I’ll admit, as much as I try to avoid hurtful and hateful comments, I’ll read a few and it upsets me but I guess that’s the aim of the author. I found myself deleting all of the bad comments because I didn’t want anyone, including myself, to see them.
“But what I’ve come to realise is that removing them doesn’t show a true representation of the world that we live in. By keeping all of the positive and negative comments, it shows that nobody is perfect, everybody makes mistakes and we all say things driven by emotion.”
Whether Mimi and Brad’s alleged actions will affect the sale of their houses is yet to be seen.
However, let’s not forget that the houses renovated by the ‘villains’ on The Block 2023sold for the lowest two amounts for the season. Food for thought.
The Block finale will air on Sunday, November 10 at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
As hype for The Block 2024 auction day increases, curiosity about how this year’s houses will perform has also spiked. One supposed front runner is the house designed by Courtney and Grant, and now you can check it out in its entirety because the sales listing for The Block property is live.
House 2: A closer look at Courtney and Grant’s house on The Block
Courtney and Grant’s house, The Block. Image: Domain
Described as “a masterpiece of modern Mediterranean living”, House 2 on The Block is located at 2/113-119 Justice Road, Cowes VIC 3922 and boasts four bedrooms, three bathrooms and three car spots.
The Domain listing states that House 2 is “…a world where luxury meets effortless living. This four-bedroom, three-bathroom, four-car-space residence is more than just a home—it’s a sanctuary, meticulously designed to offer the ultimate lifestyle of sophistication, relaxation, and seamless entertaining.”
When it comes to the judge’s opinions, we’ve shared the complete list of scores Courtney and Grant’s house has received across the competition below:
Front Yard and Façade: 38
Backyard and Pool: 39
Final Bedroom and Laundry: 29.5 (including bonus point)
Office and Rumpus Rooms: 23.5
Living and Dining Room: 26.5
Second Guest Bathroom: 24
Kitchen: 27
Main Bedroom and Walk-in Robe: 28
Guest Bedroom: 27
Main Ensuite: 28
Guest Bedroom: 27.5
Guest Bathroom: 28
Courtney and Grant’s bedrooms
Each of Courtney and Grant’s bedrooms on The Block has been designed with somewhat of a green theme, all of which take on a fairly maximalist style, which the couple have dubbed “modern-terranean.”
The final bedroom for the competition (the one pictured here) was referred to as “palatial,” and the main bedroom (with the green bed frame) was described as “the most marketable room we’ve seen so far.”
Courtney and Grant’s house listing The Block. Image: DomainCourtney and Grant’s house listing The Block. Image: DomainCourtney and Grant bedroom The Block. Image: DomainHouse 2 walk in wardrobe. Image: DomainCourtney and Grant bedroom, The Block. Image: Domain
Exterior areas
Backyard and pool week was strong for Courtney and Grant, who took home two perfect tens and a prize of $30,000. The stylish set-up was described as “403 square metres of literal perfection”.
House 2 exterior area. Image: DomainCourtney and Grant, exterior area, The Block. Image: DomainHouse 2 pool area, The Block. Image: Domain
Courtney and Grant’s kitchen and dining space
The kitchen is bold, featuring a statement stone benchtop and splashback, while the dining space is more neutral, featuring natural wooden finishes.
Courtney and Grant’s kitchen, The Block. Image: DomainThe Block, kitchen and living. Image: Domain
Bathrooms
Courtney and Grant’s bathrooms were met with mixed opinions. The striped statement wall in their guest bathroom was not a favourite for the judges, but the more subtle main ensuite was considered “six-star”.
Courtney and Grant bathroom, The Block. Image: DomainCourtney and Grant bathroom, The Block. Image: Domain
Courtney and Grant’s rumpus area and office
The judges thought the office was sterile, but Courtney and Grant’s rumpus room was well-received for its cosy design.
House 2 office. Image: DomainCourtney and Grant rumpus, The Block. Image: Domain
You can find the full sale listing for House 1 here.
Savage insults and harsh criticisms have been slung across the table at the My Kitchen Rules (MKR) 2024 Instant Restaurants, leading some fans to question whether the contestants’ inhibitions have been loosened up from alcohol.
Some savvy viewers have spotted wine glasses and beer bottles at the tables, and the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round requires the contestants to cook six courses — meaning that there’s even more time than the first two rounds for the cast to build up their liquid courage.
Fortunately for us nosy viewers, Simone and Viviana have clarified what the alcohol rules on MKR are during an exclusive interview with Chattr.
Judge Colin Fassnidge with contestants Mike, Pete, Maddie and Janey. Image: Seven.
How much alcohol can the MKR contestants drink at the Instant Restaurants?
Viviana was spotted with a glass of wine in her hand while she and her teammate Simone were hosting their first Instant Restaurant. And, according to the Italian duo, it’s not just the kitchen where drinking is allowed.
Simone told Chattr that there is “not really” a limit to how much they can drink, but Viviana added that they needed to ensure they weren’t getting too wasted.
“Don’t go crazy,” she explained. “But, no one ever went too crazy.”
Simone added: “We drink with limitations, and obviously, we need to be straight, and we need to judge the food, so you can never go too hard.”
Maddie and Janey placed out wine glasses at the Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
Who’s competing in the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round?
In recent years, there have been two Instant Restaurants before the contestants battled it out at Kitchen HQ. However, the 2024 season of MKR saw the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round return for the first time since 2017.
After just one challenge in Kitchen HQ, which saw Lawrence and Hannah eliminated, the remaining contestants headed back around Australian for the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round, which involved cooking two options for each of the three courses.
The Block has been an Aussie staple in the reality TV landscape with the first season airing 21 years ago in 2003!!
The inaugural season of The Block had Jamie Durie as the host with four couples working on a Bondi apartment block, hoping to earn big at the auction and nab that $100,000 prize.
We’ve seen hundreds of couples, friends and siblings work together (and sometimes not together!) to renovate and build someone’s dream home.
But what has happened to all the winners, and where are they now?
We’ve done the digging for you, so this is where all The Block winners are now.
2003 winners: Adam and Fiona
Adam and Fiona. Image: Nine.
Adam and Fiona were declared the first-ever winners of The Block 2003, earning $256,000 after their Bondi flat sold for $751,000.
Since then, they’ve published a book based on their experience, Adam And Fiona’s Renos On A Budget: How We Renovated Our Way To The Block.
They have also renovated four more houses since winning The Block back in 2003. They have two daughters, Shylah and Aria. Fiona owns a cosmetic laser business.
2004 winners: Andrew and Jamie
Andrew and Jamie. Image: Nine.
The 2004 winners sold their Manly property for $868,000 and made $178,000 in profit.
Andrew, also known as Dr Andrew Rochford, is a household name appearing on various TV and broadcast radio shows such as The Project, The Living Room, and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
They have three children together.
2010 winners: John and Neisha
John and Neisha Pitt. Image: Nine.
After a six-year hiatus, The Block returned with a new host Scott Cam and a new slate of contestants.
John and Neisha Pitt won the third season of the show, with their Vaucluse apartment selling for $1,105,00, making over $300,000 in profit.
Since then, the couple have been investing in property, selling their home in Bexley, which was sold for $1.1 million in 2018. They live in Illawong with their two children.
2011 winners: Polly and Waz
Waz and Polly. Image: Sydney Observer.
For the show’s fourth season, The Block moved states to Victoria with contestants renovating an apartment block in the inner-city suburb of Richmond.
Polly and Waz won this season with the only home to sell during the auction, the other homes were sold post-auction. They sold the house for $855,000 with a $115,000 profit.
Their Twitter bio states, “Polly and Waz ancient winners of The Block now living an everyday life with Hudson in tow :)”. They now have a daughter, Scotland too, who they welcomed to the world in 2017.
2012 winners: Brad and Lara
Brad and Lara. Image: Instagram
Brad and Lara Cranfield, the 2012 winners of The Block, sold their South Melbourne unit for $1.6 million, making a $606,000 profit.
Since winning, Brad and Lara have still got the renovation bug and recently renovated their Byron Bay home.
They live outside of Newcastle and have two sons.
2013 All Stars winners: Phil and Amity
Phil and Amity. Image: Nine.
Phil and Amity appeared on the first season of The Block in 2003 and then graced our screens again in the All Stars season.
They sold their Bondi apartment for $1.67 million, earning a $395,000 profit.
Sadly, Phil and Amity divorced in 2018. Amity wrote a cabaret show, Fortified, after the divorce. Speaking to News.com.au about the breakup, Amity said, “…I think people grow apart and change.”
They share a son and a daughter together.
2013 Sky High winners: Alisa and Lysandra
Alisa and Lysandra. Image: Alisa and Lysandra.
SistersAlisa and Lysandra sold their South Melbourne apartment for $1,435,000, making $395,000 in profit.
Since winning, they have launched their own interior styling business, Alisa and Lysandra.
You can check out their adventures and projects on their Instagram.
2014 Fans v Favourites winners: Steve and Chantelle
Steve and Chantelle. Image: Nine.
Couple Steve and Chantelle won this season, earning a $736,000 profit from their Albert Park unit.
Sadly, Steve and Chantelle are no longer together and split in 2015. However, both have new partners now.
Chantelle owns her own businesses, Ford Millinery and Ford Bridal. She also lives on a boat with her partner Gil.
2014 Glasshouse winners: Simon and Shannon
Simon and Shannon Vos. Image: Instagram.
Brothers Simon and Shannon Vos won this season, selling their unit for $1.6 million and raking in a $435,000 profit.
For the past ten years, the brothers have still been working together in the design and construction industry.
They’ve even made reappearances on The Block. You can check out their adventures on Instagram.
2015 Triple Threat winners: Darren and Deanne
Darren and Deanne. Image: Nine.
Couple Darren and Deanne won the Triple Threat season of The Block after selling their South Yarra unit for $2.29 million and making $935,000 profit.
Since winning nine years ago, Darren and Deanne have gone their separate ways. They divorced in 2019, and share two children together.
Deanne is still an interior decorator. Darren has moved on and is now with Lucy Porter and they share a daughter together.
2015 Blocktagon winners: Dean and Shay
Dean and Shay with their children. Image: Instagram.
In the Blocktagon season, couple Dean and Shay sold their unit for $2.3 million making a $755,000 profit.
Dean and Shay are still together, living on a farm and renovating homes. They share their adventures on Instagram with their 24,000 followers.
They have three children together.
2016 winners: Will and Karlie
Karlie, Will and their daughter Indigo. Image: Instagram.
Will and Karlie won the twelfth season of The Block selling their Port Melbourne unit for $2.6 million, getting a $815,000 profit.
Will and Karlie have a daughter together, Indigo and are based in Brisbane.
They are high school sweethearts and recently celebrated 17 years together.
2017 winners: Josh and Elyse
Elyse and Josh with their sons. Image: Instagram.
Josh and Elyse won their season with a $547,000 profit after selling their home for just over $3 million.
They are still in the renovation business with a design and construction company called J and E Projects.
The couple are based in Byron Bay and have two children, and are expecting their third very soon!
2018 winners: Hayden and Sara
Sara and Hayden with their two children. Image: Instagram.
This season’s winners Hayden and Sara sold their St Kilda home for $3 million, bringing in $645,000 profit.
After winning their season of The Block, Hayden and Sara bought a 5 storey home in Stanwell Park, naming it Southhouse.
Hayden is a building and construction specialist, and Sara is a flight attendant. They have two children together.
2019 winners: Tess and Luke
Tess and Luke. Image: Instagram.
Married couple Tess and Luke sold their St Kilda home for $3.6 million and made a $730,000 profit.
After winning their season, the Queensland-based couple have welcomed two daughters into the world. They are currently building their dream home and documenting the process on Instagram.
Palm Beach couple Mitch and Mark sold their home for more than $4 million and took home a $744,444.44 profit.
This was their second appearance on The Block, after appearing in the 2019 season.
These two stylish men own a homewares store, which is currently being relaunched, and are the hosts of Location, Location, Location Australia.
They also still renovate homes and have been sharing their current project in Newport.
2022 Tree Change winners: Omar and Oz
Omar and Oz. Image: Instagram.
Known as “The Block Kings”, best mates Omar and Oz sold their home for $5.6 million, bringing in a $1.68 million profit!
The friends, who have been besties since 2011, have been out and about since their win two years ago. Making appearances at The Logies and The Australian Open.
Omar is married with three children, and played rugby last year, representing his country of Afghanistan. Oz is married with two boys and is still in the construction industry.
They recently dropped by in this season of The Block to speak with Maddy and Charlotte and Ricky and Haydn about their own experiences on the reality show.
2023 winners: Steph and Gian
Steph and Gian. Image: Nine.
In a history-making grand finale, Sydney-siders Steph and Gian won The Block 2023 with the largest profits ever across the show’s 19 seasons.
Steph and Gian set the bar incredibly high after going first on auction day.
Their house sold for $5,000,000, a whopping $1,650,000 over the property’s reserve price of $3.35 million.
Since winning, they have launched their own website, Japandi Estate, a lifestyle brand focusing on the fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics.
They have also been flipping houses, showcasing their recent renovation on a home in Bexley, which they recently sold for $1.825 million.
For the final challenge of The Block 2024, the teams (and some ex-contestant helpers) were charged with completing a Clubhouse build for the resort. As the judges explored each area, it was clear that they were blown away by a lot of what they saw, but one team received the highest praise.
Which team had the highest clubhouse score in The Block 2024?
Alisa, Kristian, Mimi, and Lysandra, The Block Clubhouse team. Image: Nine
As we touched on above, much of the work in the resort Clubhouse was praised by the judges of The Block, but the cinema room was the favourite.
Designed by Kristian and Mimi, along with Alisa and Lysandra (of The Block 2013 and 2014), the cinema room is adorned with artfully lit arches, curtain-laced walls and cosy carpeted floors.
“They’ve really worked hard together to create this sense of wow factor, with a zen-like feel,” Shaynna said.
She also highlighted how thoughtful the design was for this space.
“We’re yelling our heads off, and the acoustics are so incredible in here!”
The Block Clubhouse cinema room. Image: Nine
Darren simply called the room, “the best we’ve ever seen”.
“In 20 seasons of The Block... every single room, and this is the last one we’ve seen, and it just happens to be the best we’ve EVER seen?” he gushed.
Kristian and Mimi’s cinema room. Image: The Block
In the end, the judges name Kristian and Mimi’s Clubhouse cinema room the winner of the week, with a perfect 30/30. This win sees the pair go into the auction with $50,000 taken off their reserve.
The scores for all the teams, however, are quite strong for this challenge:
Love Island Australia is heating up in 2024, with the addition of a couple of new spicy features. Hotel Amor, which we wrote about here, is one such detail, and the other is the introduction of the Love Island Australia ‘Love Gods’.
What’s the role of the Love Gods?
Poor Love Island cast don’t know what they’re in for! Image: Nine
By now, we know that two Love Gods have entered the villa, but what’s their deal?
Per a text received by Xanthe, the Love Island Australia Love Gods have been ‘blessed’ with powers that regular islanders do not have.
“The Love Gods have arrived, and they have special superpowers,” the text read.
“Starting right now… The Gods can Couple Up with whoever they want whenever they want! #GodsGift.”
In short, these contestants can do as they wish – they don’t need to wait for a Recoupling Ceremony or for the show’s host, Sophie Monk, to pass on directions before swooping in on a partner.
Who are the Love Island Australia Love Gods?
In Love Island Australia 2024, SydneyPaight and StephBlackos have entered the villa as two international Love Gods.
Steph Blackos, 24
Steph, one of the Love Gods on Love Island Australia. Image: Nine
Steph, 24, is from France and has appeared on both Love Island France 2023 and Love Island Games in Fiji. A former pro basketball player, he is now working as a model and influencer.
Sydney Paight, 24
Sydney, one of the Love Gods on Love Island Australia. Image: Nine
Sydney, also 24, made her way to the finale of the 2022 US season of Love Island and now also works as a model and influencer.
Speaking on her major upper hand as a Love God this season, Sydney said, “I feel bad for them [the other contestants], but happy for me.”
French Love God Steph quickly chose to Couple Up with Sophie — which means Sophie’s former partner Indigo is now single.
Sydney also decided to name a new partner, choosing Zane. On this choice, she said:
“I want to Couple Up with this boy because I feel like our chat was very surprising, it felt very organic and I found myself laughing a lot of the time.”
Fan reactions to the Love Gods’ powers
Since the announcement, fans have taken to social media to share their excitement and opinions about the Love Gods. Many viewers are thrilled to see Sydney and Steph use their powers to challenge the status quo, while others worry about their favourite couples being split apart.
Guess we’ll have to wait and see what other weird and wonderful ways the Love Gods’ power will be put to use this season.
The Block has had its fair share of drama this season, and it still keeps coming with a contentious couple returning to our screens.
The WA couple left the show halfway through the show due to mental health reasons.
Jesse and Paige returned to The Block overnight to check up on House 1, previously their house which is now Maddy and Charlotte’s.
Why did Jesse and Paige return?
They were invited back by Maddy and Charlotte, to see how the girls have fared on house one and for them to also see their ex-contestants.
Maddy dished on what Jesse and Paige liked and didn’t like.
“We know she loves Courtney and Grant’s and thought that was beautiful. She didn’t love Kylie and Brad’s house,” Maddy said.
The couple looked very different to what they did a few months ago. Seeming brighter and happier, the time away from The Block looks to have made a positive impact on the couple.
However, some fans weren’t happy with the way the other contestants were treating Jesse and Paige compared to how they treated Maddy and Charlotte.
Taking to Instagram, one viewer said, “Maddy & Charlotte showed their grace and maturity. The other contestants should be embarrassed by the way they’ve treated the girls. Their over the top reactions to seeing Jesse & Paige, who they knew for 3 or 4 weeks, compared to how they treated Maddy & Charlotte was hard to witness.”
Another said, “I think this nice [sic], Maddy & Charlotte are amazing to have done this. I would have done the same for Jesse & Paige”
Why did Jesse and Paige leave The Block?
An engaged couple from WA, Jesse and Paige left the show halfway through filming, citing mental health issues.
During the September 9 episode, Paige confessed she had been struggling with her mental health.
“I just haven’t been myself at all, I’ve really mentally struggled,” she told co-stars Kristian and Mimi.
It’s so good to see Jesse and Paige looking happier since their time away from The Block.
The Block auction will be held on Saturday November 9.
The Block airs on Sundays at 7pm and Mon – Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Love Island Australia Season 6 has officially landed on Aussie television screens, promising audiences some seriously spicing watching. One key element of that is the arrival of Hotel Amor. If you’re wondering what Hotel Amor is, and how it’ll play out in the 2024 iteration of Love Island Australia, allow us to offer a guide.
How is Hotel Amor different from Casa Amor?
Love Island Australia islanders. Image: Nine
In Love Island Australia, Hotel Amor will look slightly different to the classic Casa Amor format.
Longtime fans of the Love Island series will be familiar with the Casa Amor set-up, which usually sees one-half of the coupled-up contestants (either men or women) whisked away to a new villa (Casa Amor), with a bunch of new contestants of the opposite sex. Here, the cast members have the option to stick with their original beau or give things a shot with a new flame.
The drama-filled feature of Love Island was once part of the Australian show’s format but was killed off in 2021.
In an interview with the NZ Herald, host Sophie Monk shared that Hotel Amor differs in that it, “sees couples sent away for one night in a hotel – but in the couples the audience thinks they should be in, not the couple they’re currently in.”
How spicy will Hotel Amor be?
According to Sophie, there are “no cameras allowed” in this element of the show. She explained to the NZ Herald, “I thought nothing would happen – but no, it does.”
A source has also spoken with So Dramatic!, sharing that fans can expect some naughty goings on in Hotel Amor.
“What the Islanders get up to this season is 1000 per cent X-rated and will have viewers more involved than ever before,” the insider told the outlet.
Because of the hidden-away nature of Hotel Amor, contestants are driven to question the actions of their partners, the insider continued.
“What the mind can imagine is much worse than what usually has happened. The can (sic) of mind manipulation has taken the game to another level,” they said.
Apparently, international versions of the show are looking to trial this format as a result of how well it worked.
The Real Housewives of Sydneyseason three is already set to be juicy, with reports emerging an incident has allegedly occurred between cast members, causing production to be halted.
The Sunday Telegraph reported production was shut down after a “physical altercation” broke out between the cast members, they did not name who was involved in the alleged altercation.
The fight caused filming to pause, with production staff having to “rework” the leftover episodes, reports said.
The production company behind the show, Matchbox Pictures, said it provides a “safe working environment”.
“We are committed to a respectful work environment and anything that violates our policies is immediately investigated,” the statement said.
On top of this, some cast members are allegedly threatening to boycott the show’s reunion if they cannot see the footage before it airs.
However, reviewing the footage isn’t an outlandish ask from a housewife.
“Viewing the series prior isn’t uncommon practice. But many of the women who returned for season three didn’t view season two before it went live, and they didn’t love their edit,” an insider revealed to The Sunday Telegraph.
No word on who has been fighting with who, but colour us intrigued by how dramatic the season is going to be when it airs.
The first season cast featured, Lisa Oldfield, Athena Levendi, Krissy Marsh, Matty Samaei, Melissa Tkautz, Nicole O’Neil and Victoria Rees.
The 2023 season cast included season one OGs Krissy Marsh and Nicole O’Neil, with newcomers Caroline Gaultier, Dr Kate Adams, Sally Obermeder, Terry Biviano, and Victoria Montano.
The Season 3 cast of The Real Housewives of Sydney has not been confirmed yet. A date for the premiere of Season 3 has also not yet been released, but we will let you know when it does.
