Brutal auction result for The Block’s most controversial couples

It was a “heartbreaking” end to The Block for this year’s two most controversial couples, after a season plagued by infighting.

Nick Bond

@bondnickbond

3 min read

November 6, 2023 - 12:51PM

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It was a brutal end to The Block for this year’s two most controversial couples, who either walked away with comparatively little or failed to sell, while their rivals became instant millionaires.

South Australian couple Kristy and Brett were perhaps the most adversarial team viewers have seen on The Block in some time, launching feuds with their fellow contestants, with the show’s production team, and eventually, with their Block besties Leah and Ash.

For their drama-filled season, the pair have scored a comparatively paltry profit of just $65,000 over their reserve. That works out to be around $5400 per week for the 12 weeks they were on The Block.

“We haven’t even covered half of our wages for being here,” a tearful Kristy said as the auction closed.

Kristy and Brett made just $65,000.

And fellow controversy magnets, Queenslanders Leah and Ash, suffered the fate every Block couple dreads: their house failed to attract a bid above their $2.97 million reserve and so was passed in. One of their registered bidders had fainted earlier in the day, and needed to leave in an ambulance to receive medical attention.

There is some hope for them, though: their house could still sell for more than its reserve after auction. Two of the three houses that were passed in during last year’s auctions eventually sold for well over their reserve, scoring their teams respective profits of around $170,000 each.

A profit is by no means guaranteed, though. When the third house passed in at last year’s auctions did eventually sell, it was for $180,000 less than its original reserve, leaving last year’s contestants Dylan and Jenny with no profit at all from their time on The Block.

Their house didn’t sell, but there’s still hope for Leah and Ash.

The show’s executive producer Julian Cress said it had been “heartbreaking” witnessing Kristy and Brett’s disappointing auction result.

“I think Kristy and Brett are two of the best contestants we have had on the show and I feelterrible for them that they had to go through that, after just watching their neighbours make a million plus. For them to make $65,000 is pretty heartbreaking,” he said.

Kristy and Brett were left fuming with their auctioneer after he apparently veered from their agreed plan, openin the bids at $2.9 million and then confirming the house was on the market just as it hit reserve. From there, bidding slowed down, and the couple were left wondering how they could only scrape past their reserve following two million-dollar-plus profits.

“Australia got what they wanted,” an emotional Kristy said of their result, referring to the viewer backlash they’d copped throughout the season.

The brutal auction results come after both couples sparked numerous feuds with their fellow contestants throughout the season. Kristy and Brett were vocal about their belief sisters Eliza and Liberty were getting special treatment by the show’s producers, dubbing them “industry plants” and complaining about them on camera while wearing Trump-style “Make The Block great again” hats on camera.

They could use those hats right now.

Kristy’s closest Block ally Leah confronted her on camera midway through the season, suggesting the negativity had gone too far – which caused a bitter rift between them that lasted until the end of the season.

“This affected the rest of my experience on The Block. Some serious, deep issues went on. At the moment, most of the cast are trying to stay very positive and professional,” Leah told news.com.au midway through the season. She said there had been “absolutely no realigning” with Kristy and Brett after their rift began.

The Block 2023 auction results:

Steph and Gian, House 4: Reserve of $3.35 million, sold for $5.000 million = $1.65 million profit + $100,000 prize money = $1.75 million (a Block record)

Eliza and Liberty, House 5: Reserve of $3.25 million, sold for $4.3 million = $1.05 million profit

Kyle and Leslie, house 1: Reserve of $2.97 million, sold for $3.1 million = $130,000 profit

Kristy and Brett, House 3: Reserve of $2.97 million, sold for $3.035 million = $65,000 profit.

Leah and Ash, House 2: Reserve of $2.97 million not met, passed in at auction.

Previous Block winners

2003: BONDI – Adam & Fiona, $256,000

2004: MANLY – Jamie & Andrew, $178,000

2010: VAUCLUSE – John & Neisha, $305,000

2011: RICHMOND – Polly & Waz, $115,000

2012: SOUTH MELBOURNE – Brad & Lara, $606,000

2013: ALL STARS (BONDI) – Phil & Amity, $395,000

2013: SKY HIGH (SOUTH MELBOURNE) – Alisa & Lysandra, $395,000