The Block creator Julian Cress says the coronavirus pandemic ‘took a heavy toll’ on production – but insists they have made ‘a damn good show’
The new season of The Block is set to premiere on Sunday.
And the show’s executive producer and creator, Julian Cress, has spoken about the latest series and how the coronavirus pandemic affected production.
Julian told TV Tonight that things will be remarkably different on The Block this year, but they’re confident they have a ‘damn good show’.
‘We knew we had a damn good show’: The Block creator Julian Cress (right) spoke about the new series this week, admitting the coronavirus pandemic ‘took a heavy toll’ on production
The 2020 season of The Block will be unlike any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Production was brought to a grinding halt in March amid the escalating health crisis.
Two months later, in May, the cast and crew returned to the $15million building site in Melbourne’s Brighton, with extra safety precautions in place.
Julian said they have some interesting and dramatic footage thanks to the pandemic.
‘They’re watching press conferences then finishing a bathroom’: Julian said they have some interesting footage thanks to the pandemic. Pictured: hosts Scotty Cam and Shelley Craft
‘Imagine you’ve got contestants who are watching the Prime Minister’s press conference together in the morning, and then having to finish the bathroom in the afternoon,’ Julian said.
‘All of that uncertainty, that trepidation and emotion around being away from your children, having to finish a bathroom, delivered for the judges, was all being filmed by our cameras every day.’
He added: ‘So we knew we had a damn good show, the trick was would COVID stop us being able to finish it?’
Julian said the pandemic took a ‘heavy toll’ on the show, with COVID restrictions and lockdowns in place.
Unfortunately, some crew members were laid off, but the builders weren’t affected.
Trying times: Julian said the pandemic took a ‘heavy toll’ on the show, with COVID restrictions and lockdowns in place. Unfortunately, some crew members were laid off, but the builders weren’t affected
Julian said that when cast and crew returned to the site, they had to follow a strict four-square-metre rule and had to get a flu shot before returning.
He also praised the team for their hard work and dedication during such uncertain times.
It comes after host Scott Cam told Realestate.com.au that he was unsure about what might happen to production of the 2021 season.
When asked whether there’s been ‘any word yet’ on filming for 2021, the 57-year-old said: ‘It’s too early to tell – I have no idea about next year and what the story is.’
The Block premieres Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine
‘It’s too early to tell’: It comes after host Scott Cam told Realestate.com.au that he was unsure about what might happen to production on the 2021 season
The site: For this year’s season, five run-down houses dating from the 1930s to 1960s were relocated to a $15million plot of land in Brighton (pictured)