Ramadan comes to The Block

18 seasons on, this year’s Block has a number of firsts.

Tree Change is the first rural renovation for the traditionally city-based series.

Host Scott Cam will renovate a house alongside contestants.

And it’s also the most diverse cast, include one duo of Islamic faith: former professional rugby player Omar Slaimankhel (30) and building maintenance man Osman ‘Oz’ Said (30), both from Western Sydney.

“I think unfairly we’ve been accused of being not diverse, but we were very diverse in the past,” says Scott Cam.

“But this is without a doubt the most. We got to experience some very different things. Like our boys doing the last bits of Ramadan, for the first three weeks. No food or drink between sun up and sundown. We learnt a lot.”

The cast also includes Indian-Australian couple, former Neighbours actor Sharon Johal (34) and accountant Ankur Dogra (41), also from Melbourne.

The Gisborne site is genuinely is the biggest Block ever, with every home on a 10 acre land footprint, with tennis courts, wineries, and even a lake, creating a visual template unlike any previous seasons.

“We could have called it ‘Blockville.’

“They’re five bedroom homes, some are six. They’re incredibly big homes. The lounge, dining, kitchens are fantastic. They’re so big. That’s what I love about them.

“They’ve got all this beautiful space and the landscaping ….oh my goodness.

“It’s a village. That’s what I like to call it. I wish we had built a post office, a church, and a bloody school and we could have called it ‘Blockville.’

“It’s incredible lifestyle living -like resort living- that’s been put in there. It’s amazing. It’s the world’s best Tree Change for a Melburnian.”

The cast also feature Tom Calleja (34) and social worker Sarah-Jane Wilson (30) from Melbourne; tradies Dylan Adams (29) and Jenny Heath (25) from the Gold Coast; and, initially, football player Joel Patfull (37) and influencer Elle Ferguson (38), from Bondi.

But in a rare storyline spoiler, producers have confirmed Joel & Elle will walk off the show within days. It was a twist nobody expected.

“We went to do promos and they weren’t there and we were trying to track them down,” Cam confirms.

The couple stated they travelled to Adelaide to be with family, after Patfull’s mother, Trish, fractured her neck following a fall.

Cam recently described their quitting as ‘UnAustralian’ but now says those remarks were based on the information he had at the time.

“48 hours later, they left in the night without telling us why”

“They never mentioned anything to us about their sick mother. They just left. They still haven’t told us why they left. Of course, if they had’ve mentioned that their mum was sick, we would have flown them to Adelaide immediately, as we did the week before The Block when we stopped for COVID. We flew them to Adelaide to see their mum and then they flew back of their own volition on us and said ‘Everything’s fine.’ So then 48 hours later, they left in the night without telling us why. They never once mentioned mum was sick again or we would have flown them straight back as we’ve done in the past.”

Two yet-to-be announced contestants were found at short notice as replacements.

“The contestants that we got were terrific. Their kids weren’t settling, we gave them 6 hours notice. So two days later, we flew (one) back to Sydney, to be with their kids for two days, and then flew back again when she said ‘I’m ready.’ No dramas whatsoever. So family always comes first on The Block and those comments were made certainly not against someone that was going to visit their sick mother. That’s not me.

“The Block’s not for everybody, right? It’s bloody hard.”

“We’re just renovating here. We’re not curing cancer. So it’s no skin off my nose,” he insists.

“That was just me saying what I said at the time, based on the information that I had. …. Whatever they do in the future, good luck to them. Happy days …. The Block‘s not for everybody, right? It’s bloody hard.”

Indeed the Tree Change was punishing with COVID precautions, freezing temperatures, a tradie shortage, and an unprecedented scale. There was no shortage of drama.

“The Block is pretty organic, and creates its own drama, just by being The Block. But minus three degrees, sideways rain with wind, ankle-deep mud, over 70 acres -there’s drama straight away before we even start. People get frustrated with that and people get upset. There’s a few jeers along the way, which is very understandable. There’s a lot of emotion involved, for people that think they can’t get there. There’s a lot of pep talks and, and that’s what my job is: ‘You’ll be right. Get across the line.’

“I give a speech to all the contestants on day one. We have a welcome barbecue that I host and I say ‘Every single person that you see, that works for our company, wants you to succeed. Nobody wants you to fail. And I promise you that from the bottom of my heart. We’re not here to see your fail. We’re here to see you complete a home and bloody sell it for as much as you can. And someone’s gonna do it for the most, and they’re gonna win. That’s what our aim is. We’ll do everything in our power to help you get there.'”

“I love historic homes”

Cam renovates an original homestead on site, accompanied by his own kelpie, Frankie.

“I love historic homes. I’ve done a lot of building in the bush, back in the day. I’m 60 this year so it’s been a while since I’ve built,” he explains.

“This was a great opportunity to get back into that. I had a good team around me, I’ve got a couple of really good chippies, and of course, I’ve got my plasterers, my sparkies, my plumbers. When you get the right team behind you, with the help of the Block shop I designed, did a bit of shopping, met local people and got some great stuff.

“I’ve got a piece of timber that was from Princess Pier where the original owners of the house would have stepped onto that wharf and walked across across that beam, just to get to this place. Now that beam is back in their own house. I love a bit of timber with a story.

“But they were long hours. I was doing 13 hour days. My hosting duties are quite extensive as well. So I’ve got lots to do on the other side of the nailbag before I even get into the house. That’s normal Block.

“This is Block is on steroids.”

The Block returns 7pm Sunday on Nine.