The Block 2020 winners Jimmy and Tam to keep prize money despite failed settlement

Unlucky Block contestants Jimmy and Tam have confirmed they will get to keep their million-dollar prize money despite the sale of their house falling through.

The Queensland couple walked away from last year’s season of the reality renovation TV show with a $966,000 premium at auction and the $100,000 winner’s cheque before the dream crumbled.

The winning bidder at auction failed to settle, and as some previously interested parties had already bought elsewhere, the house was put up for sale again before Christmas. The Block is on Channel Nine, the majority owner of Domain.

At the time, The Block’s executive producer Julian Cress said only that their win still stood. Nine declined to comment publicly on a subsequent enquiry as to whether the prize money had been paid.

The house is still looking for a buyer, Jimmy and Tam confirmed in a Q&A with fans on Instagram this week.

View The Block 2021 properties for sale

• House 1, Ronnie and Georgia: 2 Bronte Court, Hampton
• House 2, Mitch and Mark: 4 Bronte Court, Hampton
• House 3, Tanya and Vito: 8 Bronte Court, Hampton
• House 4, Josh and Luke: 10 Bronte Court, Hampton
• House 5, Kirsty and Jesse: 1 Bronte Court, Hampton

“But Channel 9 and The Block are honouring our prize money,” the couple wrote.

They also opened up about their move to the Sunshine Coast, staying with Tam’s parents while looking to buy their own home.

“We are all absolutely loving it, best thing we did,” they wrote.

“It’s such a special place. The community is so supportive and welcoming.

“We would love acreage in the Sunny Coast hinterland … hard to find though atm [at the moment].

“The housing market is bloody crazy! Taking a bit longer than what we thought.”

Jimmy and Tam won the coronavirus-interrupted 2020 season of the show with their striking 1950s-style home, which fetched $4.256 million at auction before settlement fell through.

Mr Cress said in March there was no rush to sell the property “as it continues to go up in value by the week”.