The billionaire entrepreneur famously purchased all five properties last season.

The Block’s Scott Cam has addressed rumours that Adrian Portelli has been ‘banned’ from attending this year’s auctions. Photos: Channel 9

With The Block 2025 auctions just a few weeks away, host Scott Cam has addressed rumours that serial buyer Adrian Portelli has been “banned” from attending. The billionaire entrepreneur purchased a total of nine properties on the Channel 9 series, including all five homes last season, before announcing he wouldn’t be returning in 2025.

It’s since been revealed that he will be joining Channel 7’s upcoming rival renovation series, My Reno Rules, in 2026 alongside Dr Chris Brown and former Block judge Neale Whitaker. While Shelley Craft has already addressed Adrian’s absence this season, telling Yahoo Lifestyle she’s thrilled that families will get a chance to buy one of this year’s houses, Scott Cam spoke about ‘Mr Lambo’ during an appearance on The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick on Thursday.

When asked if Adrian had been “banned” from making an appearance at the auctions later this month, Scott asserted this wasn’t entirely true and he could turn up “if he wants to”.

“We didn’t ban him; that’s something he said. We never banned him; it’s a public auction, anyone can turn up,” he said.

“We just kindly said, ‘What do you reckon, you had a good run on the auctions, why don’t we leave it to some families to try and buy the houses?’.

“But I think Adrian has gone over to another network to do something anyway, so he wouldn’t be coming to our auction if he’s doing something over there.”

Adrian Portelli purchased all five properties on last year’s season. Photo: Instagram/adrianportelli

Will The Block survive without Adrian Portelli?

Adrian Portelli’s departure from The Block has sparked concerns among viewers that this season’s contestants may not earn as much money, or even sell their properties, without his involvement.

Scott’s longtime co-host, Shelley Craft, recently told Yahoo Lifestyle that while she understands the concern based on the results of last year’s auction, she’s hopeful that his absence will allow families, local bidders, and other “fresh faces” to get involved this time around.

“I love the fact that we’re introducing the audience to Daylesford over a three-month period that they may not have thought about making the tree change,” she shared.

“And once they see it playing out and how much fun we all had there and how we loved it as a community – and through our challenges, we explore a lot of the local area – that maybe moving out of the city and moving to Daylesford wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“And hey, there just happens to be five houses going to auction!”