The Block season 17
| Company type | Reality television series season |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | August 8, 2021 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Parent | Nine Network |
The seventeenth installment of the Australian reality TV series The Block, named The Block: Fans v Faves, debuted on 8 August 2021 via the Nine Network. Returning from the prior season were hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft, site managers Keith Schleiger and Dan Reilly, as well as judges Neale Whitaker, Shaynna Blaze, and Darren Palmer.
Production
Applications for this seventeenth season were open from August until 27 September 2020, targeting couples aged between 18 and 65. Filming was planned to span 10 to 12 weeks, commencing in late February 2021. The season received official confirmation during Nine's 2021 upfronts held in September 2020. Subsequently, in October, Nine acquired five properties located on Bronte Court in Hampton, Victoria for a total of $11.5 million to serve as the renovation site.
In July 2021, it was announced that the format would pit Fans against Faves—marking the third occasion where returning contestants competed against newcomers, though only the second time under this specific title since season eight.
The winners of the season were Mitch & Mark, whose property sold for over $4.04 million. All homes were sold at auction, with every team securing profits exceeding $295,000.
Contestants
This edition featured three new couples ("Fans") alongside two returning pairs ("Favourites" or "Faves"). Notably, Josh & Luke Packham, newcomers labeled as "Fans," had previously participated in Love Island Australia.
| House | Couple | Age | Location | Relationship | Occupations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Faves | Georgia & Ronnie Caceres[lower-alpha 1] | 37 & 45 | Perth, WA | Married with children | Professional Renovators |
| 2 | Faves | Mitch Edwards & Mark McKie[lower-alpha 2] | 58 & 59 | Sydney, NSW | Partners | Retired Grandparents |
| 3 | Fans | Tanya & Vito Guccione | 39 & 44 | Melbourne, VIC | Married with children | Makeup Artist & Window Furnisher |
| 4 | Fans | Josh & Luke Packham | both 27 | Sydney, NSW | Identical Twins | Studying Mental Health & Synthetic Grass Installer |
| 5 | Fans | Kirsty Lee Akers & Jesse Anderson | 32 & 31 | Wangi Wangi, NSW | Married | Country Singer & Videographer |
Notes
Cheating Scandal
Schedule Controversy
Two teams—Tanya and Vito from House 3 and Josh and Luke from House 4—came into possession of a photograph showing the production schedule that detailed room call times and challenge dates. Although Josh and Luke acknowledged receiving the image, they initially did not disclose its origin; Tanya later admitted she forwarded it to Luke after obtaining it from a former tradesperson. This leak granted them a substantial competitive edge. Once uncovered, host Scott Cam deleted the schedule and implemented random room selections for the rest of the competition. Both pairs were docked two points each, disqualifying them from winning Basement Week. This penalty was met with criticism from viewers who felt it was too lenient.
During the finale, Tanya denied taking the photo herself and presented messages involving the alleged ex-tradie. Later interviews with Josh and Luke revealed that they saw the schedule displayed on a whiteboard inside Scotty’s office but refrained from photographing it. Tanya then requested their assistance as she took a picture; they agreed reluctantly. Initially silent due to Tanya’s unwillingness to confess involvement, they eventually persuaded her to admit guilt by fabricating a story about an ex-tradie.
Josh and Luke explained their hesitation to expose Tanya earlier stemmed from needing her consent on critical project decisions such as driveway relocation and pool access. Other contestants became aware before Auctions took place; apologies were exchanged and mostly accepted.
Tanya expressed feeling blindsided by their confession while her partner Vito continued to support her despite tensions.
Laundry Installation Incident
Following the schedule controversy, production changes affected subcontractors including Kinsman, responsible for laundry installations during Living & Dining Week. Teams were required to prepare laundries simultaneously with living/dining areas to qualify for free installation if completed on time. Tanya and Vito missed this deadline but negotiated a free installation regardless of established rules mandating payment. Other contestants intervened to ensure they adhered to payment requirements.
Public Response
The scandal provoked strong reactions from fans, especially regarding Tanya’s delayed admission of involvement. Many called for stricter consequences such as point deductions or adjustments to auction results affecting implicated teams. The casting choices of Josh & Luke and Tanya & Vito faced scrutiny amid accusations that their selection prioritized drama over fair competition.
Speculation
Some theorized Tanya might have felt at a disadvantage competing against experienced All Stars, motivating her to acquire the schedule photo for an edge.
Score History
| Competitors | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie & Georgia | Mitch & Mark | Tanya & Vito | Josh & Luke | Kirsty & Jesse | |
| Rooms | Scores Achieved | ||||
| Guest Bedroom | 24½ | 22½ | 23 | 24 | 23 |
| Guest Ensuite | 26½ | 28 | 24½ | 20½ | 24 |
| Master Bedroom & Walk-in-Robe | 23½ | 26½ | 24 | 27 | 23 |
| Basement | 28½ | 28½ | 25½ | 19 | 29 |
| Master Ensuite | 29 | 22 | 22½ | 28½ | 26 |
| Guest Bedroom & Redo Room | 29 | 28 | 27 | 20 | 28½ |
| Kitchen | 27 | 22½ | 25½ | 26½ | 29½ |
| Living & Dining Area | 29½ | 25 | 29½ | 22½ | 29 |
| Hallway, Laundry & Powder Room | 29 | 26½ | 25 | 18½ | 29½ |
| Backyard | 28 | 28 | 22½ | 28 | 29½ |
| Garage, Study & Wine Cellar | 27 | 23½ | 19½ | 8 | 26½ |
| Front Garden & Facade | 27 | 29½ | 24 | 24½ | 28½ |
| Super Power Leaderboard Total | 331½ | 310 | 292½ | 267 | 326 |
Weekly Room Budget
| Week Number | Room(s) Assigned | Budget Limit | Expenditure by Teams | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie & Georgia | Mitch & Mark | Tanya & Vito | Josh & Luke | Kirsty & Jesse | |||
| 1 | Guest Bedroom | '\'\'$21,000\\' | $21,305 | $13,823.20 | $14,199.98 | $20,722.80 | $14,757.58 |
| 2 | Guest Ensuite | '\'\'$23,000\\' | '$24,500' | $20,833 | '$33,237' | $25,356 | '$19,022' |
| 3 | "Master Bedroom & Walk-in-Robe" | '$22,000' | '$24,500' | '$20,376' | '$25,649' | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $19,830 | 'bgcolor=pink' $24,920 |
| '4' | 'Basement' | 'rowspan=2' '\'\'$25,000\\' | '$23,410' | '$31,795' | '$32,106' | 'bgcolor=pink' $28,231 | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $34,117 |
| '5' | 'Master Ensuite' | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $22,200 | 'bgcolor=pink' $26,792 | '$17,458' | '$41,980 ' | '$27,044' | |
| '6' | "Guest Bedroom & Redo Room" | "\'\'$21,000 + $5,000\'\'" | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $24,680 | '$22,461' | '$15,220' | 'bgcolor=pink' $17,248 | '$19,855' |
| '7' | "Kitchen" | "\'\'$21,000\'\'" | '$39,396' | 'bgcolor=pink' $33,768 | '$27,083' | '$33,024' | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $49,085 |
| '8' | "Living & Dining" | 'rowspan=2' '\'\'$25,000\\' | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $47,001 | '$37,691' | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $49,618 | 'bgcolor=pink' $37,367 | '$47,863' |
| '9' | "Hallway, Laundry & Powder Room" | '$37,418' | '$25,092' | '$34,138' | 'bgcolor=pink' $29,504 | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $44,428 | |
| '10' | "Backyard" | "\'\'$35,000\'\'" | '$76,033' | '$46,425' | 'bgcolor=pink' $45,005 | '$53,538' | 'bgcolor=lightgreen' $86,411 |
| '11' | "Garage, Study & Wine Cellar" | "\'\'$30,000\'\'" | 'bgcolor=lightgreen - ' | ||||
| '12 ' | 'Front Garden & Facade ' | "\'\'$40,000\'\'" | ' - ' | 'bgcolor=lightgreen - ' | 'bgcolor=pink - ' | ' - ' | ' - ' |
Weekly Room Rewards
| Week | Room | Victorious Team | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guest Bedroom | Ronnie & Georgia | $10,000 plus a retreat to the Mornington Peninsula |
| 2 | Guest Ensuite | Mitch & Mark | $10,000 accompanied by a stay at the Lancemore Crossley St. Hotel |
| 3 | Master Bedroom & Walk-in-Robe | Josh & Luke | $10,000 and an overnight visit to the Yarra Valley |
| 4 | Basement | Kirsty & Jesse | $10,000 plus an additional $5,000 for achieving a perfect score and a night at Lancemore Crossley St. Hotel |
| 5 | Master Ensuite | Ronnie & Georgia | $10,000 with a $5,000 bonus for a flawless score and a luxury holiday at Lyon House in Ballarat |
| 6 | Guest Bedroom & Redo Room | $10,000 plus $5,000 for perfect scoring and an upscale holiday at Lancemore Werribee Mansion | |
| 7 | Kitchen | Kirsty & Jesse | $10,000 with an extra $10,000 for two perfect scores, Gaggenau wine fridges valued at $100k, and an overnight stay at the W Hotel |
| 8 | Living & Dining | Ronnie & Georgia | $5,000 each plus an evening at Red Hill Polperro Farmhouse Tanya & Vito received $10,000 for two flawless scores |
| Tanya & Vito | |||
| 9 | Hallway, Laundry & Powder Room | Kirsty & Jesse | $10,000 plus an additional $10,000 for two perfect scores and a night at Mitchelton estate staying in an Airstream caravan |
| 10 | Backyard | $10,000 prize money | |
| 11 | Garage, Study & Wine Cellar | Ronnie & Georgia | $10,000 accompanied by one night's holiday in the Yarra Valley |
| 12 | Front Garden & Facade | Mitch & Mark | $10,000 along with a Ford Puma vehicle |
Judges' Scores
- Legend:
- Top Score
- Lowest Score
| Week | Area(s) | Judge | Teams | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie & Georgia | Mitch & Mark | Tanya & Vito | Josh & Luke | Kirsty & Jesse | |||
| 1 | Guest Bedroom | Darren | 8 | 8 | 7½ | 8½ | 8½ |
| Shaynna | 8½ | 7½ | 8 | 8 | 7 | ||
| Neale | 8 | 7 | 7½ | 7½ | 7½ | ||
| Total Score | Template:HRTotalTop | Template:HRTotalBottom | Template:HRTotal | Template:HRTotal | Template:HRTotal | ||
| 2 | Guest Ensuite | Darren | 9 | 9½ | 8½ | 7 | 8 |
| Shaynna | 8½ | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | ||
| Neale | 9 | 9½ | 8 | 6½ | 8 | ||
| Total | Template:HRTotal | Template:HRTotalTop | Template:HRTotal | Template:HRTotalBottom | Template:HRTotal | ||
Challenge Scores
| Week | Challenge | Prize | Teams | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge Name | Details | Ronnie & Georgia | Mitch & Mark | Tanya & Vito | Josh & Luke | Kirsty & Jesse | ||
| 1 | House Decider | Design and complete a bedroom within a $5,000 limit in 48 hours | Priority house selection | House 1 (fan-selected) | House 2 (fan-selected) | 3rd place (House 3) |
2nd place (House 4) |
Template:Won |
| 3 | Bayley House Renovation | Revamp a shared space with an individual budget of $7,000 | $10,000 divided among team members | colspan=2 Template:Lost | colspan=3 Template:Win | |||
| 5 | Cubby House Contest | Construct the most innovative cubby house design | $10,000 plus one bonus point | Template:Win | Barbie Cubby House | Jungle Cubby House | Ballpit Cubby House | Cafe Cubby House |
| 6 | Shipwrecked Design Challenge | Decorate a guest bedroom utilizing reclaimed ship materials | $10,000 and a Myhome smart system or $10,000 plus one bonus point | Hanging Shelf | Play Station | Fidget Planter Boxer | Bedside Table | Template:Won |
| 7 | Lip Sync Contest | Perform and lip sync to a selected musical genre | $5,000 plus one bonus point | Template:Win | Boy band: Performing "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" | Country Legend: Performing Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers' "Island in the Stream" | Musical Theatre: Performing "The Lion King" Hakuna Matata | Rock God: Performing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" |
| 8 | Domain Listing Challenge | Create a property listing for Domain platform | $10,000 and three bonus points towards Domain Super Power leaderboard | Template:Won | 24½ | 22½ | 24 | 27 |
| 10 | Domain Buyers Jury Challenge | Prepare properties for evaluation by Domain buyers jury | $10,000 and bonus point awarded to Kirsty and Jess | 31 | Template:Won | 32 | 27 | 26 |
| 11 | Games Night Challenge | (Four-part race):
1. Build a block tower, 2. Draw it, 3. Pin the tool on Scott Cam, 4. Complete a large blocks puzzle |
$5,000 prize | Template:Won | 2nd place | 5th place | 3rd place | 4th place |
| Glass Blowing Challenge | Craft glass decanters for wine cellar awards:
1st:$5,000, 2nd:$3,000, 3rd:$2,000 prizes |
Triangular decanter design | Classic decanter (3rd place)
60's style decanter (2nd place) Side-sitting decanter design |
|||||
Auction
| Rank | Couple | Reserve Price | Auction Outcome | Profit Earned | Total Winnings Accumulated | Auction Sequence Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | Mitch & Mark | $3.4 million | $4,044,444.44 | $644,444.44 | $744,444.44 | Second to auction |
| 2nd Place | Josh and Luke | $3.4 million | $3.93 million | $530,000 | $530,000 | Fourth to auction |
| 3rd Place | Tanya and Vito | $3.4 million | $3,800,000.01 | $400,000.01 | $400,000.01 | Third to auction |
| 4th Place | Kirsty and Jesse | $4.1 million | $4,401,523.67 | $301,523.67 | $301,523.67 | Fifth to auction |
| 5th Place | Ronnie and Georgia | $3.4 million | $3.696 million | $296,000 | $296,000 | First to auction |
Ratings
| Week | Episode | Airdate | Broadcast time | Viewership (millions) |
Evening rank | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Welcome to The Block" | 8 August 2021 | Sunday 7:00pm | 0.747 | 7 | |
| 2 | "Guest Bedrooms Begin" | 9 August 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 0.627 | 10 | ||
| 3 | "Guest Bedrooms Continue" | 10 August 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 0.634 | 10 | ||
| 4 | "Fans & Faves collide" | 11 August 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 0.633 | 9 | ||
| 2 | 5 | "Guest Bedrooms Revealed" | 15 August 2021 | Sunday 7:00pm | 0.758 | 4 | |
| 6 | "Guest Ensuites Begin" | 16 August 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 0.619 | 12 | ||
| 7 | "Guest Ensuites Continue" | 17 August 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 0.591 | 12 | ||
| 8 | "Game Changing Surprise" | 18 August 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 0.678 | 9 | ||
(Note: Only a segment of the ratings information is presented here for conciseness.)
References
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