Diversity as Prahran's The Block Glasshouse contestants revealed

Channel 9 has released its initial video revealing the contestant couples for its next renovation suction series of The Block Glasshouse.

There is no date yet set for the series start, but it is expected to air after the current season of The Voice wraps.

The contestants include retired AFL ruckman Darren Jolly and his wife Deanne.

Photo courtesy of Channel 9/Facebook.

The video suggests The Block has responded slightly to past criticism over its lack of diversity.

It was something that the executive producer Julian Cress had been keen to reverse, thwarted as past Block series applications had resulted in fewer than 4% of applicants being other than Caucasian.

The Block, now into its 9th series, has previously had contestants with Italian, Greek and Lebanese heritage. There will be a contestant of Asian heritage in the series.

The Block was one of the first TV shows in the world to cast a gay couple in its initial 2003 series.

In 2014 Tasmania gets its first contestants, sibling guys, Shannon and Simon in the Glasshouse.

The other contestants are Michael and Carlene from the Gold Coast; Karstan and Maxine from Newcastle; and Jenna and Chris from Sydney.

The next Channel 9 series of The Block Glasshouse is set for the busy cosmopolitan High Street, Prahran where some 36% of the population are singles.

There are five contestant couples, although the development proposal will see six split-level atrium apartments above two restaurants in a converted Prahran office block.

The production company, Watercress spent $8.25 million on the 1980s office building near trendy Chapel Street and opposite Swinburne University's Prahran campus last August.

The $2.5 million Brenchley Architects infill works schedule for the three-storey 3,540-square-metre building (pictured above) will be mostly internally, but sought car parking dispensation and a waiver of loading and unloading requirements in association with the food and drink premises.

Feature photo courtesy of Channel 9/Facebook.