Shelley Craft and Scott Cam on The Block in 2025. Picture: Channel 9.
The creators of The Block have revealed their bold plans for a star-studded spin-off that could take the hit Aussie reno overseas.
Dubai, Italy and Monaco have emerged as potential locations for the show’s first global season.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Block co-creator Julian Cress and Nine head of content, production and development Adrian Swift said the concept isn’t in production yet, but it’s one Nine could explore as the show’s renewed success sparks talk of expansion.
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“One hundred per cent, I’d love to make that,” Mr Cress said.
“If Mitch Starc and Alyssa Healy applied, I’d sign them tomorrow. Maybe an All-Stars and Celebrity season and take it overseas.
“I was joking with Scotty about The Block Dubai or even The Block Monaco filled with F1 drivers. Maybe somewhere in Italy with a one-euro house.”
Julian Cress joked that if cricket stars Mitch Starc and Alyssa Healy applied for Celebrity Block, he’d “sign them tomorrow.” Picture: Alan Barber
Current hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft could front a star-studded version if Nine moves ahead with Celebrity Block, though no hosting decisions have been made. Picture: Nine
Mr Cress said the idea fits naturally with the show’s adventurous spirit.
“There’s no rule that says The Block has to stay in one postcode forever,” he said.
“We’ve done apartments, suburban houses, country builds, why not take that same energy somewhere completely different? The Block Dubai … The Block Tuscany … imagine the scale of that, The show has always been about creativity under pressure.
“Stick a bunch of Aussies on foreign soil with a language barrier and a deadline and you’d have the best television we’ve ever made.”
Nine’s head of programming Adrian Swift says any celebrity edition would complement, not replace, the main show — keeping The Block’s heart firmly with everyday Australians. Picture: Hollie Adams/The Australian
A global Celebrity Block could take the hit Aussie renovation show to glamorous locations like Dubai, Monaco and Italy.
Mr Swift said while no decision had been made, the idea showed how far the brand could reach.
“Could we do a celebrity version? Yeah, I think we could,” he said.
“But The Block changes people’s lives. It’s about everyday Australians, and that’s why it resonates.
“Any spin-off would complement that, not replace it.”
The Nine head of content added that the franchise’s strength makes such conversations possible.
“The Block brand travels incredibly well,” Mr Swift said.
“Every market understands the drama of a deadline and the pride in turning nothing into something beautiful.
“We’ve exported Australian creativity before — so an international edition isn’t unthinkable.”
The Block’s 21st season, filmed in Daylesford, delivered a 20 per cent lift in audiences, its biggest ratings surge in years. Picture: Nine
After 21 seasons, The Block remains one of the most-watched programs on Australian television, and its Daylesford series, the first built entirely from scratch and according OzTAM ratings delivered a 20 per cent audience lift on the twentieth season.
“The more risks we take, the longer we stay on air,” Mr Cress said.
“We’ve got fans who weren’t even born when it started, which is incredible.
“If the appetite keeps growing the way it has this year, there’s no reason we couldn’t explore a limited global season, it’d be a celebration of everything the audience already loves, competition, design and a bit of chaos.”
Whitefox director and Block judge Marty Fox, who recently launched his real-estate brand in Dubai, said the Middle East and Europe both offered perfect backdrops for a future celebrity season.
“I couldn’t think of anything better,” Mr Fox said.
“Dubai is the most vibrant, multicultural, pro-development country I’ve ever stepped foot in.
“A Celebrity Block filmed there would be an absolute hit, visually appealing, culturally exciting, and something everyone would want to watch.
“And imagine Monaco or Italy — the architecture, the glamour, the history — it’d look unbelievable on screen.”
Mr Fox said the overseas format would keep the show’s heart intact.
The Block’s judging panel — including Marty Fox, Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer — could see a celebrity spin-off bring a new wave of creative talent. Picture: Nine
“A celebrity version abroad would merge the Aussie work ethic with global design,” he said.
“It would be aspirational but still grounded, that mix is what people love about The Block.”
And even if the contestants were household names, the Whitefox director promised they’d still have to earn their praise.
“If they do a crappy room, they’re getting schooled,” Mr Fox said.
“If they do a great one, they’ll be celebrated, simple as that.”
The 2025 Daylesford contestants are preparing to take their homes to auction, as talk builds of a future Celebrity Block edition abroad.
Nine Head Of Content, Production & Development Adrian Swift said subtle reinvention each year — not total overhaul — had kept The Block thriving for two decades.
“It’s never static,” Mr Swift said.
“We tweak, evolve and keep it fresh. That’s what keeps The Block alive.
“At the end of the day, if the show keeps connecting the way it is now, it gives us freedom to dream a little bigger. That’s how formats evolve.”
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