Yahoo Lifestyle 
The Block Island producer reveals moment that changed the show forever: 'Huge'
Host Scott Cam and executive producer Justin Sturzaker have finally shared an insight into why they moved the show from Sydney to Melbourne.
Over the past 13 years, The Block has transformed apartment complexes, former hotels, office buildings and country homes across Victoria. The reality TV series has filmed a total of 16 seasons in the state, however, early viewers would remember that the first three seasons in 2003, 2004 and 2010 were all based in Sydney.
If you’ve ever wondered why the series made the move down south, the show’s host Scott Cam and executive producer Justin Sturzaker have finally shared the answer. The pair told Yahoo Lifestyle at The Block’s media event on Thursday, that they wanted to make some huge format changes in season four following the show’s revival the previous year.
“It was decided to strip the show, meaning five nights a week, and then all of a sudden we had to come up with a whole new concept,” Scott explained.
“So that was when we decided to move the show from Sydney to Melbourne, because Melbourne was always the number one audience for Australia, like it was always embraced really well,” Justin added. “And then obviously with the huge amount of passion for design and art that is Melbourne, to come down and give it a crackdown here, it went gangbusters.”
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Justin went on to say that the new location and increased number of episodes weren’t the only changes that year, but they also decided to “invent challenges” and bring in ‘Challenge Master’ Shelley Craft.
“Scott was now needing to be on the ground five days a week because we were filming 16 hours a day now, and the problems were coming up,” he continued. “And gradually, year on year on year, the show just kept evolving. We keep trying to come up with new and exciting homes and possibilities… So it's just been a constant evolution of trying to find something new and exciting that makes the audience go, ‘Oh wow’.”
Would The Block ever return to Sydney?
Despite premiering in Bondi - and returning there for season six to celebrate its 10-year anniversary - The Block’s hosts have said they have no plans to return to Sydney in the future.
“At this stage, no,” Scott Cam told The Daily Telegraph in 2017. “We need to get the council on board with us. That’s our biggest problem.”
Shelley also joked that the show wouldn’t be as enjoyable to watch because “there is not a lot of excitement watching someone get stuck in traffic for six hours”.
“Councils are great to us [in Melbourne], most of our production team and crew have relocated, real estate is obtainable in Melbourne and so for so many reasons we are here,” she added. “We have amazing support from the city of Melbourne.”
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This year’s milestone twentieth season of The Block will take place on Philip Island, with the five teams transforming rundown holiday homes into luxury properties. The island, which is located 90 minutes south of Melbourne, is a popular tourist destination visited by 3.5 million people annually and has a permanent population of around 14,000.
Meanwhile, executive producer Julian Cress announced last month that season 21 will be filmed in Daylesford, Victoria. The 2024 season was originally set to take place in the country town but was forced to relocate in September - just five months before production was scheduled to begin - due to permit issues and complaints from locals. The show was then filmed in Phillip Island, however, plans have finally been approved for a tree change.
The Block judges 2024
Hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft are back this season while real estate director Marty Fox has officially replaced longtime judge Neale Whitaker alongside Shaynna Blaze and Darren Whitaker.
Dan Reilly has also become the show’s sole foreman as Keith Schleiger wasn’t able to make the move to Phillip Island, although both Neale and Keith are expected to make guest appearances.
Who won The Block 2023?
Steph and Gian were the winners of the 2023 season of The Block after their stunning home sold for a history-making $5,000,000. Their reserve was $3.350 million which gave the couple a profit of $1.65 million plus $100,000 prize money taking them to $1.75 million in winnings.
The pair now run their own business - Japandi Estate.
What time does The Block start tonight?
The Block kicks off at 7:30 pm on Monday, August 12th on Channel Nine. The show will air on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the 2024 season.
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