The Block addresses rumours about Scott Cam’s resignation

Publicists for hit renovation series The Block have responded to claims legendary host Scott Cam will quit the show following this year’s season.

Channel 9 has denied claims The Block host Scott Cam is preparing to leave the renovation show at the end of this year’s 19th season, after an “insider” claimed he would be throwing in the towel following nine years in the gig.

Earlier on Monday, media reports emerged that producers were “scrambling” to find a way to honour the veteran television presenter, ahead of his apparent shock departure from the show.

The insider told Yahoo! Lifestyle it is believed Cam isn’t signing any more contracts after his current one terminates, which was said to end prior to the 20th season.

“We want to celebrate while we have Scotty on contract and that may very well mean getting our skates on now,” the insider told the platform.

Scott Cam has hosted the show for nine years. Picture: Supplied / Channel 9

Another claim made by the source was that a big reunion special would air before the 20th season of the show, “featuring the most iconic teams from the past”.

Yahoo! Lifestyle alleged phone calls to these stars had already been made with a highly anticipated line-up available for the special.

“We are looking at the contestants that made the most amount of noise and those who are still remembered all these years later,” the insider added.

If Scott Cam was to leave the show following this year’s season, the source said he would be replaced with a “familiar face”.

However, when these claims were posed to The Block’s publicist, a spokesperson denied them, stating: “The report is not true”.

Channel 9 has denied claims Cam will quit the show after this year's season. Picture: Supplied / Nine

Instead, Cam said he was thrilled to be kicking off another new season. Picture: Supplied / Nine

Cam – who has hosted The Block since 2010 – has said in the past working on the show is “never a drag” and was thrilled to be kicking off another season this year.

“This series is guaranteed to be a deadset blockbuster,” he said late last week.

“Our five new teams from across the country are all fired up to make their home states proud.”

This year’s season is going back a step in time to the 1950s, also known as the Golden Age, with contestants given the challenge to revamp five houses built and designed in that decade.

The Charming Street homes in Melbourne’s Hampton East will be fitted with all their original furnishings and structures still in place from 70 years ago.

The median price for a four-bedroom home in the area is almost $1.65 million, with the suburb surrounded by busy shopping centres, sport and recreation facilities.

“The Block 2023 offers more twists, turns and curve-balls than ever before,” Cam said.

While this season is apparently not Cam’s last, there will be a new face joining the judging panel.

WHITEFOX CEO and real estate guru Marty Fox will critique the homes alongside fellow judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker.

Fox will step in for Whitaker who decided to “cut back” on work to support his partner through ill health while spending more time at home.

Marty Fox from WHITEFOX Real Estate in Melbourne is this year’s new The Block judge. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

“I’m very proud to be completing my 17th season as a judge on The Block. It’s an amazing privilege to have been part of this iconic show for 13 years. For the 2023 season, however, I’ve put family first and cut back on my judging weeks,” Whitaker wrote in an Instagram post earlier this month.

“My partner of 20 years, David, experienced some serious health issues earlier this year and my priority has been to spend more time at home.”

Fox said he was thrilled to be joining the panel, and has enjoyed the “fantastic experience” so far, with most of the season’s filming already done and dusted.

Unlike previous seasons, couples were given the full renovation schedule ahead of time, with Cam telling viewers to “buckle up Australia”.

“Wait until you see their shock when they find out they‘re building not one, but two new abodes, as we throw in a granny flat for good measure,” Cam said.

This season's contestants will be challenged to reinvent a home that was built in the 1950s. Picture: Supplied / Nine

Among the contestants are sisters Eliza and Liberty from Victoria, parents Kyle and Leslie from WA and Leah and Ash from Queensland, and couples Kristy and Brett from South Australia and Steph and Gian from NSW.

This year’s season comes after former contestants and best friends Omar and Oz from Western Sydney made a historical profit of $1,586,666.66 when they sold their Macedon Ranges home at auction last year.

Melbourne businessman and multi-millionaire Adrian Portelli purchased the home, with the pair winning about $800,000 in prize money each.

This year’s season of the block kicks off at “7 o’block” on Sunday August 9, and can be watched on Channel 9 and 9 Now.