Alice and Caleb 'WHY WE'LL NEVER BE INVITED BACK'

Despite eight house moves, four children a new business and two major property developments, The Block is still the hardest thing they've ever done

- Debbie Harrison.

A text thread between the female contestants from the 2013 season of The Block NZ buzzed hot when the first episodes of The Block: Redemption aired. The common response to contestants going back for another punishing renovation was clear: they must be mad. How could they go back for more - they know better!

Except for one couple on the thread...

"We can say quite confidently that yes we'd go back because I'm confident we won't be asked back," says Alice Pearson, with a peal of laughter. "Viewers like the idea of new teams getting a go each year, rather than former winners coming back."

 

The Auckland couple would be thrilled rather than terrified at the prospect of working on another house. The pair are well and truly reno junkies they've just ticked off their 11th renovation, 12 if you count the Belmont house they worked on for the show.

"Being on The Block was the hardest thing I've ever done and the best thing I've ever done. I've been through labour, raised toddlers – and it’s still the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she reveals. “One of my pet peeves is people saying it’s not as hard as it looks. Honestly, it’s five times harder than it looks when you throw in the filming and having only five days to deliver a room.”

Despite how all-consuming the experience was, Caleb and Alice would still leap at the chance to do it all over again.

“My mindset is that the best things in life are usually the hardest and anything that comes easy isn’t worth it,” she asserts. “We’re not scared of hard work.”

That’s abundantly clear from what the talented duo have achieved since we saw them on our screens nine years ago: eight renovations, eight house moves, four children, a new business and two major property developments.