Looking to join the new season of The Block? TV producer reveals the show’s number one casting requirement – and it’s not what you’d expect
You don’t need renovation experience to star on The Block.
That’s the sentiment expressed by the show’s producer Julian Cress as casting gets underway for the 2022 season of the popular Channel Nine series.
‘We love people that have the energy and enthusiasm to give it a shot,’ Cress told TV Tonight.
Casting the renovators: A producer on The Block has revealed what they’re looking for when it comes to casting – and it’s not what you would expect. Pictured: The Block host Scott Cam
‘We’ve had people who say they can’t build. You don’t necessarily need to know how to swing a hammer to do The Block. But it helps,’ he continued.
Seventeen seasons of The Block have aired so far and a lack of renovation experience has never proved to be too much of an issue for the producers or the contestants.
‘Probably our most novice teams that we’ve ever had on the show we cast in our very first series: Phil and Amity. They had no idea what they were doing. Not only did they survive, but when we brought them back, they won the All Star series,’ Cress said.
‘They had no idea what they were doing.’: in season one, Phil and Amity (pictured) were one of the show’s most ‘novice’ teams but they progressed far through the competition regardless of their inexperience
The producer adds that the former couple’s ability to ‘work well’, pick out ‘good tradesman’, budget and ‘build good relationships’ saw them progress far through the competition.
Casting for The Block’s 18th season is underway, with the show set in a regional location for the very first time.
Applicants need to be in a pair and aged between 18 – 65, which has been the same casting rules since the show’s first season back in 2003.
Requirements: Casting for The Block’s 18th season is underway, with the show set in a regional location for the very first time. Applicants need to be in a pair and aged between 18 – 65. Pictured: Luke and Josh Packham
Besides that, anyone can apply at any experience level, with Cress saying it doesn’t take a good ‘renovator’ to win.
‘I don’t think it’s about being a really talented renovator to get through The Block.
‘It’s about having a really strong relationship and being willing to work extremely hard and have a the ability to learn very quickly,’ he added.
Casting for The Block continues until October 18.
You can apply to be on the series here.
What it takes: ‘It’s about having a really strong relationship and being willing to work extremely hard and have a the ability to learn very quickly,’ he added. Pictured: Mitch and Mark