The Block is back and better than ever. The 8th season of the hit Aussie show started on the 27th of January and the first few weeks have been every bit as exciting as ever. In case you’ve missed them, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about The Block Fans vs Faves.
The Premise:
This season will pit beloved former contestants up against newbies and long time block watchers. This allows us to see just how much our favourite ex contestants learnt during their time on the show, whilst falling in love with some talented new faces.
The Location:
This year, the teams are renovating Dux House, a former movie theatre, in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Albert Park. They’ll be turning the house into apartments. In a new twist for this season, Dux House has been completely gutted, with no walls, plumbing or electrical wiring in the building, so contestants will need to put all of their skills to use, designing from the floor plan up.
The Block Fans vs Faves Contestants
Alisa and Lysandra – Faves
Alisa and Lysandra (both 29) first appeared in The Block: Sky High, which they won to a tune of $395,000 in prize money, with their first floor apartment selling for $1,435.
The identical twins were formerly police women, but since their win have turned their talents towards entrepreneurship, starting their own online business. Alisa & Lysandra Collections is an online design and homewares store – the pair ultimately want to create their own homewares to sell.
The girls, both mums, are known as being demanding, intense, focused and argumentative, but also very talented. ‘We really want to have fun this time around,’ says Lysandra.
Brad and Dale – Faves
Mine Worker Brad and Landscaper Dale were both contestants in 2012’s season of The Block, but not on the same team. Brad formerly competed with Lara, and Dale with Sophie.
Brad took home more than $600,00 with Lawa in 2012, the block’s biggest ever prize. Dale is taking his third turn at The Block, having stepped in to lend Duncan a hand in The Block: All Stars, when Mark had a health scare.
The pair believe that working without their partners in this season may be a great advantage. They intend to turn their combined boypower into a win.
Chantelle and Steve – Fans
Chantelle and Steve have been dating for two years and share the motto ;go and stuff it up’. They believe in giving things a try, failing and then learning from their mistakes and improving.
Chantelle is 31, a sales and marketing business owner and milliner, whilst Steve is 35 and a chimney sweep. ‘We do everything that we want to do in life,’ says Chantell. ‘we make a conscious choice to push each other, if you’ve got an idea or a dream in life, then that’s what it’s about.
The pair have little experience in renovating, having only done minor work on Steve’s parents’ holiday home. Facing former winners of The Block, their motto will have to see them learning fast to be strong competitors.
Kyal and Kara – Fans
Kyal, 27, and Kara 26, have been married for 6 years, meeting on Australia Day long weekend in 2004, when they were just 16 and 17 years old.
Kyal, is a carpenter, whilst Kara, 26, is a physiotherapist. The pair are laid back and ready to get to work on The Block, having already spent three years renovating their own home. A chilled out surfer dude, Kyal, says that his life motto is ‘keep calm and go surfing’
Kara describes the pairs style as ‘organic, natural, modern and classic Scandinavian.’ Kyal says he is the ‘hardest worker ever’
Hopefully their combination of style and work ethic will see them through this season with success.
Image Credits: jump-in.com.au