How The Block couples are surviving the show’s ‘relationship curse’ as Daily Mail looks back at the marriages the series ripped apart – including one VERY nasty divorce

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The Block isn’t merely focused on renovations, finances, and sales; rather, for numerous participants, it serves as a profound examination of love as well.

Under prolonged work hours, constant pressure, and cameras always on, relationships might reach their tipping point due to the strain.

2021 saw several couples confessing to Daily Mail that despite the challenging ordeal being the toughest experience they’ve faced, it unexpectedly strengthened their bond – a striking divergence from numerous relationships that have supposedly fallen apart due to the ‘Curse of the Block.’

Police officers Britt and Taz said nothing could have prepared them for the mental toll. 

‘We do really tough things within our job,’ Britt admitted.

‘However, this was also probably without a doubt the toughest thing we’ve ever done.’

The couple admitted that leaving their children at home was a tremendously tough decision, yet they maintained that participating in the show ultimately strengthened them.

In regular conversations, when there’s a disagreement, I usually ask for some time, like one to two working days, to process things. However, on the show, it doesn’t work that way – you need to move past issues swiftly instead.

Taz mentioned that although they’ve been a couple for ten years, there were still moments when her actions took him by surprise. They would spend nights discussing everything in their cozy caravan, which likely strengthened their relationship.

Same-sex couple Han and Can said their relationship blossomed under pressure. 

‘It made us even stronger,’ Han revealed.

Our partnership, knowing we could always count on each other completely, has flourished following our participation in The Block.

They joked that their love had accelerated in ‘Block time’. 

‘We’ve been together 18 months, but in Block time it feels like 20 years,’ Can laughed. 

Victorian couple Emma and Ben confessed there were moments when they considered walking away.

‘There were periods where you thought, oh, I could just pack my bags and head home,’ Ben said.

Ultimately, the grind strengthened their bond. 

‘We’ve definitely come out stronger after 12 weeks,’ Emma said. 

‘It was nice spending every day together – we’ve never hung out that much before.’

Meanwhile, Robby and Mat leaned on humour to survive.

‘We made sure we laughed every day – that was the main priority,’ Robby said.

Instead of leaving due to frustration, they jokingly made fun of themselves, as Mat put it, “We had a laugh at our own expense, and everybody else’s too.

After 14 years together and three kids, Sonny and Alicia made a pact to always back each other.

‘We’re gonna argue, but we need to get over those arguments,’ Sonny explained.

Alicia stated, “Even though we often have disagreements at home, that’s just our style. We simply wanted to ensure that we both remained alright and were always working together as a team.

Asked what the experience did to their marriage, Sonny replied: ‘We’ve come out stronger.’

For quite some time now, numerous couples featured on The Block have faced challenges in their relationships, both on-screen and off.

Although some teams thrived, unfortunately, others were affected by what spectators called ‘The Block jinx’, leading to splits or collapses.

Deanne & Darren Jolly (2014 & 2015)

Deanne and Darren Jolly’s split is considered the nastiest among all the former Block contestants. 

Renowned for their heated confrontations, the Jollys rose to fame as reality television stalwarts; however, off-camera, their marriage began to disintegrate.

They broke up in 2019 after 13 years together, with Deanne later admitting she was blindsided. 

Back in 2019, she openly revealed to the Herald Sun that their relationship had ended bitterly. She also stated that it was Darren who initiated the breakup.

In these challenging circumstances, myself and my precious girls find ourselves reeling from an unexpected turn of events instigated by Darren. However, amidst the turmoil, I am channeling my energy towards my top priorities: my cherished daughters. This has been my guiding principle as we navigate through this difficult period together.

After their separation, an intense custody dispute ensued between the former partners, and at one point, Darren seriously considered taking his own life.

Last October 2020, he asserted via Instagram that he had no recent communication with his two daughters, Scarlett and Lily, following his separation from Deanne.

He expressed that he had finished, as the unbearable longing to be reunited with his lovely daughters was overwhelming for him.

Reflecting on these pictures stirred up the remaining fragments of my heart, as they clearly demonstrated just how deeply my daughters cherished me.

Dear Mom and Dad, Family, Friends, and dear Lucy, I want to express my deepest love for each one of you. My dear girls, please accept my apologies. Know that my affection for you will always remain in your hearts. Love, Your Dad xx.

But several weeks later things appeared to be looking up for the former AFL footballer. 

I made my relationship with Lucy official in November 2020, sharing a heartwarming selfie of us during our vacation on Instagram.

I announced my new relationship with Lucy last November, posting an adoring snapshot of us from our trip together on Instagram.

Darren shared the news of the birth of their baby girl Olive in June 2022, uploading a series of images showing him and his partner Lucy holding their newborn in the hospital.

Phil Rankine & Amity Dry (Season 1, 2003 and All Stars 2013)

Phil and Amity were the darlings of The Block’s very first season in 2003.

After a ten-year gap, the married pair came back to compete on The Block: All Stars, where they eventually emerged victorious, appearing just as strong and stable as before.

2018 marked a surprising turn for their fans, as the couple discreetly revealed they had parted ways after 15 years of matrimony without prior warning.

Amity found it extremely difficult and truly unfortunate when they went through their divorce,” she said, comparing it to losing a family member.

Matt Martino & Jane Newton (Season 2, 2004)

As a lifestyle aficionado, I must share that Matt and Jane made history by exchanging vows right on set during the second season of The Block – an unprecedented event for the series. It was truly a spectacle to behold!

But the honeymoon didn’t last, with the pair later divorcing.

Steven Starkey & Richard Sterry (Season 2, 2004)

Among the first same-sex couples featured on the show, Steven and Richard experienced financial hardship when their home didn’t reach its minimum bid price, resulting in no earnings for them.

The financial and emotional toll ultimately saw them part ways.

Madi & Jarrod Coppock (All Stars 2013)

Despite banking $291,000 in profit, Madi and Jarrod’s marriage didn’t last beyond the show. 

They divorced the following year, moving on quickly to new relationships.

Steve O’Donnell & Chantelle Ford (Fans vs Faves 2014)

Even though they had won their season, Steve and Chantelle surprised fans by separating just 14 months later, showing that wealth gained from the competition couldn’t shield a romance weakened by the camera’s gaze.)

Whitney Nolan & Andrew Simmons (2015)

During their season, Whitney and Andrew were affectionately known as ‘The Sweethearts’. Unfortunately, their relationship didn’t withstand the challenges they faced.

They split before the finale even aired, saying the pressure was simply too much.

Tim & Anastasia Ielasi (2015)

Their dramatic storm-off became one of The Block’s most memorable meltdowns.

But against the odds, the couple stayed together, later launching their own building business.

Sara & Hayden Vale (2018)

In spite of numerous disagreements, including instances where Hayden hinted at potential separation by threatening divorce multiple times, the pair managed to remain together post-show, eventually expanding their family by welcoming a new child.

Jess Eva & Norm Hogan (2018)

In 2021, the beloved couple decided to part ways quietly following years spent together, but astonished their fans when they chose to continue residing together, acting as each other’s best friends while nurturing their two children.

Tess & Luke Struber (2019)

The show was infamously dubbed as a “nightmarish honeymoon,” yet the couple from Cairns managed to triumph, pocketing a impressive prize of $730,000. Amazingly, they remain blissfully married even till this day.

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2025-08-24 05:05