The dark side of The Block! Ex-contestant reveals how much they really get paid and slams the show’s aftercare – after Jesse and Paige’s exit amid mental health concerns

The dark side of The Block! Ex-contestant reveals how much they really get paid and slams the show's aftercare - after Jesse and Paige's exit amid mental health concerns

As someone who has never graced the hallowed halls of reality TV stardom, I can only imagine what it’s like to appear on a show as high-pressure and emotionally taxing as The Block. Having watched this unfold, I must say, my hat is off to Jesse and Paige for their bravery in putting their relationship on the line for the sake of their mental health.


A previous contestant on The Block has unveiled the true behind-the-scenes experience, disclosing the actual remuneration given to the participants while criticizing the show’s post-production support.

As your trusted lifestyle guide, let me share some insights from my personal experience on the 2023 season of the popular Channel Nine renovation show. I, along with my partner Leah, were contestants, and I’m now ready to offer a candid appraisal of our journey.

The proprietor of the construction firm, aged 39, disclosed that him and Leah received $100 per day apiece for their participation in the TV show about building projects. He also shared insights into the shooting process.

On the Triple M Breakfast show hosted by Marto, Margaux, and Dan, Ash mentioned: ‘I’m currently bound by a contract. I can’t reveal too many details, but it’s likely something that’s already in the public domain.’

However, you receive some spending money daily. It seemed to be approximately $100 per individual each day, which isn’t too shabby.

‘But you still got to run a house at home. I mean, I actually shut down my whole business while I was down there. You know what I mean? And then you had to get restarting again after the show.’

The proprietor of the Milton Project subsequently shared details about the demanding filming procedure, explaining that their microphones were active from 5:30 in the morning up until evening hours, occasionally lasting until 2 a.m. on Saturdays.

Ash added that there was minimal follow-up assistance from Channel Nine after the show, as he pondered over the escalating tension surrounding the program following the unexpected departure of Jesse Maguire and Paige Beechey.

The dark side of The Block! Ex-contestant reveals how much they really get paid and slams the show's aftercare - after Jesse and Paige's exit amid mental health concerns

‘We were on last year over 12 months ago and like, the post Block support isn’t great,’ he alleged.

“Currently, my spouse has found someone new who is wonderful, but it took some time for her to meet someone she feels at ease conversing with. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of help or guidance during that period, I apologize.

Later, Ash openly shared his frank opinions about Jesse and Paige’s unexpected exit from the contest, as they chose to resign due to a series of disagreements.

This season’s disputed couple, often referred to as the villains, departed on Monday following a compulsion for producers to step in and mediate an intense disagreement between them.

Regarding the ongoing controversy, Ash expressed that it’s challenging to keep a relationship strong amidst the high-pressure situation, as he publicly backed the couple.

Additionally, he asserted that there were heated arguments happening backstage during the 2023 season; however, these conflicts did not get broadcasted.

He pointed out that maintaining a relationship under such high stress can be challenging. He emphasized the importance of being strong together from the start, adding that they, Jesse and Paige, are still fairly new to each other as they’ve only recently become engaged.

It’s possible they haven’t faced such intense pressure before. Given that, if her mental health was a factor here, which isn’t our place to judge, it could be that she has never encountered a situation like this before, making it challenging for her to know how to handle it effectively.

The dark side of The Block! Ex-contestant reveals how much they really get paid and slams the show's aftercare - after Jesse and Paige's exit amid mental health concerns

Last year, Leah and I moved forward as a strong team during our season. However, we had experienced disagreements during the same period, which occurred at my neighbor’s place. Fortunately, these arguments didn’t make it into the episodes that were broadcasted.

‘So it’s on there and it’s happening, but it’s how it wants to go to air. It’s how they edit it.’

On Monday evening, Jesse and Paige withdrew from the reality TV contest unexpectedly, explaining that they were under significant mental strain due to their challenging past few weeks.

Following a heated dispute, the producers recommended that the couple consult with a professional therapist. This advice led them to choose to depart from the program instead.

In response to their departure, host Scott Cam, aged 61, explained that producers felt obligated to prioritize the welfare of the couple, clarifying that they were not compelled to leave the show against their will.

In the video, Scott explained, “We’ve never claimed that we’re engaged in significant work here; we’re simply remodeling.

On The Block, prioritizing health, welfare, and joy is our top priority. We consistently prioritize the wellbeing of our contestants above all else.

The dark side of The Block! Ex-contestant reveals how much they really get paid and slams the show's aftercare - after Jesse and Paige's exit amid mental health concerns

He continued, “They chose their course of action autonomously – we didn’t compel them to leave. In essence, they opted to return home.

‘We followed it up with professional care in their home state for as long as they needed it.’

On the recent episode broadcasted on Monday, the couple who were about to get married were seen having a disagreement, although they were not directly captured by the camera, their microphones were still active.

Paige could be heard questioning her relationship with Jesse, stating: ‘There is no us.’

She snapped, “I couldn’t care less about your feelings; handle it on your own,” followed by a warning that she might leave the production.

By 11.30pm that night, their argument was loud enough to be heard throughout The Block site.

At that juncture, executive producer Justin Sturzaker intervened, pointing out that they’d previously engaged in heated disputes.

He mentioned that it appears your relationship might not be doing so well. In fact, others, like your neighbors, have even started to notice the noise.

The dark side of The Block! Ex-contestant reveals how much they really get paid and slams the show's aftercare - after Jesse and Paige's exit amid mental health concerns

Sturzaker then suggested that Paige and Jesse speak to the show’s psychologists.

He suggested that not everything should be shared only with Jesse, and it would be beneficial for more people to engage in the conversation since a significant decision needs to be made.

The pair did so over the weekend, and by Monday, announced that they had decided to leave the series.

Last week, Paige expressed that it felt like a desperate plea for assistance, further explaining it was similar to a bottomless pit in her mind.

Host Scott Cam expressed his well-wishes by saying: “It seems like you should depart from this spot, so you can focus on taking good care of yourself.

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2024-09-11 04:08

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