Backyard Blitz
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Don Burke |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Key people | Don Burke (developer), Jamie Durie (host), Scott Cam (builder), Nigel Ruck (landscaper), Jody Rigby (horticulturist) |
| Products | Lifestyle and DIY gardening television program |
| Parent | CTC Productions |
Backyard Blitz was an acclaimed Australian lifestyle and DIY TV series broadcast on the Nine Network between 2000 and 2007. Developed by Don Burke and produced through his CTC Productions, the show featured Jamie Durie as its host.
Overview
The concept centered on a team of gardening experts transforming the outdoor spaces of deserving participants within a limited period, a format reminiscent of Ground Force. This similarity prompted legal proceedings from the Seven Network, which intended to produce an Australian adaptation of Ground Force. Nevertheless, Seven's claim was dismissed after CTC Productions proved that Burke’s earlier program, Burke's Backyard, had previously showcased garden makeovers, thereby confirming the originality of their concept.
Key figures on the show included Jamie Durie as host and lead landscaper, builder Scott Cam, landscaper Nigel Ruck, and horticulturist Jody Rigby. The series served as a launching pad for Durie, Rigby, and Cam's television careers; notably, Durie and Cam went on to co-host Nine’s popular reality series The Block.
Throughout its broadcast tenure, Backyard Blitz maintained a position within the top 20 most-watched programs nationally and consistently led its timeslot. Despite strong viewership, the Nine Network announced the show's cancellation on 14 November 2006 after seven seasons. Don Burke publicly expressed his astonishment at this decision. The network subsequently aired six unaired episodes during mid-2007.
Following this, in 2008 Nine introduced the spin-off series Domestic Blitz, presented by Scott Cam alongside Shelley Craft, which continued for four seasons until 2010.
Awards
The series garnered notable industry accolades, securing six back-to-back Logie Awards for 'Most Popular Lifestyle Program' from 2002 through 2006, with an additional nomination in 2007. Jamie Durie won 'Most Popular New Male Talent' in 2001 and received nominations for 'Most Popular TV Presenter' in both 2005 and 2006.
See also
- List of longest-running Australian television series
- List of Australian television series
- Mucking In