This morning they have woken up as half-millionaires, but sadly their win was overshadowed by what I would call bad sportsmanship.
Over 2.8 million Aussies turned in to see brothers Simon and Shannon Voss win The Block. The brothers are now $435, 000 richer from the sale of their apartment, with part of that being the $100,000 in prize money. Runners up were Sydney underdogs Chris and Jenna, who pocketed $310,000. Newlyweds Max and Karstan walked away with $40,000 but the big shock of the night were fan favourites Darren and Deanne and Carlene and Michael, who only won a measly $10,000.
While Simon and Shannon just wanted to celebrate with their shirts off, others — namely Darren and Deanne — sulked and swore and stormed off. I caught up with the boys to see how they were feeling after their big night.
I really felt for you guys last night when you couldn’t celebrate what was a great win.
Shannon: Look, we were upset for the other contestants as well. We’re obviously very happy and grateful, but it sucks they didn’t walk away with more coin.
It does. I was a big fan of Michael and Carlene because they’re Gold Coasters and they left their kids to do the show, that was a big deal to me, and to only walk away with $10,000 is sad. But at the same time, The Block is a game and someone’s got to win and someone’s got to lose.
Shannon: That’s right! It’s real estate, and real estate is a risk. It’s also reality TV and that’s always a gamble. We are very lucky to walk away with a win, we had the best team working for us and that showed on the day. But at the same time we are heartbroken for the other guys.
Is it true the after party was cancelled because everyone felt so down and out?
Simon: It wasn’t canned but it wasn’t a go crazy party. We just got together and had a quiet glass of wine.
Did everyone look at you to put on a bar tab?
Simon: Ha! No, Scotty looked after the tab last night, which was nice of him.
Did you guys think about sharing your extra $100,000 win with the other guys?
Shannon: For about two seconds!
So what’s your plan with the money? Will you build another house?
Shannon: Half a million is a lot of money but we’re not stinking rich so we have to be wise with it. When we split it, it’s only around $250k each, but the first thing we will do is say thank you to our builder Mossie and take him on a surf trip.
I’ve read a lot about you guys during the course of the show, and the thing is, you’re winners all ’round. Because of your age gap you haven’t spent much time together in the past, is that right, Shannon?
Shannon: You know what, as soon as high school finished I nicked off overseas for about 10 years. So the little fella here grew up without me.
So did you enjoy your time together or do you want to nick off overseas again?
Simon: We’ve loved it. We’re good mates and we’re brothers but after this we’re that much closer.
You work together beautifully. Would you do it again in the future?
Shannon: Yeah, we do work well as a team. We’re surprised we didn’t fight, and mum’s glad we didn’t have a big blue on screen! But we don’t have any plans just yet.
I’d rather watch you fight than couples. It would be all nipple cripples and headlocks, bro style.
Shannon: Ha! No, it would be more bloody than that.
Michael and Carlene live here in Queensland. Do you have anything to say to them, Simon?
Simon: We absolutely love you guys and our hearts break for you, but you’d have to be an idiot to not sign Michael up to another TV show and Carlene is an amazing interior designer, so this wont be the end of them!
Well, congratulations again on your win, guys. Can you loan me $20?
Shannon: No, but thank you!
Ask yourself this. If Dee and Darren have had won would they share it? Don’t think so. They even thought of suing channel 9 over it. Oh and the out of pocket comment that has been made falls short as it has come out that each got $1400 a week to keep paying bills at home. Sore losers I say
No way they should share thier winnings. No different from any other game show where there are winners eg. You may spend three months in the big brother house and not win anything but they know that when they sign up so its all part of the game
Huge huge huge congrats to the boys… loved their antics and commitment…. also loved Chris and Jenna cos nearly every wk they got slammed by the judges and every wk they dusted themselves off and kept soldiering on with their head held high so big congrats to them too… Its a shame about the others but all i will say is that Michael and Carlene, Max and Carston handled their loss with dignity so i applaud them for that… I will not mention the other couple cos i have been taught ‘if u aint got nuffin nice to say then don’t say nuffin at all…’ maybe its karma cos of the attitude and manners throughout the entire show….. Enjoy ur holiday in Bali boys its well deserved….
They are battlers who worked hard and earned every penny, it’s the giant corporation who potentially made ten’s or hundreds of millions off their work who should make sure these people are all reasonably compensated for acing as stars to bring millions!
Well done boys was disgraceful of D & D to walk off sulking and swearing you win some you lose some. Greedy
And don’t forget that the boys thought so much of their chippie that they’re shouting him a all expenses paid surfing holiday to Bali. Well done boys!
What backlash?? Most comments or discussion I have witnessed has all been NO way they should share it! 2011, 3 homes were passed in and they got nothing! $10000 on top of their weekly $1400 allowance plus whatever opportunity they milk from it is fair!!
Nope, share the money.. It’s ok they can go without the shirts lol
Where is quality TV? So sick of reality program’s which are the same just a different slant on it. I’m glad the boys won. I feel for the others but I just sold my home and took a loss and no one offered to pay my difference.
Never watched it. I’m so tired of trying to avoid watching people getting their 15 minutes of fame on “reality” TV programs. The question should be, what has happened to quality TV entertainment?