Relationship tension has been building for several couples on The Block Australia, and for some, the pressure has become too much.
Kylie and Brad Baker, married for seven years, are facing rumours that Brad has moved out of their home, while other couples like Courtney McInnes and Grant Freeman have been navigating their own relationship struggles.
As The Block continues, could these challenges be the breaking point for their time on the show?
Kylie & Brad
Talking about her husband of seven years, Kylie Baker admits, “We’re complete polar opposites Brad and I.”
And now a show insider has claimed that Cairns electrician and plumber Brad, 32, has moved out of the home he and hairdresser Kylie, 37, once shared with their four children – a rumour that has run rampant on radio in the couple’s home state of Queensland.
The pair admitted to Woman’s Day the reality reno show has certainly put their marriage under an immense amount of pressure. But could it really have caused them to go their separate ways?
Brad confesses, “Being away for that sort of time definitely takes its toll on our businesses.” Kylie, who has called herself the “green-headed goblin”, agrees, “There’s a lot of recouping to do when you’re not actually earning any money while you’re away.”
Courtney & Grant
Courtney McInnes and Grant Freeman have been clashing more with their builders than each other, but there have still been signs of tension – and Courtney admits there’s more to come.
“There’s actually a lot of drama between Grant and I,” she tells Woman’s Day. “Nothing between the other houses, really, but you’ll see a lot of Grant and I fighting.”
However, the 32-year-old Sydney furniture designer insists appearing on the show only made their three-year marriage stronger in the end.
“This would be something that would make or break you – and it definitely made us,” she says.
“I feel like we worked really well together. Surprisingly, I feel like we survived it. It was actually really fun to do together.” Grant agrees.
“It could have gone one of two ways,” the landscape developer says. “If anything, I think I’ve got a lot more patience. I think I’m a better husband. I learned how to bite my tongue.”
Mimi & Kristian
“We knew no matter what, it was going to be the ultimate test, regardless of whether we’d been married for a few months or a few years,” Mimi Belperio tells Woman’s Day.
Her electrician husband Kristian, 31, agrees, “There are elements of the show that make everything so hard, no matter who you go on the show with. It’s always a difficult task.
“The show definitely did throw in a few tests for us, but if you can get through that, you can get through anything.”
One fan joked that Adelaide restaurant manager Mimi, 28, may have discovered “the signatures on her marriage certificate were forged”, alluding to the recent on-screen scandal where an electrician forged foreman Dan Reilly’s signature in order to obtain a demo permit.
Meanwhile, our show insider claims we don’t have long to wait to see if it’s this pair’s bond that’s moved by The Block. We’re told all the drama “starts to play out by week eight”.
Jesse & Paige
No one’s been at each other’s throats more than Jesse Maguire and Paige Beechey. But they tried to play down their constant on-camera conflict when they spoke to Woman’s Day.
Perth carpenter Jesse, 29, claims, “We definitely did have a few little spats with each other, which I think is so normal. You’re running on no sleep, you maybe haven’t eaten that day, you’re stressed and you’re driving all day.
“I think it tested our relationship in a really good way. You learn new sides of each other. We learned a lot about each other.”
But a source says the couple’s relationship continues to deteriorate further in coming episodes. Paige, 27, admits they haven’t done much planning for their upcoming wedding.
“When we came home, the book was still empty,” the claims specialist says of the planning diary she took on the Three reality show.
“I did nothing. The Block was more enjoyable than wedding planning.”
The Block Australia screens 7pm Mon to Wed and 7.30pm Sundays on Three, streaming on ThreeNow.
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