MEET THE TEAMS
Who will take home the cash on the 15th season of The Block?
Blockheads rejoice, the 15th season of home renovation show The Block is returning to screens and it’s set to have just as much nail- biting (and hitting) drama as usual. So, just which team will put up a good fight to achieve the biggest auction price and take home the cash? WHO caught up with this year’s teams, and judging by our chats, they’re not holding anything back!
The Block premieres on Sun., Aug. 4, on Nine.
Deb & Andy
PROUD PARENTS
NSW-based parents Andy, 48, and Deb, 46, have their hands full at home with four kids, two of whom they fostered nine years ago. “We were under a lot of pressure with our own kids and we thought why not take on more,” Andy jests, before adding, “we wanted to give back.” And their kids are at the forefront of their minds while they’re in the competition, because winning the prize money would mean a greater lifestyle for their family. “These kids are great; we would take on a hundred if we could. We just need The Block to fund another 25 bedrooms.”
Mitch & Mark GROOVY GRANDADS
Stylish grandfathers and longtime partners Mitch, 56, and Mark, 57, also from NSW, were so keen to make an impact on The Block that they prepared themselves months in advance. “In the last few months, we said: ‘We need to get fit because if we do get on The Block and it’s so big, we’re going to need to be at least fit.’ So we’d get up every morning at 5.30am and go down to Bondi for a walk and do some weights and exercise,” Mark tells WHO. “We got ourselves into some sort of mental and physical condition, although you can never be prepared for it.”
Jesse & Mel ‘THE BLOCK’ FANS
Real-estate agent Jesse, 29, and contracts administrator Mel, 31, from Melbourne, Victoria, have been ready to join the show for years – they’ve applied multiple times. “I’ve wanted to be on The Block since I was 14, watching the first season,” Jesse tells WHO. “This is the third time I’ve applied and [I’m] pretty fortunate to get on. It’s a dream come true.” So, what is their secret weapon? They’re each other’s biggest support. “Jesse is a very positive person, fun, always optimistic, and he helps drive me,” admits Mel.
El’ise & Matt COMPETITIVE COMBO
El’ise and Matt, based in Perth, WA, have a great competitive edge. “We’re definitely competitive against each other, “El’ise tells WHO, before Matt reveals, “We’re definitely competitive against each other – but our philosophy behind it is we believe we are the better team. We believe whatever we produce will be a winning room.” The duo, who have been together for a decade, say their confidence stems from their personal ambitions. “We don’t necessarily stress about what everyone else is doing and go in that kind of competition – it’s more against ourselves to make sure we’ve got the perfect room,” adds Matt.
Tess & Luke PASSIONATE NEWLYWEDS
Newly married Queenslanders Tess, 28, and Luke, 30, may have the upper hand, with Luke being a trained carpenter. Still, his advertising-designer wife says their skills aren’t actually their biggest advantage – it’s their strong bond that will carry them through to the end of the competition. “Even though we’re newlyweds, we have been together for a long time. We started living together a year in, so we’ve got each other’s backs,” says Tess.