The Block 2015: the show's nine most memorable competitors

1. Gav and Waz, 2003, season 1

From strutting around in their jocks on the construction site in Bondi to making history as the first same-sex couple on Aussie reality television, it’s impossible for fans to forget them, even 12 years on. They now have a business, Designer Boys Collections, selling wholesale artwork to interior designers, architects and boutiques.

2. Dan and Dani, 2012, season 5

This couple were perhaps the most fiery and combative to ever tackle a Block renovation. They argued constantly through the series set in Dorcas Street, South Melbourne, and annoyed fellow contestants by using power tools into the night. These days, Dan has graduated to the show’s second in charge foreman – known as “foreboy”.

Photo: Peter Morris

3. Andrew and Jamie, 2004, season 2

TV presenter and medico Dr Andrew Rochford started his small screen career on The Block. He and his now wife won the second season, set in Sydney’s Manly, pocketing $178,000.  They were called in after another contestant’s criminal past was revealed and withdrew in a cloud of controversy.

4. Simon and Shannon, 2014, season 9

The brothers from Sydney were fan favourites, not only for their good looks but amiable personalities and cheeky sense of humour. They blitzed their rivals to take home in $435,000 in victory prize money. They have since started their own design consultancy and are in hot demand.

Photo: Pat Scala

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5. Dea and Darren, 2014 and 2015, seasons 9 and 10 

There has never been as polarising a contestant as Dea, with her straight-talking manner and natural flair for interior design, which she has since made a career out of. Dea and her husband Darren, who got on judge Shaynna Blaze’s nerves, backed up their disappointing turn on the Glasshouse series with a record-breaking jackpot on Triple Threat this year, winning $935,000.

6. Alisa and Lysandra, 2013 and 2014, seasons 7 and 8

The sisters were accused of laziness for appearing to leave most of the hard labour in their Albert Park apartment to their tradesmen. The apartment was later seized by police under an insider trading investigation – for which a young banker, who bid for the property at auction, went to jail – and later re-sold.

7. Phil and Amity, 2003 and 2013, seasons 1 and 6

The couple had no renovation experienced when they enlisted for the debut series in beachside Bondi. Their leap of faith changed their lives, Dry launched a pop career on the back of the show, and they returned for the All Stars season, held in Bondi to celebrate 10 years of the program, which they won.

Photo: Martin Philbey

8. Tim and Anastasia, 2015, season 10 

Anastasia pulled no punches during her time in reno hell on South Yarra’s Darling Street, feuding with Dea and walking off the set alongside her husband when their budget ran out with rooms still to finish. They returned and pulled off a miracle, pushing hard to complete their property before auction. They were rewarded for persistence, pocketing $755,000.

Photo: Mal Fairclough

9. Matt and Kim, 2013, season 7

Best known for their rainbow paint-splattered “crime scene” bedroom, this couple pushed the boundaries creatively, but the judges didn’t always appreciate their unique point of view. They moved on to their own reality show for Channel Nine in Perth, Matt and Kim To The Rescue, making over properties for families in need, and working in interiors for property companies.