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Nine renews The Block for 2010

Channel Nine is bringing back one of the most successful TV shows of the last ten years, to be hosted by Scott Cam.

Channel Nine is bringing back its hit reality series The Block, to be hosted by Scott Cam.

The mix of renovation and soapie-style couples was a TV phenomenon for Nine when it hit screens in 2003. With its glamorous casting and surprise makeovers it averaged some 2.4m viewers every week and became the talk of a captivated TV audience. Its auction finale topped 3m viewers and it remains one of the hit series of the last decade.

Nine’s Director of Programming, Michael Healy, said, “The Block is a unique format that has always captured our ongoing obsession with real estate.

“Right now everybody’s talking about real estate again and I’m very excited that we’re bringing back a show which has been such a phenomenal success.”

A second series in 2004 was also successful, but a promised third series for 2005 did not eventuate. The format by Julian Cress and David Barbour was remade in other countries including the UK, Russia, Israel, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Finland, Belgium and The Netherlands. However the US version The Complex: Malibu in 2004 was a flop.

Nine also returns the reality series after its botched attempt with homeMADE by Cress and Barbour during the economic downturn. Both also created The Chopping Block.

For 2010 Scott Cam replaces former host Jamie Durie, who is now signed to Seven. Four couples will have eight weeks to design and decorate an apartment. All four apartments will go to public auction and each couple will keep the profit made from the sale. The couple who top the auction also win $100,000.

Scott Cam said, “As a builder I know this is one of the toughest competitions that’s ever been devised but having watched the first two series I know it can also be one of the most rewarding.

“I can’t wait to meet the four couples who are willing to take on the challenge this time. Usually I’m the one on the tools so for me, this is going to be fun.”

Casting for The Block 2010 has commenced. Interested couples can contact [email protected] for more information.

49 Responses

  1. Some friends of mine went for an audition and missed out – such a shame! It was a Father and daughter duo – they would have rocked it and it would have been great to see something different to the typical couples they have opted for.
    Frustrating if they want to connect with real australians!

  2. Really looking forward to a new screening of The Block. Always manage to pick up some new ideas and different perspectives on renovation. It would have been great to have seen it in Melbourne this time around though and then I would have stuck my name down. Next year maybe.

  3. As possible future contestants, we are happy to hear this show is coming back…. Nice reading through the comments to see that the general public want to see average, ordinary people on shows like this instead of the Barbie doll plastics that are usually chosen. Look at channel 10s big brother and masterchef winners… mostly average, every day people and may we suggest the host to be a previous contestant in place of Scott Cam.

  4. no no noi no no no no no no. this show was rubbish when it was on last time and they were was a bunch drama queens and that wasn’t even the gay couple

  5. OMG! I was thinking about this show today! I can’t wait for it – I like Scott Cam, but not sure how he’ll do hosting solo. I actually liked homeMADE, but I can see why people wouldn’t like it. They should try it on a weeknight, instead of the usual Sunday 6:30pm where they have home-living type shows.

  6. @Dave – well, could have been Catriona Rowntree doing her eternal walk to camera a la The Chopping Block.

    Actually, I take it back, maybe even she would be better than improvement on Cam.

  7. the reason why i stopped watching domestic blitz is because scott cam annoys the beep out of me so i wont be watching this if they are going to revive old shows i would love it if they revived big brother

  8. Great news, I heard they had casted for a third series but canned it at the last minute many years ago. Scotts an interesting choice, but it could be worse…Tom Williams…

  9. Nine should have commissioned the third series of The Block in 2005 when it was still popular. (Part of the ratings success for The Block was due to the fact the network had AFL at the time, which boosted the audience for the news, which in turn boosted the audience for The Block.) Nine is turning to The Block because Backyard Blitz is floundering in ratings at the moment.

  10. I liked the Block; but it may be too late for it to make a big comeback.

    Nine need to get taught a lesson in finding new talent; they constantly reuse the same old people for every single show and it gets tiring; how about we bring in some fresh faces ones we haven’t seen before.

    I won’t knock nine for revisiting an old idea but lets try and make it fresh at least.

    That said; I would like more Chopping block I actually enjoyed that series.

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