Fiona Byrne: First look at The Block 2017 contestants

THE new Block contestants have been given a wake up call as to just how demanding the makeover of the show’s relocated properties in Elsternwick will be.

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THE Block’s class of 2017 have been getting a rude wake up call as to just how difficult and demanding the makeover of the show’s relocated properties in Elsternwick will be.

With a week and a half of filming behind them, the five teams have been darting around town collecting building materials and getting down to business with the sweaty and unglamorous side of reality TV … they have been working, getting their hands dirty and getting their heads around the pace of the production.

The contestants of the 2017 series of The Block, filming in Elsternwick. Picture: Diimex.

While leading Melbourne model Elyse Knowles is part of the cast, the rest of the Blockheads are revealed in this photo as they pose for their Block yearbook pictures.

They are all matey now, but three months of intense, time sensitive renovation work will take its toll.

Channel Nine forked out almost $10 million to secure the vacant mega block in Elsternwick in December, with plans for the five property subdivision approved in February.

The production wasted little time in moving five weatherboard homes onto the site, with the challenge now being to turn them into family homes with million dollar price tags.

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