Rachel and Ryan had a very different weekend in mind when they got they got the late call-up to be contestants on The Block 2022.
The couple were at the pub with their kids and friends when they got the news they were cast on the show after Joel and Elle’s shock departure.
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“We got a call telling us we needed to be at The Block in 30 hours – it was insane, it was madness,” Rachel told 9Entertainment in an exclusive video interview.
Rachel and Ryan had gone quite far in the casting process for Season 18, but put their hopes of being on The Block behind them when they heard the teams had been selected.
Little did they know, one of those teams suddenly quit just a few days into filming.
READMORE: How teams reacted to Joel and Elle quitting The Block
“We’d kind of moved on with our lives and then to get the call to say ‘We need you here ASAP’ was mind-blowing,” Rachel said.
Ryan added, “Yeah we had to figure out a lot in 30 hours to get down here.”
The parents of three children quickly got things at home organized, and rushed to the building site in Gisborne where they were greeted by host Scott Cam.
Scotty quickly got the pair up to speed on what they’d missed, informing them it was day one and Bathroom Week – which was good news because Ryan is a plumber.
Then he gave them the plans and keys to House 2, which is the house Joel and Elle chose after placing fourth in the House Decider challenge.
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While Rachel and Ryan had no say in which house they get to renovate, they weren’t worried about the property because “it’s what you do with it” that counts.
Plus Rachel feels like they were destined to renovate that house.
“I personally feel like House 2 chose us,” Rachel said.
READMORE: Why The Block host Scott Cam thinks his dog Frankie will be the star of the 2022 season
Now that they’re ready to get started transforming the historic home, the couple admitted they’re already tired but excited to be on The Block.
“We’re exhausted and we know that’s really funny because we’re coming in to a really exhausting situation, but at the same time this has been… surreal,” Rachel said.
“This was something Rach and I wanted to do together,” Ryan said.
“And it’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” Rachel added.
In Pictures
Scotty’s house renovation so far
Sneak peek at the first three rooms.
ViewGallery
The Block airs Sunday at 7.00pm and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on Nine. Catch up on all the latest episodes on 9Now.