The Block 2020: Open for inspections cancelled due to COVID-19

The Block is about to return to our screens – but just like with everything else this year, it’s undergone some significant changes.

With the return of The Block this Sunday for its 16th season, fans should expect big changes to the show’s format due to COVID-19.

The renovation program’s front man Scott Cam revealed on the Fifi, Fev & Byron show on Thursday that open inspections ahead of the auctions will be a no-go this year – a first for the show.

“Usually we get around 20,000 there, open for inspections are completely gone, individual inspections at the moment there’s nothing happening because of lockdown. We’re not sure what’s going to happen at auction,” he said.

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One of the show’s big moments won’t be happening this year. Picture: Channel 9

Closing open inspections isn’t the only change the show faced this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Filming with the contestants was halted in late-March as state border restrictions were imposed, raising concerns contestants wouldn’t be able to get home to their families.

But tradies were able to continue to work on the five houses that have been transported to the Brighton site.

The show’s executive producer Julian Cress told the Herald Sun it had been a tough decision to shut down production for 40 days.

“But I firmly believe it was the right thing to do,” he said.

“At the time it was kind of heartbreaking, but we were able to get our contestants back to their kids and loved ones, which was the most important thing.”

Contestants were sent home for six weeks during the virus lockdown. Picture: Supplied

When production restarted, big changes were put in place to ensure everybody’s safety.

“We decided to shut down for six weeks during that lockdown that everyone went through, and then we came back for two months with a lot of things in place,” Cam told the radio network.

This year’s teams before lockdown. Picture: Supplied

“We had a full-blown nurse, we built a clinic on site and we did temperature checks and flu shots, social distancing in the rooms and a limited number of tradesmen in the rooms.”

While there is a lot of uncertainty in the air about the show, one thing he could guarantee was the quality of this season and the joy it will bring to viewers.

“Because of what everyone is going through this year, it’s a happy Block. Last year was so tough and controversial, so this year we’re going to loosen things up a bit, and we’ve turned out with some really good contestants …”

The Block 2020 will premiere on Sunday August 23 on Channel 9.