EXCLUSIVE: Shelley Craft admits she thinks some of last year’s contestants weren’t on the show for ‘the right reasons’.

The Block’s Kylie / Shelley Craft.

The Block’s Shelley Craft has shared her thoughts on last year’s dramatic season. Photo: Channel 9

We’re only a few episodes into this year’s season of The Block, but viewers have already noticed a much more positive dynamic among the cast compared to previous years. Teams have offered to share tradies, help one another with tasks, and go on shopping trips together – firmly aligning with Scott Cam’s declaration that this is “the happiest Block on earth”.

Many fans have said it’s a much-needed change after last year’s season, which featured Paige and Jesse’s shock exit, Brad and Mimi’s ‘flirting’ scandal, and even allegations of ‘bullying’ amongst teams. Reflecting on the differences between the two casts, Shelley Craft admits to Yahoo Lifestyle that she questions whether all of the 2024 contestants signed up for the show with genuine intentions.

“Last season, there was a lot of drama that we didn’t even really expect, and I think it was a culmination of so many factors, but one being that our casting was younger,” she shares. “Perhaps they weren’t all there for the right reasons; it was more about being on the telly than the renovation. And this isn’t a show that you can fake it till you make it. It is hard work from day one.”

Shelley went on to say that while The Block is undoubtedly “hard and challenging”, contestants will have a much more enjoyable experience if they start “in the right spirit of the game”.

“They’re going to have a great time because they’re in the right frame of mind,” she continues. “Those that think it’s all smoke and mirrors and that we will pull the load for them are going to have a tough day every day from day one onwards.”

The Block 2024 cast at the auction.

Shelley Craft admits she’s not sure if all the 2024 contestants signed up for the show with genuine intentions. Photo: Channel 9

One team from last year’s season that Shelley still stays in touch with, however, is fan favourites Courtney and Grant. She reveals that throughout the promo for this year’s season, she made sure to contact the married couple because she “owed them a bit of an explanation”.

“I said, ‘I know we’ve all been saying how amazing this season is going to be, and how we’re all deeply affected by last season and the drama, drama, drama, but I just wanted to let you know that I love you, and we had a great time, and it was so lovely meeting you and getting to know you better’,” she details.

Scott Cam has been extremely complimentary of this year’s contestants and declared at the show’s recent launch event that they are the best he’s ever seen on the Channel 9 series.

“They’ve been, in my view, the best teams that we’ve ever had on The Block,” he said. “That’s not to say that they’re not a punish at times. It’s not to say that they argue and fight with each other and other teams. It’s not to say that they don’t cause drama and they’re annoying. That’s as good as it gets! It could be a lot worse, let me tell you.”

Shelley Craft also tells Yahoo Lifestyle that although she won’t put one group of contestants above another, she loved getting to know this year’s teams.

“Collectively, as 10 humans, it was a lovely place to come to work every day because of them,” she remarks. “I love all of them, and I thought that they really did bring something special this year. But I think I feel that about every cast and every year. These ones, it’s fresh in mind, and they were delightful.”