The Block has promised viewers a nail-biting grand finale this season, but sources have claimed the winner has already been picked by Network Nine.

Whispers are rife among this year’s contestants that House One couple Emma and Ben are already being primed to take out the crown on Auction Day.

According to an insider, who wishes to remain anonymous, it’s become ‘obvious’ Nine are giving the high school sweethearts priority treatment to win season 21.

‘It is really small things but when you talk to previous Block contestants they have pointed out similar trajectories,’ the contestant told Daily Mail.

‘It gets more and more obvious as the auction draws closer, we are told.’

They went on to point out prior seasons where it was easy to see which couple was set to take out the crown based on the treatment they received from Nine.

The Block has promised viewers a nail-biting grand finale this season, but sources have claimed the winner has already been picked by Network Nine. Pictured: Britt and Taz

‘In the lead up to East Hampton it was obvious Steph and Gian would come out on top at the auctions,’ they said.

‘And you could say the same for Maddie and Charlotte in Phillip Island.

‘At the Channel Nine Upfronts, the girls were overheard saying they were certain they would make the most amount of money.’

However, Nine have said these claims are ‘false’.

‘All Block auctions are conducted by licensed real estate agents who are required to comply with all relevant laws and are conducted under the public auction rules, while in the presence of Consumer Affairs,’ a spokesperson also told Daily Mail.

Nevertheless, it would seem all of this speculation has upset some of the other houses in this year’s renovation competition—which has been dubbed Heartland.

‘They don’t deserve this,’ one furious cast-mate told Daily Mail, insisting producers have quietly set up Emma and Ben for a fairy-tale win, weeks out from auction.

According to multiple other insiders, the Melbourne couple ‘tick the boxes’ of what Channel Nine wants for its new, family-friendly rebrand—the nice guys who triumph over the drama-makers.

Whispers are rife among this year’s contestants that House One couple Emma and Ben (pictured) are already being primed to take out the crown on Auction Day

‘But not everyone is happy about it. Other teams have bled for this show while House One cruised. Now it looks like they’re being rewarded,’ one source said.

South Australia couple Robbie and Matt, Western Australia couple Han and Can, and Queensland favourites Sonny and Alicia are all said to be less than impressed.

Insiders have pointed out the three teams delivered the most entertainment which kept audiences hooked this season, but will likely be left behind at auction.

‘They’ve given drama, humour and heart,’ one source said.

‘Whereas Em and Ben… Well, let’s face it, they sounded fun on paper but during the 12-week shoot nothing much happened. And it shows.’

Even die-hard fans seem to agree, with online chatter rarely being kind to House One.

‘When Em and Ben are on screen, it feels like toilet-break time,’ one viewer wrote, with dozens echoing the sentiment across social media threads.

Still, the whispers persist that the ‘nice guys’ of House One will ultimately get the fairy-tale ending, leaving their colourful co-stars furious.

According to one insider, who wishes to remain anonymous, it’s become ‘obvious’ Nine are giving the high school sweethearts priority treatment to win season 21

‘With the finish line in sight, tensions are running high on and off camera,’ another insider told Daily Mail.

‘If the whispers come true, this could go down as the show’s most controversial win yet.’

Meanwhile, one season 18 Blockhead has said all the speculation can be boiled down to jealousy.

‘Every season the WhatsApp group slowly dies,’ they said.

‘The ones contributing less and less to the group conversations are usually the ones allowing the green eyed monster to take over their minds.’

Daily Mail has reached out to Nine for comment.