Channel Nine's blog

STYLE: Inviting elegance

The Block’s first ever mother and son couple, Brett, 26, and Rana, 46, hail from the north-western outskirts of Melbourne.

Rana, on the loose after selling her homewares and fashion business, describes herself as a “domestic goddess who’s ready to get her hands dirty on another project”, and describes her son as impatient, stubborn and quite bossy, but also incredibly thoughtful, caring and generous.

Brett, a drainer and machine operator, is currently renovating the house that he bought three years ago, a three-bedroom brick-veneer.

“So far I’ve tiled a stack-stone feature wall, painted, done some plastering, demolition, grinding, and jack-hammered concrete,” he says.

Rana has renovated her last two homes. “I was hands-on with the painting, wall-papering, demolition and landscape design, as well as project-managing both houses. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.”

Brett thinks his mother is a perfectionist who pays too much attention to detail, but also believes that he gets his competitive streak from her.

“Mum might be a fussy perfectionist but she never puts up with second best, which is a trait I greatly admire,” says Brett.

Rana thinks Brett’s handyman talents and ability to learn new skills quickly will be crucial to their success on The Block.

“I’ve never known anyone to work as hard as Brett and when it comes to renovating houses, he’s a natural. He might not be a tradie but he certainly always knows what to do,” she says proudly. “His work ethic is to be admired. There’s nothing he won’t take on.”

STYLE: TBC… they’re still deciding

When Brad and Lara, both 30, met five years ago in a pub near their home town of East Maitland in NSW, they bonded over a common love of Bon Jovi, the Foo Fighters and sport. They have never looked back.

After two years of travelling, the duo have settled back in their mining town, Lara works as a physical education teacher at the local high school, and Brad works a fitter and machinist in one of the mines.

They’re coming into the competition with a bit of renovating experience, having already relocated and refurbished two houses on vacant land, as well as completing the renovation and extension of an old weatherboard house.

“We did all the painting, polished the floorboards, supervised all the plumbing and installed a new kitchen and bathroom,” says Lara. “Not to mention that it was done on a strict budget and carried out in just six months,” Brad declares. “It was our own mini-Block experience.”

When it comes to renovating, they agree that Lara is the more creative one, while Brad is the more practical. “Brad is very handy and always has a willingness to learn,” says Lara.

“I’m a jack of all trades but a master of none. We’ve still got a lot of learning to do and hopefully we can do that on The Block,” says Brad.

According to Brad, Lara’s got great organisational skills, but can become a little erratic and emotional if things start to go wrong. Lara admits that Brad is the calm one, but thinks he gets distracted too easily.

The couple may have issues to resolve when it comes to deciding on a design theme, with Lara labelling her style as modern contemporary and Brad describing his as classic federation.

“We’ll probably meet in the middle somewhere. That’s what usually happens. Doesn’t everyone?” asks Brad.

Aside from renovating, Lara and Brad, who played first grade rugby league until sidelined by injury four years ago, spend their weekends at home watching sport and gardening.

If they win The Block, they plan to use the prize money to take an extended holiday to Canada and South America.

STYLE: Contemporary coastal

Brendan and Michelle, both 22, are the youngest couple selected to compete in this series of The Block.

But what these young newlyweds lack in age and experience they more than make for with confidence.

“Brendan is a real handyman – he picks up skills very quickly,” says his adoring wife. “He’s like a mix of McGyver and Bear Grylls.” Brendan jumps in, saying: “You give me a pen and a piece of string and I’ll win The Block.”

Brendan and Michelle met in Year Ten at school. “I tried to pick her up but failed,” recalls Brendan. Then, six years ago, they were reacquainted at a conference for school captains where Michelle was the one to make the move.

Says Brendan: “We’re the perfect match. She’s creative and has all the good ideas, and then she makes me do them.”

Michelle is a project support officer with the CFA and Brendan is a youth worker and part-time model.
The couple are renovating the house they purchased shortly after getting married.

“We’ve painted the interiors, resealed the roof, installed new lights throughout, fitted a new wardrobe in the master bedroom and revamped the garden,” explains Brendan.

“We are about to embark on our bathroom, update the kitchen, and plan to paint the outside of the house too,” adds Michelle.

The pair label their design style as contemporary coastal. “We love natural materials and furnishings with lots of warmth and character,” says Brendan.

If they won The Block, this young couple would put the prize money towards a house by the sea.

STYLE: Rustic elegance 

Larry, 51, and Jessie, 22, from Brisbane are the first father and daughter team to compete on The Block. 
Jessie, a full-time student, originally planned to audition for The Block with her mother, Michelle.

Tragically, Michelle died in a plane crash in March 2011. For Jessie and Larry, it was a devastating time. Through their grief they searched for ways to honour her memory and decided they would pursue one of her dreams together. 

“Dad knew how much she wanted to do it and could see how much I loved The Block, and said he would do it with me – for my mum,” says Jessie. 

The tragedy has brought them even closer together and they are looking forward to the experience of living and working side-by-side on The Block. 

Larry boasts that his daughter has impeccable attention to detail and picks up new skills very quickly. “Jessie’s eagerness to learn and thirst to acquire new talents will prove to be a great asset for us,” he says. 

Larry, a father of three and grandfather of two, likes to think of himself as a glass half-full kind of guy. Currently between jobs after being made redundant, he is immensely proud of the fact that his daughter is what he describes as “a complete young lady and my favourite girl on the planet, my favourite daughter”. Jessie jumps in quickly: “Your only daughter!” 

“As you can see, my dad has a wicked sense of humour. But he’s also very smart and charming – a total gentleman,” says Jessie. 

“Jessie is smart, capable, funny and full of life,” says Larry. And we never argue. I’m just always right.” 
Jessie’s renovation knowledge comes from growing up watching her mother and father renovate their homes. 

They work well as a team, arguing only when they are both too stubborn to admit they are wrong. 
“We intuitively balance and trust each other to recognise our strengths and weaknesses,” says Jessie.

Larry adds: “As long as you do everything I tell you to do, we’ll work fabulously as a team.” 

STYLE: Recycled vintage

Dale, 29, and Sophie, 24, from inner-suburban Melbourne have been married less than a year and dream of fixing up a house in the country and raising a family.

“Dale will spend the days tending to our organic vegie patch while I sew clothes and illustrate children’s books,” Sophie fantasises.

They met seven years ago at Dale’s cousin’s birthday party and haven’t looked back.

Sophie, a graphic designer turned primary school teacher, and Dale, a landscape gardener, share a passion for environmental conservation. They love to take old-world pieces and give them a new lease of life.

On weekends, Dale can often be found combing garage sales for hidden gems or scouring his neighbours’ rubbish in search of relics begging for a rebirth.

“We feel that we all have a role to play in preserving the earth’s resources,” says Dale.

The eco-friendly pair have had virtually no renovating experience, but through his work Dale has transformed many outdoor spaces.

He is also pretty handy with a power tool and has a general understanding of construction. Sophie has decorated and styled their home, her classroom and a new learning centre.

“We may not have much experience, but Dale’s hard-working attitude and his attention to detail will see us through,” says Sophie.

“Not to mention our secret weapon: Sophie’s creative flair and unique sense of style,” adds Dale.

This laidback pair believe they will work well as a team on The Block by sharing the workload and focusing on their strengths.

Both are keen AFL fans, with Dale supporting Essendon and Sophie following St Kilda.

Clearly a couple very much in love, Sophie and Dale hate to be apart. They had not lived together before their wedding day and have been inseparable since.

“The happiest day of my life was the day I married Sophie,” says Dale. “And if we get through on The Block, it’s sure going to make for an interesting honeymoon.”

Sunday, March 25 at 7.30pm on Channel Nine 

Deep Trouble

From the start, he was branded the Honeymoon Killer. The police were convinced Gabe Watson murdered his wife Tina while diving on the Great Barrier Reef and the media and public agreed. The view was, how could a newly-married man abandon his drowning wife? It just didn’t make sense. It’s taken almost 9 years for this quietly-spoken businessman to finally clear his name. But, even now, the suspicions linger. On Sunday night, in his only Australian interview, Gabe Watson tells what really happened that day on the Barrier Reef.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producers: Phil Goyen, Hannah Boocock 

Good Will

He’s one of the funniest blokes around and Hollywood’s power brokers know it. Add Will Ferrell’s name to a movie and chances are it will be a box office smash. Think hits like Blades of Glory, Anchor Man and Talladega Nights. Ferrell has made some serious cash playing the fool. He’s reportedly worth 80 million dollars. But as Michael Usher discovered when he caught up with him recently, it’s not the money or the fame that drives this thoroughly likeable bloke.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Phil Goyen

An all-new, fast-tracked series of Top Gear, the world’s number one motoring show, returns next Tuesday, February 21, at 9.30pm on Channel Nine. 

Join Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig for the 18th season of the global motoring phenomenon that attracts an international audience of around 350 million viewers in more than 100 countries. 

In the first new episode our intrepid trio set off on an epic road trip across India, armed with a range of uniquely British products.

The boys are out to boost the British economy by embarking on a trade mission to the sub-continent. With Jeremy in a Jaguar XJS, James in a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Richard in a Mini Cooper, they traverse one of the world’s most fascinating and challenging countries, devotedly promoting Britain with distinctly mixed results. 

This episode is filled with the usual dose of mayhem we’ve come to expect from the world’s most explosive motoring program, all shot in spectacular locations across India’s remarkable landscape. 

In Mumbai, our hosts aim to test the efficiency of the dabbawala (lunch delivery workers) by using a car instead of a train, but of course all does not go to plan. 

Further north in Jaipur, the boys host a motorsport challenge, then drive to Delhi where their mission is to host a trade fair. Afterwards they drive into the Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, towards the border with China, to test their vehicles on the high terrain and play cricket with the locals. 

Top Gear began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Relaunched in 2002 in an entertaining new format, it raced up the ratings to become BBC2’s most watched program.

Top Gear is the ultimate program for audience appeal – popular with men, women and children of all ages.

Kids’ WB returns this weekend for another fun-filled, joke-riddled and action-packed year: Saturdays at 11.00am on Channel Nine, Saturdays and Sundays at 7.00am on GO!, and weekdays at 4.00pm on GO! 

As well as popular cartoons and crazy adventures, hosts Lauren Phillips and Andrew Faulkner will be giving away great prizes.

They hit the ground running this weekend with two terrific competitions. Just by designing a hand-made greeting card, one lucky Kids’ WB viewer will win the ultimate experience for Taylor Swift fans.

The prize includes a meet-and-greet with the country sweetheart and tickets to her Melbourne concert. 

The ever-popular Kids’ WB Search for Australia’s Tech Deck Champion is back for another round of finger-skating fun.

The most talented Kids’ WB Tech Deckers have the chance to win a signed skateboard from deck legend Tony Hawk, plus heaps more. 

Lauren said: “It’s going to be a big year on Kids’ WB and I can’t wait.” 

Andrew is equally excited to be back: “Just quietly, I’ve got my eyes on that Tech Deck prize pack. I want to win the Tony Hawk skateboard and go do an ollie.”

And the fun doesn’t stop there. The show will be jam-packed with favourite cartoons including Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Smurfs and Looney Tunes as well as new episodes of the classic 80s series, Thundercats.

Getaway, Australia’s longest running lifestyle program, is back, celebrating its 21st season in 2012 and exploring the best destinations at home and abroad.

In the first program of the year at 5.30pm this Saturday on Channel Nine, Catriona Rowntree, Dermott Brereton, Kelly Landry, Jules Lund, Jason Dundas and special guest Sophie Monk will share great holiday ideas and weekend getaways.

Catriona, Jason and Kelly go in search of romantic weekend escapes. Jason travels an hour and a half from Sydney, finding a perfect getaway for couples in the Blue Mountains, and Catriona discovers an adults-only retreat offering beachfront luxury on Hamilton Island.

Kelly travels down the Sunshine Coast waterways on a gondola, finding a piece of Venice right here in Australia which offers a unique romantic experience for couples.

Special guest Sophie Monk heads to Hawaii to get up close with monk seals at Sea Life Park. This isn’t your average animal park – the marine refuge is designed with reefs, lagoons and pools, plus attractions and activities for the whole family. Dermott also heads overseas to uncover the shopping secrets of Singapore.

Back home, Jules gets behind the steering wheel and tests out the Indian Ocean coast drive linking Perth’s northern suburbs with coastal towns and tourist destinations.

Grab your passport, pack your suitcase and get ready to travel when Getaway returns to Nine on Saturday, February 18, at 5.30pm.

Jamie Durie will combine his long-held love affair with Cirque du Soleil and his passion for ground-breaking garden design in a one-hour special, Jamie Durie presents G’DAY SOLEIL on Saturday, February 18, at 7.30pm on Channel Nine. 

G’DAY SOLEIL follows an imaginative Durie as he creates an innovative touring garden inspired by the themes of Cirque du Soleil’s extravagant new show “OVO”. 

Jamie’s “Cirque” design will make its debut at the Los Angeles premiere and travel to Australia later this year for its 12-month national tour. 

The television special features Durie in a behind-the-scenes tour of the spectacular OVO production, experiencing a fabulous fantasy world of insects that explores the lively ecosystem with a rich montage of energy and movement. 

As Durie visits Cirque du Soleil, viewers get an insight into the remarkable costumes, acrobatic training, and life on the road for the international cast and crew of OVO.

Durie, who trained with Cirque du Soleil early in his career and has a long-standing relationship with them, will also test his skills on the ropes and attempt jaw-dropping acrobatic stunts that feature in the new show. 

Durie and his team rush to design, produce and install the unique touring garden as an Australian welcome gift, at the impressive Cirque du Soleil village on Santa Monica Pier in time for the red-carpet arrival of celebrities to enjoy before the OVO premiere. 

Cirque du Soleil began in 1984 in Quebec with 20 street performers and has since expanded to a company with 5000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from more than 50 different countries performing extravagant shows in over 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Their international headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.