WHEN The Block: Glasshouse co-host Shelley Craft first saw the glass office block contestants would have to transform into five luxury apartments, she thought it was a ridiculous idea.
But it wasn’t long until she became convinced the new series of the hit Nine Network renovation reality show would be the best yet.
“The building is always one of the main characters of each series, and this one is a doozey,” Craft revealed.
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“The building is always one of the main characters of each series, and this one is a doozey,” Craft revealed.
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“When I first saw it though, I thought it was ridiculous. Totally ridiculous.”
Rather than a building site where some progress has been made by the show’s construction team, contestants will be met on Sunday night with a completely blank canvas.
“It’s exactly how it was left — a deserted office building with desks and files scattered around.”
That twist sets the scene for immediate drama, helped along by a melting pot of personalities and cutthroat ambition to win the top prize.
Ahead of the debut episode, Craft gives the inside scoop on what to expect, including the couple everyone will love ... and the team viewers will love to hate.
The nice ones
Her pick for show favourites, as in the couple viewers will be most fond of, is Michael and Carlene from the Gold Coast in Queensland.
Although they might not win over everyone straight away, she said.
“They’re just gorgeous. They’re parents, they’re fun, they’re in it for the right reasons and I like them.
“But they have a very dry sense of humour, so it might take people a while to warm up to them.”
The ones you’ll love to hate
He’s a former AFL player, but Darren Jolly is quick to clarify that he’s not the captain of this team. That’s Dee’s job.
And boy does she drive him hard, Craft said.
“Everyone has a friend like Dee — your headstrong girlfriend who speaks her mind, perhaps a bit louder than everyone else does.”
The Melbourne couple is fun to watch and add a lot of colour to The Block, but Craft admits Dee’s attitude towards Darren might not go down well.
“People might be shocked by her, but I think they’ll see she means well and speaks from the heart.
“She makes great TV. There are some wonderful moments in there.”
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The pranksters
Brothers and best mates Shannon and Simon provide the amusement and humour on The Block.
But Craft said the Tasmanians can push things too far sometimes in pursuit of a laugh.
“Sometimes I watch them and think ‘oh for goodness sake, grow up!’ Some of the things they do, I shake my head.
“They keep the mood light though.”
The dark horses
This year, every team has some form of trades experience, from plumbing to carpentry. Every team except Max and Karstan from Newcastle.
“Karstan is a coal miner and Max is an ex-beauty queen who is now an event manager. From the start, people will write them off.”
Craft said the couple holds their own, though. It won’t be long until the other teams realise they have underestimated these youngsters.
“They will put some of the contestants in their place along the way,” Craft said.
The smiling assassins
Jenna and Chris from Sydney’s west seem like they’re keen to make friends and offer their competitors a hand when they need it.
But behind closed doors, Craft said they’re in it to win it.
“They are tough. They’re tough competitors. They’re the smiling assassins.
“They’ll put everything they have into this and you’ll see it in the force couple of weeks. They’re a force to be reckoned with.”
Her pick to win it
If she had to tip a couple to win the competition based on the first week alone, Craft would pick Michael and Carlene.
“That’s my hot pick.
“But auction day is a completely different game all together. We’ll see.”
The building itself
It will be no easy task turning the Glasshouse from a bland office into top-notch apartments that will command a hefty price on auction day.
“The teams will be given the floor plans on the first night and will have to find where their apartments sit inside this huge, behemoth of a building,” Craft said.
Over the next several weeks, each team will create a two-level apartment. The space they’re given to work with is the biggest in the show’s nine-season history.
But space is where the generosity ends.
“They don’t know what twists are coming and what we’re going to throw at them next.
The Block: Glasshouse premiers on Nine Network on Sunday at 6.30pm.
