As The Block 2026 heads towards its finale, one of the season’s biggest neighbour disputes is set to reach boiling point and for Adam and Jolene, the drama was about much more than a gate.
Throughout Front Yard Week, House 1 found themselves at the centre of a frustrating standoff after neighbouring teams needed to access their property to complete their own landscaping.
The arrangement slowed down Adam and Jolene’s progress, putting their own chances of taking out the week’s $50,000 prize in doubt.
Speaking to TV Week, Jolene admitted the situation weighed heavily on her before the judges arrived.
“It made me anxious going in to judging,” she said.
While access was required by the show’s builders, Nine in Six, Jolene confessed she wasn’t convinced it was the right call.
“The requirement was needed by Block builders Nine in Six – to do that for the other teams. Do I think it was wrong? Probably.”
There was far more than prize money on the line
The pressure surrounding the landscaping challenge wasn’t simply about winning Front Yard Week.
Jolene revealed that she and Adam have spent years living away from their loved ones while working remotely, and the outcome of The Block could have a major impact on their future.
“We’ve lived away from our families for the past eight years or so,” she told the mag. “That’s off the back of two separations, which cost a lot of money.”
She explained that a successful auction would give them the opportunity to move closer to family, particularly her mother, whose health has become a growing concern.
“To potentially move closer to our families, and closer to my mum who is not well, means there is a lot riding on this scenario,” she said.
Jolene added that making enough money from the competition could also mean they wouldn’t have to return to remote work immediately, giving the couple some much-needed financial breathing room.
The disagreement never threatened their marriage
The ongoing gate dispute also sparked one of the season’s biggest disagreements between Adam and Jolene, with Adam continuing to leave the gate open to help neighbouring teams while Jolene wanted stricter boundaries.
Despite the tense moments shown on screen, Jolene insisted their relationship was never at risk.
“Not for one second did I think that it would damage our relationship,” she said.
Rather than viewing The Block as something personal, she said the couple approached the experience like a job, with both focused on the same end goal.
Jolene has one regret
Now that filming has wrapped and she’s watched the season unfold, Jolene admits there’s one thing she’d do differently.
“Looking back, now we can see really some sh*tty comments made by our neighbours,” she said. “If I had my time again, I would definitely lock it sooner!”
With auction day fast approaching, it’s clear the gate saga is one piece of The Block drama Jolene won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
The Block airs Sunday – Wednesday on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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