It’s the renovation reality show that’s become an Aussie TV juggernaut – but this year, The Block promises to deliver the most demanding season yet.

Filmed in the heart of Victoria’s Daylesford, five couples from across the country have spent the past three months building homes from scratch under high pressure, racing against tight deadlines and under new rules that have left them frozen, frazzled and – at times – in tears.

In an exclusive chat with all five teams outside their homes ahead of the show’s premiere, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the 2025 season will be one of the most gruelling – and emotionally charged – in the show’s 20-year history.

COPS OFF DUTY

Western Australian police officers Britt and Taz say they’ve faced high-stakes situations on the job, but nothing prepared them for the emotional toll of leaving their young children behind and diving head-first into a full-scale construction.

It’s the renovation reality show that’s become an Aussie TV juggernaut – but this year, The Block promises to deliver the most demanding season yet. Pictured: The cast

Western Australian police officers Britt and Taz (both pictured) say they’ve faced high-stakes situations on the job, but nothing prepared them for the emotional toll of leaving their young children behind and diving head-first into a full-scale construction

‘This was probably the toughest thing we’ve ever done,’ Britt said. ‘We expected it to be hard, but not this hard’

‘This was probably the toughest thing we’ve ever done,’ Britt said.

‘We expected it to be hard, but not this hard.’

Taz, who famously strips down to his budgie smugglers in the very first episode, says the pair relied on communication and resilience to get through it.

‘We go into dangerous situations all the time – but this was out of our comfort zone. The mental fatigue was huge,’ he said.

The pair say the experience has only made their relationship stronger.

‘In real life, if we argue, I’ll say ‘talk to me in two business days’. But on the show, you just have to get over it quickly,’ Britt said.

For Perth couple Hannah and Can (both pictured), applying to The Block was something they joked about on their very first date – and now, just 18 months into their relationship, they’ve survived the renovation boot camp of a lifetime

FIRST-DATE TOOLS DOWN

For Perth couple Hannah and Can, applying to The Block was something they joked about on their very first date – and now, just 18 months into their relationship, they’ve made history as the show’s first same-sex female couple.

‘In Block years, it feels like 20 years!’ laughed Hannah.

‘We talked about coming on The Block on our first date – and here we are,’ Can added. ‘It was a dream for us.’

But their reason for doing the show goes far deeper than just ticking off a bucket list.

‘We wanted to show people what two girls in love can do,’ Hannah said. ‘We wanted to be out and proud on national television – and represent women in construction, in design, in leadership.’

Can said the couple are proud to break ground not just with their renovation, but their presence.

‘This is 2025,’ she said. ‘It’s amazing that we’re finally seeing same-sex female couples on shows like this. We want other girls and young women watching to feel like they can do anything.’

‘It was definitely the hardest thing we’ve ever done,’ Hannah said. ‘But it made us stronger.’ Can, who took charge of the styling while Hannah led the builds, says the couple are proud to be the first same-sex female team to compete on the show

‘And we did everything ourselves. We styled, we built, we cried into paint buckets… and then we went again the next day.’

Despite being the newest couple in the competition – they’ve been together less than two years – they say their relationship came out even stronger.

‘I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else,’ said Can. ‘And I couldn’t have done it with anyone else.’

The toughest part? The pressure to deliver under strict worksite cut-off times – and the emotional exhaustion that came with it.

‘There were nights we just cried into paint buckets,’ Hannah said.

Victorian couple Emma and Ben (both pictured) applied to The Block a whopping seven times before finally making it onto the 2025 series

‘We’ve renovated before, but never at this scale,’ Emma said. ‘We just wanted to challenge ourselves and tick it off our bucket list’

SEVEN-TIME HOPEFULS

Victorian couple Emma and Ben applied to The Block a whopping seven times before finally making it onto the 2025 series.

‘We’ve renovated before, but never at this scale,’ Emma said. ‘We just wanted to challenge ourselves and tick it off our bucket list.’

The couple say the new rules around working hours – which forced contestants to down tools at set times – helped them avoid the burnout seen in past seasons.

‘We actually got to rest, which meant we didn’t make silly decisions,’ Ben said.

But that didn’t mean it was easy.

‘We definitely had a few moments where we sat in a corner with our heads in our hands,’ Emma admitted.

Still, they’d do it all again.

‘We’ve come out stronger. It was nice to spend so much time together,’ Ben said.

Adelaide best mates Robby and Mat (both pictured) say they entered the competition with one goal: to have fun and stir the pot

‘We’re just a couple of blokes having a good time building a house and a secret wine cellar,’ Mat said

LARRIKINS WHO LOVE TO STIR THE POT

Adelaide best mates Robby and Mat say they entered the competition with one goal: to have fun and stir the pot.

And they delivered – with plenty of laughs, cheeky banter, and a few surprises for the street.

‘We’re just a couple of blokes having a good time building a house and a secret wine cellar,’ Mat said.

But their gamble to dig and build below ground level wasn’t without risk.

‘We had less money than the other teams – so we knew we had to win challenges or it wouldn’t happen,’ Robby said.

Still, they say they’re proud of how they handled themselves and praised the camaraderie among the cast.

‘There’s no villains this year. Everyone got along. We all helped each other,’ Mat said.

Their house? ‘It’s not for anyone – it’s for everyone,’ Robby said.

Gold Coast couple Sonny and Alicia (both pictured), parents of three, say the emotional rollercoaster of The Block was more intense than they expected – but worth every tear

‘This was our second time applying – and it just felt right this year,’ Alicia said. They’re also the only team to build a brick house, giving them a clear point of difference

HEARTFELT HOMEBUILDERS

Gold Coast couple Sonny and Alicia, parents of three, say the emotional rollercoaster of The Block was more intense than they expected – but worth every tear.

‘This was our second time applying – and it just felt right this year,’ Alicia said.

They’re also the only team to build a brick house, giving them a clear point of difference.

‘It stands out,’ Sonny said. ‘And we brought the brick inside too. It just feels like a real home.’

The couple say their aim was to build something warm and family-friendly – not just a showpiece.

‘We want whoever buys this house to celebrate Christmas here, host birthdays, and have their whole family around,’ Alicia said.

Despite the drama and pressure, they say their relationship came out even stronger.

‘We’ve been together 14 years. We made a pact to always have each other’s backs,’ Alicia said.

‘We bicker, sure. But that’s how we roll. We don’t let it linger.’

The Block returns to screens on Sunday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine