Why The Block Season 15 is set to be the biggest Block ever

In 2019 The Block is returning bigger than ever before — literally. Scott Cam has the details:

"If you were to take Norm and Jess' penthouse last year, and put it on top of Josh and Elyse's winning house from the year before — that's what they have to renovate this year." 

That's an astounding 460 square metres that needs to be renovated, on what was originally The Oslo Hotel.

The average across all 14 past seasons? Just 160 square metres.

Five new teams will be undertaking this mammoth challenge, including newlyweds Tess and Luke and the very confident Jesse and Mel — who "have a few secrets up their sleeve", including living quarters down the road, and Jesse's secret past as a tiler.

Scott also revealed this season kicks off with "the toughest first-week challenge… ever.

"Each of you will have to deliver a bedroom and a bathroom this week," he said.

Over the years, The Block has seen 120 people compete, with a combined prize pool topping $20 million. With the scale of the renovations this year, there's potential for that figure to rise substantially.

The Block premieres Sunday, August 4, at 7.00pm on Nine.