Filming of Nine’s The Block and Ten’s The Bachelor suspended

The Bachelor joins reality show The Block in shutdown amid COVID-19 restrictions, sending contestants home.

Filming of The Block has been suspended. Picture: Annette Dew

Network Ten’s popular reality show The Bachelor is the latest local television show to be halted over fears about the spread of the coronavirus, just hours after Nine Entertainment stopped filming The Block.

Ten and the producers of The Bachelor, Warner Bros., said it is “no longer practical” to continue filming the eighth season, which involves 20 women vying for the affections of bachelor Locky Gilbert, even though it has been taking “extra precautions on set for some time”.

“The health and safety of our participants and crew members is our number one priority. These are extremely difficult times for all Australians and for our industry, and the full extent of those difficulties will not be known for some time to come,” Ten and Warner Bros. said in a joint statement Thursday evening.

The companies said their decision to halt production was made after considering all available options, and will resume when it is safe.

“While this decision is disappointing, we remain committed to keeping our audiences entertained and connected in these challenging times. We are also committed to ensuring the television industry remains in as strong a shape as possible so we can continue to bring Australian viewers local content.”

The Block’s filming was suspended and contestants were sent home, due to increasing travel bans, border shutdowns and additional measures, a Nine spokesman said.

However, trade people remain on the construction site in Melbourne, where the 16th season of the reality renovation show, featuring five couples, is being filmed.

“The Block remains an active construction site with tradespeople, who live locally, completing building works that provide the framework of some homes," he said.

The news comes two days after Seven West Media's rebooted reality show Big Brother resumed filming in Sydney after its production was halted on Sunday over fears a crew member may have had coronavirus. The test result came back negative on Monday.

Other local shows that have halted filming because of COVID-19 include Network Ten's Neighbours and Foxtel's The Real Housewives of Melbourne.

Ten is also reviewing the plans for its reality competition The Amazing Race, which is typically filmed around the world.

The Block contestants will return to Melbourne and resume production "when practicable to do so", with the show scheduled to air "later this year", the Nine spokesman said.