Channel Nine’s long-running home renovation series The Block has been one of Australia’s most beloved reality TV shows for over 20 years.
The reality series is renowned for engaging viewers with its captivating blend of home reno tips, on-air drama, feuding contestants and shock auction twists.
And while viewers obsess over the drama on screen, some of the most shocking stories have unfolded behind the cameras.
Several contestants have had serious brushes with the law, suffered horrible heartbreak and lost all of their hard-won winnings.
Here are the untold tales of some of The Block’s most controversial characters – and they are even more scandalous than anything seen on TV.
Dani Bacha – Contestant’s criminal past forces early ex it
Dani Bacha was booked to compete on series two of The Block in 2004 alongside his wife Monique
Dani Bacha was booked to compete on series two of The Block in 2004 alongside his wife Monique.
But just one episode in, the couple were forced to unceremoniously leave the show after shock details about Bacha’s criminal past emerged in the press.
It was revealed Bacha had a prior conviction as an accessory in manufacturing methamphetamine, resulting in a six-month prison sentence in 2002.
The scandal rocked the show and led to debates about contestant vetting – which producers tightened considerably.
The couple appeared heartbroken when they were given their marching orders, with Bacha later venting: ‘Everything just snowballed after the article came out. The whole family has been put through so much.’
They exited without fuss during their shock eviction, explaining they did not want the controversy to harm their families or fellow contestants.
Bacha’s conviction included a 12-month good-behaviour bond and critics argued that had it been public knowledge it should have prevented him from ever being put on air.
Channel Nine tried to downplay the controversy by quickly replacing the couple with back-up contestants Andrew Rochford and Jamie Nicholson.
But just one episode in, the couple were forced to unceremoniously leave the show after shock details about Bacha’s criminal past emerged in the press
It was revealed Bacha had a prior conviction as an accessory in manufacturing methamphetamine, resulting in a six-month prison sentence in 2002
Jess Eva and Norm Hogan – Reality winnings blown
Good-natured Queenslanders Jess Eva and Norm Hogan won viewers’ hearts during the 2018 season as the Blockheads transformed The Gatwick Hotel in St Kilda into luxury apartments.
Their auction profit?
$209,000 – a modest sum, compared to the season champions.
But it was how the lovable and easy-going couple spent their haul that made headlines.
Jess admitted in 2021 that their winnings disappeared almost immediately.
‘The first thing we bought was two above-ground pools. We handed them out to our friends like lollies,’ she said in a Triple M interview.
The couple also lost thousands betting on a Maria Sharapova tennis match, only for Aussie champ Ash Barty to hand them defeat.
They anticipated an easy win, only to see the wager collapse in the second set, leaving them poorer in both spirits and pockets.
Good-natured Queenslanders Jess Eva and Norm Hogan won viewers’ hearts during the 2018 season as the Blockheads transformed The Gatwick Hotel in St Kilda into luxury apartments
But it was how the lovable and easy-going couple spent their haul that made headlines
Jess admitted in 2021 that their winnings disappeared almost immediately
They also paid off a friend’s car loan and covered someone’s rent.
While the pair admitted it was sad to see their winnings go so quickly, they were both firm they had no regrets as it was incredibly fun while it lasted.
Darren Jolly – From the depths of despair to a fresh start
Troubled former AFL star Darren Jolly’s redemption journey has been one of the most dramatic off-screen stories in The Block’s history.
Darren appeared on the renovation series in 2014 and 2015 with his ex-wife Deanna – winning the latter season.
But their happiness soon turned into heartache following the end of their 15-year marriage.
A bitter custody battle left Darren battling deep depression, and in October 2020, he posted a chilling Instagram message admitting he ‘could not go on much longer.’
Friends, family, and even Victoria Police intervened to ensure he was safe – and help the former Collingwood player get his life back on track.
Darren has since recounted the deep emotional toll of losing his purpose and drive, admitting he ‘almost did something stupid’ in his despair.
Troubled former AFL star Darren Jolly’s redemption journey has been one of the most dramatic off-screen stories in The Block’s history
Darren appeared on the renovation series in 2014 and 2015 with his ex-wife Deanna – winning the latter season, but their happiness soon turned into heartache following the end of their 15-year marriage
These days he credits his new girlfriend, Lucy Porter, with helping him reclaim his life.
The couple went public in late 2020, and their relationship soon blossomed into a hopeful new chapter.
That hope was cemented with the birth of their daughter, Olive, in 2022, who he described as a ‘special gift’.
For the two-time premiership player, the arrival of Olive represented a major turning point – a stark contrast to the isolation, heartbreak and mental health struggles that dominated several years of his life.
Suzi Taylor – From reality TV fame to legal troubles
Suzi Taylor, who first rose to fame on the 2015 season of The Block, has seen her post-reality TV life descend into a series of bizarre and troubling incidents.
She recently faced a Brisbane court over a bizarre ‘honey trap’ kidnapping, the details of which had the whole television industry aghast.
The former reality star and her co-accused Ali Ebrahimi were eventually cleared on all charges, including extortion, deprivation of liberty, fraud and assault, and we do not suggest either of them committed a crime.
Suzi Taylor, who first rose to fame on the 2015 season of The Block , has seen her post-reality TV life descend into a series of bizarre and troubling incidents
That was 2020 – now it’s 2025 and she continues to face legal troubles.
In March, she pleaded guilty to charges of trespassing, stealing and common assault, but escaped jail and only had to pay a fine.
She forced entry into a home the previous October, demanding property from someone who was no longer living there.
At the time, Suzi had just been released from prison where she’d served 50 days for evading police.
She is currently on bail facing drug-trafficking charges and only recently had another conviction for meth possession added to her rap sheet.
The troubled former reality TV star has been in and out of the courts on various offences over the years.
In April 2021, Suzi stood trial on charges of extortion, deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm, fraud and attempted fraud stemming from an alleged escort date gone wrong.
Police had alleged Suzi and another man, Ali Ebrahimi, tied up and assaulted a man who had contacted Suzi via a dating app. The pair were found not guilty on all charges.
Last year, Suzi pleaded guilty to trespassing, stealing and common assault after a confrontation at a Gold Coast home ended with her fleeing on an electric scooter
A month later, Suzi was convicted but not further punished on charges including possessing small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, drink driving, trespassing and multiple breaches of bail.
In May 2019, she pleaded guilty to fraud and theft charges, after she was caught using a stolen credit card to buy alcohol.
The mother-of-three was filmed buying booze at a bottle shop on May 2 using a credit card she’d stolen from a patient recovering at Mater Hospital.
She spent more than $500 on seven separate transactions, including $400 on alcohol.
A week later, Suzi was also identified on CCTV by staff at Brisbane’s Westin Hotel taking a mobile phone and laptop from a guest at their bar.
Police located the stolen items at her home on May 10, and she was given a notice to appear in court where she was issued a $2,500 fine.
Suzi rose to fame as part of the ‘Single Mums’ renovating team on The Block alongside her then-BFF Yvonne ‘Voni’ Cosier in 2015.
Kylie Baker – from Blockhead to adult content creator
Kylie was one of the most popular – and outspoken – contestants on the 2024 season, appearing alongside her husband Brad
She has been teasing her OnlyFans debut ever since , after insiders said she was seriously considering joining the adult subscription platform
Kylie was one of the most popular – and outspoken – contestants on the 2024 season, appearing alongside her husband Brad.
She has been teasing her OnlyFans debut ever since, after insiders said she was seriously considering joining the adult subscription platform.
The green-haired stunner often titillates her followers by sharing lingerie videos.
A source told Daily Mail that Kylie was interested in making Block history, as the first ever former contestant to become an adult content creator.
‘While the mother of four hasn’t confirmed the change in career officially – the photos seem like a soft launch of more to come,’ they said.
‘Channel Nine contracts stop you from making money off TV, radio and print but a lot of other reality TV participants haven’t been stopped from joining OnlyFans,’ they added.
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