The dream team is back

Nine

The Block is returning in 2025, with a new cast and location. But one thing that’s staying (fairly) consistent, is the panel of judges and hosts.

The Block 2025 is taking place in the regional Victorian town of Daylesford. The area, known for its quaint country charm, has given rise to the name of this year’s season: The Block Heartland.

However, a new location does not mean new judges in 2025, with last season’s dream team—Shaynna Blaze, Marty Fox and Darren Palmer—returning to the screen. The trio will deliberate on each team’s weekly efforts, providing some (occasionally harsh) criticisms and witticisms along the way.

Here’s what we know about our 2025 The Block judges.

Who are The Block judges?

Marty Fox, Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer return as judges on The Block 2025. (Credit: Nine)

Shaynna Blaze

Shaynna Blaze has been a judge on The Block for 17 series, bringing her eye for interiors to the team.

Speaking to Nine, Shaynna said she’s looking for this year’s contestants to bring something extra to your typical country home.

“I want the contestants to 100 per cent sell the dream of Daylesford,” she said. “As all the houses are the same, it’s those little things that are really going to make the
difference between who wins the room reveal each week and ultimately attracts the right buyer.

“I want to see excitement from the contestants – be unique and different, offer something that doesn’t just stick to a formula.”

Shaynna is an award-winning interior designer, who previously co-hosted Selling Houses Australia. She also has a music career, releasing the single, ‘Warrior’ in 2024 and producing a one-woman show titled No Permission.

Darren Palmer

Darren Palmer joins The Block for his 13th season, also bringing his interior design experience to the table.

For this season’s design trends, he’s predicting “colour drenching”, patterns, rustic red, olive tones and “a colour palette inspired by the Australian landscape” from the contestants in 2025.

“The calibre of work is so much higher and so are the judges’ expectations,” he said of this year’s season of The Block. “If you look
at my scores, generally they don’t dip below eight unless something has really gone wrong.”

On working with Marty and Shaynna, Darren said: “We each have a different point of view and we all have something to say in our area of expertise. I like hearing from someone in real estate sales, I think this is very valuable. We work really well together.”

The Bondi-based designer spends his time away from The Block working on his art, candle, tapware and rug ranges.

Marty Fox

Marty Fox is the real estate gun of the group. This is his third season as a judge on The Block. “It feels part of my life now,” he told Nine. “It’s exciting to come on set every week and see what the contestants deliver, rooms and spaces that would take most people three months to do.”

As for this season’s location, Marty has a special connection to the area. “Daylesford is so epic. I used to come here as a kid as my grandparents had property, so it’s very nostalgic for me.”

In his spare time, Marty runs his real estate agency, Whitefox Real Estate. Alongside his wife, Charlotte, he also flips homes. The pair are currently renovating their 15th property.

The Block hosts

The Block hosts Shelley Craft and Scott Cam. (Credit: Nine)

Scott Cam

Scott Cam is returning for his 19th season as host of The Block. His work on the series may have earned him a Gold Logie in 2014, but he was no stranger to television when he joined the hit show. Prior to that, Scotty had been showing off his tradie skills on Backyard Blitz, Reno Rumble and Domestic Blitz.

Speaking of his Block co-host, Shelley Craft, Scott said: “Shelley and I worked together on other shows prior to 20 years on The Block. We get on so well that we finish each other’s sentences.”

Scott Cam lives in Mudgee with his wife, Ann, and three children, Sara, Billy and Charlie.

Shelley Craft

This year will be Shelley’s 18th season on The Block. As well as being a licenced real estate agent, Shelley is an old hand at both TV and renovating. “We are always renovating and building, and I must say I get a lot of inspiration from what the contestants do on The Block every year,” Shelley told Channel Nine.

As well as being on The Block, Shelley also hosts series’ official podcast.

Many of The Block‘s viewers grew up with Shelley on their screens as the former host of Saturday Disney and The Great Outdoors.

She spends her downtime in Byron Bay with her husband Christian, and daughters, Milla and Eadie.

Who is Foreman Dan?

Foreman Dan. (Credit: Nine)
Fans of The Block will need no introduction to Dan Reilly, aka Foreman Dan, who competed on the show alongside his wife Dani in 2012 and the 2013 All Stars season.

He joined The Block as the main foreman in 2024, with a unique ability to mentor and advise the contestants as a qualified carpenter and builder, as well as a former contestant.

Foreman Dan replaced the previous foreman Keith Schleiger, better known as The Blockinator, who stepped back from the series to spend time with his family.