It’s the longest-running reality series in Australia’s history.
And after 20 seasons of The Block, there has been no shortage of shocking scandals.
The show started life back in 2003 and ran for two seasons under host Jamie Durie.
After a six-year absence, it was revived by Nine in 2010 with current host Scott Cam at the helm while co-host Shelly Craft joined the series in 2011.
While The Block is meant to be about five teams competing to renovate and style properties before selling them at auction, the true draw for the long-running series is the drama.
From shocking ‘infidelity’ scandals and dramatic walk-outs, to verbal spats and contestants bending the rules to get ahead, there has never been any shortage of drama on The Block.
As the show’s current ‘flirtgate’ scandal draws to a dramatic conclusion, Daily Mail Australia takes a look as some of the most shocking moments in The Block’s history.
After 20 seasons of The Block, there have been no shortage of shocking scandals amid all the hammering and painting.
The ‘Flirtgate’ Scandal – 2024
The Block’s most recent drama has seen contestants Kylie and Brad’s marriage implode before viewers’ eyes.
The shocking scandal kicked off when Kylie sensationally quit the show and flew home to Cairns following Brad’s flirty exchange with fellow contestant Mimi Belperio, remarking that he would ‘follow’ her OnlyFans account.
It all came to a head on Wednesday’s episode when Kylie returned to the Phillip Island site, declaring she and Brad were ‘officially’ over.
The Block’s most recent drama has seen contestants Kylie and Brad’s marriage implode before our very eyes
The shocking scandal kicked off when Kylie sensationally quit the show and fly home to Cairns following Brad’s flirty exchange with fellow contestant Mimi Belperio (pictured)
‘If I gave up we’d leave with nothing so, whatever we get, even if its 10 grand, I’m taking f***ing half of what you get and then I’m leaving your a**e, you can keep your f***ing house, and I’m f**king off,’ she sensationally said on Wednesday night.
‘I don’t even know if I’m staying in Cairns to be honest there’s nothing there for me anymore.
‘You treat your partner like this you can f**king deal with it,’ she continued to fume in an overheard argument between the couple, who have been married for seven years.
It all came to a head on Wednesday’s episode when Kylie returned to the Phillip Island site, declaring that she and Brad were ‘officially’ over
She added: ‘My biggest problem is the entire time we’ve been together, and even when we were starting out, you have never flirted with me like that in our entire relationship so you can only imagine how that makes me feel.’
Kylie then went on to admit the flirtation between Brad and Mimi had been so bad she believed the pair had secretly slept together behind the scenes of The Block.
‘Why are you talking to her about following her Only Fans?’ Kylie began.
‘When you were like: “I need to go to the toilet…” I honestly thought you guys had come in to f**k and then you guys were in here for ages.
‘In my mind I feel like something happened. My biggest thing was I already voiced my concerns to you about her and how she felt about you.’
Contestant Tanya Cuccione found herself in hot water on the 2021 Fans vs Faves season after secretly snapping a picture of the show’s entire production schedule.
The Stolen Production Schedule – 2021
Contestant Tanya Cuccione found herself in hot water during the 2021 Fans vs Faves season after secretly snapping a picture of the show’s entire production schedule.
The makeup artist was caught out after the Packham twins Luke and Josh confessed that both Josh and Tanya had seen the schedule in host Scott Cam’s office near the crew’s toilets, and she later returned to take a photo.
After falsely claiming for weeks that an ‘anonymous tradie’ had sent it to her, Tanya finally admitted her wrongdoing in the series finale.
The makeup artist was caught out after the Packham twins Luke and Josh, confessed that both Josh and Tanya had seen the schedule in host Scott Cam’s office near the crew’s toilets, and she later returned to take a photo.
After falsely claiming for weeks that an ‘anonymous tradie’ had sent it to her, Tanya finally admitted her wrongdoing in the series finale
Yet prior to her confession, Tanya made one last attempt to prove she was innocent by showing the producers a screenshot of a clearly doctored ‘text message’ she’d supposedly received from the fictitious tradie.
The embattled renovator was brought to tears when making her confession.
‘What I want to say is that I obviously take full responsibility for this situation and I am sorry, I am truly sorry. Yes, I did. I took the photograph,’ she said tearfully.
‘I am not a stupid woman but I did a stupid thing. We take responsibility for what happened and where it ended up after that was obviously out of my power, but I started it.’
The Block’s 2014 season saw New South Wales brothers Simon and Shannon Vos show Australia just how sneaky they can be
Shannon and Simon Secretly Record Judges – 2014
The Block’s 2014 season saw New South Wales brothers Simon and Shannon Vos show Australia just how sneaky they can be.
The ruthless brothers shocked viewers after they were caught secretly recording the judge’s comments after Simon left his mobile phone under a bed.
As they were assessing the room, judge Darren Palmer found the phone under the bed and the recording of their discussions was immediately deleted.
The ruthless brothers shocked viewers after they were caught secretly recording the judge’s comments after Simon left his mobile phone under a bed
A furious Darren stood up holding the smuggled iPhone and was heard calling the brothers ‘cheeky monkeys’, asking them why they had gone against the show’s rules.
Speaking about the incident in 2024, Darren revealed what he really said when spotting the phone.
‘Yeah I didn’t originally say ”cheeky monkeys”,’ Darren said, hinting at a more expletive-laden remark towards the pair.
‘We had to overdub ”cheeky monkeys” as what I actually said was not suitable for the time slot.’
During the broadcast, Darren’s lips appeared to be saying ‘cheeky f**kers’, which is not an appropriate comment to air on the family friendly program.
Despite the awkward blow-up, the lovable Vos brothers won fans over with their creative ideas and prankster reputation, winning the 2014 season after the hammer came down on their newly renovated pad at a $1.9million.
Influencer Elle Ferguson and her ex-AFL star partner Joel Patfull shocked viewers in 2022 when they sensationally quit the show just after filming commenced
Joel and Elle’s Shock Exit – 2022
Influencer Elle Ferguson and her ex-AFL star partner Joel Patfull shocked viewers in 2022 when they sensationally quit the show just after filming commenced.
The couple downed tools just two days into filming after Joel’s mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home.
Host Scott Cam, 59, didn’t mince words and straight-up called their departure ‘un-Australian’.
The couple downed tools just two days into filming, after Joel’s mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home
The couple downed tools just two days into filming, after Joel’s mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home
He recently accused the pair of fleeing The Block in the middle of the night and giving no explanation for their departure.
He rubbished their excuse, telling News Corp at the time that while Joel’s mother did injure herself before filming began, this wasn’t the excuse the couple gave for throwing in the towel.
‘They didn’t give us a reason why they were leaving. They never mentioned anything to us about visiting their sick mother,’ the long-time host said on Tuesday.
Host Scott Cam, 59, didn’t mince words and straight-up called their departure ‘un-Australian’
‘We flew them to Adelaide before The Block started for a week, and put them up in a hotel so they could see [Joel’s mother], and they came back and said everything’s fine,’ he added.
‘They never spoke to us [about quitting]; they just left in the middle of the night.’
Scott previously said at the Logie Awards that Elle and Joel giving up so soon into the competition was ‘unAustralian’ and ‘p**s poor’.
The pressure of The Block reached boiling point for married couple Anastasia and Tim in 2011 with the pair walking away from the competition early
Anastasia and Tim Leave After Unpaid Tradie Accusations- 2011
The pressure of The Block reached boiling point for married couple Anastasia and Tim in 2011, with the pair walking away from the competition early.
Things began to unravel for the duo when they were confronted about their budget.
‘I’m going home,’ the brunette told her husband of four years after being confronted by the show’s hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft for only having approximately $1500 left in their bank account.
The couple’s plasterer Paulie was one of the tradesmen concerned about whether he would be paid in full for his services, and confided in foreman Keith hours earlier.
‘I’m going home,’ the brunette told her husband of four years after being confronted by the show’s hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft for only having approximately $1500 left in their bank account
Keith suggested the hard-working tradesmen confront the couple, to ensure they will be able to pay the invoice of $19,000.
‘I’m out of here. I’m not putting up with that,’ she continued, grabbing her handbag and storming out of the apartment the pair were renovating.
On her way to the car she was stopped by Scott and Shelley once again, the media personalities doing their best to change the emotional contestant’s mind.
‘Anastasia you’ve worked hard and now’s not the time to leave,’ 52-year-old Logie winner Scott said.
But Anastasia begged to differ, insisting, ‘It hasn’t been a good experience for me at all’.
But Anastasia eventually returned and she and Tim made themselves $755,000 at auction.
Contestant Sarah-Jane found herself knee-deep in hot water back in 2022 after she was caught misusing the Channel Nine credit card
Sarah-Jane And The Misused Credit Card – 2022
Contestant Sarah-Jane found herself knee-deep in hot water back in 2022 after she was caught misusing the Channel Nine credit card.
Contestants were given the cards to buy building supplies, furniture and other items relating to their houses, but the 30-year-old social worker abused the privilege.
Sarah-Jane had called for an audit earlier this week after Omar and Oz’s ‘dodgy dealing’ on their baby grand piano.
Scott Cam obliged her request only to discover half-way through Sarah-Jane had been misusing her Channel Nine credit card to buy cigarettes.
As Scott and Shelley Craft did their walk around the houses, they stopped by House One for a little chat about what he dug up in the audit Sarah-Jane and Tom requested.
‘There’s a couple of maybe personal purchases out of my money,’ he revealed.
Sarah-Jane instantly understood what he was talking about and jumped straight into her excuse as Scott and Shelley had a laugh.
‘It’s my ciggies and it was one time and I didn’t have my purse on me,’ Sarah-Jane said.
Shelley said, ‘They all say that,’ as Tom seemed more concerned with how much the cigarettes cost.
Afterwards, Sarah-Jane came clean to the cameras, saying: ‘Guilty as charged ma’am. There’s no objection, Your Honour, from here. I own it. I did it.’
Back in 2014, feisty contestant Deanne ‘Dee’ Jolly did not mince her words when slamming judge Shayna Blaze’s assessment of hers and Darren’s ensuite.
Shayna Blaze Is Slammed By Contestants… Twice – 2014 and 2016
While she is known for offering her critiques of the contestants efforts, judge Shayna Blaze has copped her fair share of criticism too.
Back in 2014, feisty contestant Deanne ‘Dee’ Jolly did not mince her words when slamming the judge’s assessment of hers and Darren’s ensuite.
While brothers Simon and Shannon took out the challenge, Dee let out a slew of controversial comments, saying the judge has ‘no f****** idea.’
‘You’re a bogan from (Melbourne suburb) Wantirna and you’ve got no f****** idea and I will out style you any day,’ Deanne said
Shayna also fell foul of contestant Carleen in 2016 after the judge gave her critique of her’s and partner Dan’s terrace
As soon as the score reveal was over, Dee began unleashing her inner thoughts to her peers, boldly saying: ‘I hate Shaynna.’
‘Tell you what she’d wanna keep away from me at the wrap party if she shows up,’ the opinionated blonde stated.
‘You’re a bogan from (Melbourne suburb) Wantirna and you’ve got no f****** idea and I will out style you any day.’
Shayna also fell foul of contestant Carleen in 2016 after the judge gave her critique of her’s and partner Dan’s terrace.
After hearing Shaynna’s negative feedback of their space, Carleen said to camera: ‘Just love it when a middle aged woman picks on another middle aged woman.’
Shaynna handed the couple a score of 7.5 points out of ten, with Carleen saying to Dan: ‘What a b***h, she just killed us.’
