Filming is underway for The Block 2025 and the theme for this new season of the Channel Nine renovation series couldn’t be more obvious.
In images obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia on Friday, the next line-up of cast members could be seen happily displaying their LGBTQIA+ pride.
While an ‘all gay’ cast for the 2025 season was recently debunked, the series still gave a nod to Daylesford’s rainbow history on day one of filming.
This year’s contestants donned their most colourful looks for the occasion, with one all-women team stealing the show in their bright yellow and pink cowboy hats.
The pair, who are reportedly this year’s lesbian couple, were all smiles as they waved rainbow flags and donned colourful feather boa’s while arriving on a pride float.
Another team, which included two men, took their looks a step further as one opted for a larger-than-life rainbow wig.
Filming is underway for The Block 2025 and the theme for this new season of the Channel Nine renovation series couldn’t be more obvious
In images obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia on Friday, the next line-up of cast members could be seen happily displaying their LGBTQIA+ pride
While an ‘all gay’ cast for the 2025 season was recently debunked, the series still gave a nod to Daylesford’s rainbow history on day one of filming
He paired it with a tie-dye shirt and threw up a peace sign as he posed with his teammate who wore a rainbow head-band and a hi-vis vest over his naked chest.
There will also be three heterosexual teams this year, dashing any hopes fans may have had for an ‘all gay’ cast.
One team got into the cowboy spirit with their felt hats, with the man of the group opting for a red vest over a white button-down shirt.
The two other teams looked much younger, with one couple wearing a rainbow head-band and cap, while the other donned bedazzled police-style hats.
Each team arrived on-set in a decked out pride parade float which appeared to be hand-made.
Host Scott Cam was waiting in the wings to address the teams with judges Shaynna Blaze, Marty Fox and Darren Palmer.
It comes after reports revealed producers of The Block considered an ‘all gay’ cast for the 2025 season as a tribute to the history of Daylesford.
The tiny rural getaway, which is 112 km from Melbourne, is the location for this year’s hit renovation show and is well known for its LGBTQIA+ ChillOut Festival.
This year’s contestants donned their most colourful looks for the occasion, with one all-women team stealing the show in their bright yellow and pink cowboy hats
The pair, who are reportedly this year’s lesbian couple, were all smiles as they waved rainbow flags and donned colourful feather boa’s while arriving on a pride float
Another team, which included two men, took their looks a step further as one opted for a larger-than-life rainbow wig
He paired it with a tie-dye shirt and threw up a peace sign as he posed with his teammate who wore a rainbow head-band and a hi-vis vest over his naked chest
An insider told Daily Mail Australia a lesbian couple have already been signed on as one of five teams this year.
‘In fact, not only was inclusion on Channel Nine’s mind, but an all gay series was on the cards at one point,’ claimed the source.
‘This is the second time the reality series has had two women on the show—Julia Treuel and Sasha Wright-Neville in 2016 were in fact the first lesbian couple.’
Meanwhile, couple Gavin ‘Gav’ Atkins and Warren ‘Waz’ Sonin became fan favourites during the first season in 2003.
However, the source said ‘official plans’ for an all gay season were abandoned for a few reasons.
‘When it comes down to it, shows like these don’t really work to “stunt cast”. Including an all gay cast,’ they said.
‘The reality is that Channel Nine, nor any other network, would cast like this for fear of alienating audiences.
‘It would be fun in theory, and it would be quite colourful and rewarding, but you run the risk of alienating some audiences.’
There will also be three opposite-sex teams this year, dashing any hopes fans may have had for an ‘all gay’ cast
One team got into the cowboy spirit with their felt hats, with the man of the group opting for a red vest over a white button-down shirt
The two other teams looked much younger, with one couple wearing a rainbow head-band and cap, while the other donned bedazzled police-style hats
Each team arrived on-set in a decked out pride parade float which appeared to be hand-made
Host Scott Cam was waiting in the wings to address the teams with judges Shaynna Blaze, Marty Fox and Darren Palmer
Meanwhile, a Daylesford advocate commented ‘inclusion’ should have been a priority on The Block in 2025.
‘It would seem to be a massive oversight to not cast someone among the queer community or a Daylesford based run of the show with such strong ties dating back decades,’ they said.
‘It was groundbreaking to have Gav and Waz on TV at 6:30pm in the first season in 2003.
‘So it is not new for The Block, but this year but they did have a special reason for including the LGBTQIA+ community.’
Daylesford, meanwhile, is listed on the Visit Gay Australia (VGA) site as the ‘gay capital of regional Victoria’.
Among its attractions for the LGBTQIA+ community is the ChillOut Festival which is considered as ‘Australia’s number one Queer Country Pride Festival’.
The VGA also claims Daylesford is a favourite getaway for members of the Queer community.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
One contestant was pictured wearing a beige monochrome ensemble as she arrived on-set
The all-male team wore matching white shorts, with one slipping into a very colourful shirt
The new contestants were all smiles on their first day of filming
The same-sex couple of the season proudly waved their rainbow flags in the air
One contestant could be seen wearing a bedazzled police-style hat
One of the teams made a statement for the first impression by dressing in matching outfits
Scott, Shaynna and Darren could be seen having a chat between takes
Contestants excitedly mingled during filming breaks
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