With the 2024 season of The Block premiere fast-approaching, fans of the show are well aware that the exciting 20th season is filmed on Phillip Island, a popular tourist destination just 90 minutes away from the Melbourne CBD.
With filming having begun in February 2024, the contestants and judges have already spent many months within the community and in turn, spent lots of time with the locals. And so the question arises… how did the people of Phillip Island feel about having such a large reality show taking over their town for many months?
In conversation with the media, beloved host Scotty Cam said in his experience, filming for the upcoming season felt “a bit like The Truman Show.“
“I got out of my car at Woolies and somebody said to the whole island ‘he’s getting out of the car action, go’ and the whole island said ‘hello Scotty, how are you going… have the chicken it’s really nice,'” he shared.
“People talked to me all the way while I walked down that street, everybody was just all over me and I love it. Everyone’s just so happy for us to be here and we really had a good time.”
However, the locals weren’t the only ones to openly show their support…
The Bass Coast Shire Council, which covers many localities including Phillip Island, proved to be very happy to have the upcoming season filmed in the area.
In conversation with the media, Cr Clare Le Seve, Mayor of the Bass Coast Shire Council, revealed how much she loved having The Block filmed on the island, even extending the invitation for them to come back!
For a small town like Phillip Island, having a popular television show filmed in the area can mean big things. From the general exposure to the economic benefits, having The Block filmed on Phillip Island will greatly impact the coastal destination.
“It really did benefit Phillip Island and the Bass Coast, the economic benefit it’s going to have from having a show like this is just fabulous for the community and the businesses,” Clare shared.
According to Clare, about $500,000 was spent on accommodation alone during filming, not considering “food, entertainment, and everything else that [they] did.”
“We drank a lot here too,” Scotty added. “And yes the pubs, have got you on speed dial and want you to come back” Clare said.
“I think that the opportunity doesn’t come every day for something like this to happen in our community,” Clare before thanking Scott and the crew.
