Andew and Whitney from Channel Nine’s The Block fear for the mental health of future contestants

AFTER weeks of mental anguish, The Block’s Andrew and Whitney warn serious thought needs to given to future casting — or ‘God knows what could happen’.

HAS The Block turned dangerous? That is contestants Andrew Simmons and Whitney Nolan’s concern after they reached breaking point in the early weeks of the Channel 9 renovation show.

The pair said careful thought needed to go into future casting or “God knows what could happen”.

Andrew has experienced multiple stress-related emotional breakdowns in recent episodes. Now partner Whitney has revealed that she suffered a stress related panic attack which never went to air.

Teams have faced a multi-story octagonal building that executive producer Julian Cress has called “more architecturally challenging than anything we have ever attempted”.

Andrew and Whitney, who have no renovation experience, have struggled from the start. They failed to complete their master bedroom and walk-in wardrobe. This week teams have to complete three rooms – study, guest powder room and laundry.

All smiles now ... The Block contestants Whitney Noland and Andrew Simmons. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

“It is just immense the stress that you’re under,” Whitney says. “I had a panic attack. The producers were going to send me to hospital because I was having pains in my chest. It wasn’t shown on television.”

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But it is Andrew’s emotional state that has had viewers really worried. He has been hit from all sides including foreman Keith Schleiger and offsider Dan Reilly, as well as his builder. On Tuesday night he copped an expletive-filled spray from his plasterer who had tripped on debris and hurt his knee.

“(The Block) is not about building so much as managing your stress – your budget, time, relationship, energy, and lack of sleep,” Andrew says.

“The pressure comes from everywhere — from within yourself, your expectations, the producers, the lack of sleep, the builders, Keith and Dan.

“If you could battle them individually, you could do alright. But when they’re coming relentlessly from every single avenue it becomes overwhelming.

“When you’re at that level (of stress) you can’t even feel yourself breaking down.It’s just a surge of emotions and you can’t do anything.

‘We made it’ ... The pair saw their journey was exceedingly difficult, but they are proud they persevered. Picture: Sarah Matray

“Some people perhaps won’t be able to handle it – and that is the risk and the scary part about it.

“It really takes you to your absolute limit and God knows if they do the wrong casting (in future series) what could happen.”

Channel 9 decided to take The Block ‘back to basics’ this season with one tactic to feature contestants with little or no previous renovation experience.

“I think they (producers) chose a couple, which happened to be me and Andrew, to push and push and push to the absolute limits,” Whitney says.

“Once people started to realise that there might be some other issues there regarding mental health, it started to get a little bit better for us.”

Some of the pair’s tradies added to their woes.

“I had our builder say to me that if I needed to go to the toilet I should pretty much piss in a bucket and keep going,” Whitney says. “I understand that everyone needs to toughen up to be on the show … but to hear that, that’s over the top.”

“We were too scared to get rid of him because we thought our other trades would go as well and we’d be back to square one,” Andrew said.

Architectural challenge ... The Block host Scott Cam poses on top of the octagonal building. Picture: Martin Philbey/The Block

“(Others said) ‘you guys are going to be millionaires’. We hated that. There is no guarantee. That was really unfair.

“Some of the other teams, we were really envious of their builders. They had young guys who were there on a Sunday morning before a reveal helping them. We didn’t have that support.”

The couple acknowledge that they were initially naïve about the demands of competing on The Block but reject criticism that they haven’t been pulling their weight.

“It is impossible to be lazy,” Whitney says. “It is such non-stop. I think they’re painting a picture.”

Andrew adds: “I think a lot of people expected us to throw in the towel and say ‘enough is enough’. I think it is a real honour to us that we got up every day and we had a go. It was so hard but we persevered. We are so proud of our efforts. We love every single aspect of our apartment. We had a crack.”

The Block producers have been approached for comment.