Scott Cam and a producer from The Block have revealed the real reason the show moved from Sydney to Melbourne.
The hit revival series, which filmed its first three seasons in Sydney, moved production south to Melbourne in 2011, where it has remained ever since.
Host Scott Cam and producer Justin Sturzaker said Yahoo Australia that the Victorian capital worked better for the fourth season when the show moved from a weekly to a nightly programme.
“It was decided to dismantle the show, meaning five nights a week, and suddenly we had to come up with a completely new concept,” Scott said.
Sturzaker later said the number of spectators in Melbourne also motivated the move.
“Melbourne has always been Australia’s number one audience and has always been very well received,” the producer explained.
“And then obviously with the huge passion for design and art in Melbourne, coming and trying my hand here was a success,” he added.
Although the show premiered in 2003 in Bondi and returned there for a sixth season for its 10th anniversary, there are no plans to return to the port city.
Scott Cam and a producer from The Block have revealed the real reason the show moved from Sydney to Melbourne. Pictured: Presenter Scott Cam
In 2017, Scott suggested to the The Telegraph newspaper that it is more difficult to work with local councils in New South Wales than with their counterparts in Melbourne.
“We need the City Council to join our plan. That is our biggest problem.”
Co-host Shelley Craft joked that the show wouldn’t be as enjoyable to watch if it returned to Sydney.
“It was decided to dismantle the program, meaning five nights a week, and suddenly we had to come up with a completely new concept,” Scott said. Pictured: Shelley Craft
“It’s not very exciting to see someone stuck in traffic for six hours,” he said.
“Councils are great to us (in Melbourne), most of our production team and crew have moved away, you can get property in Melbourne and that’s why we’re here for a lot of reasons,” Craft explained.
“We have had incredible support from the city of Melbourne,” he added.
The Block: Island will premiere on Monday night as 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Channel Nine’s popular revival series.
In 2017, Scott told the Daily Telegraph that it is harder to work with councils in New South Wales than with their Melbourne counterparts. “We need the council to get on board with our project. That’s our biggest problem.”