Has their Block win saved Chantelle and Steve's relationship?

They were on the rocks, but now they’re not. How did The Block’s surprise winners turn it around?

Having been the underdogs of the entire series, Chantelle Ford and Steve O’Donnell stunned their competitors, bookmakers, viewers and even themselves when they took out The Block: Fans vs Faves last night.

The Geelong couple’s win has raised some questions among viewers: How could they have possibly beaten Kyal and Kara? Did their apartment really deserve to win?

And, above all, are they still together?

After all, it was Steve and Chantelle’s relationship, rather than their styling choices, that had The Block fans talking as the series progressed.

When they signed up for the show, Steve, a chimney sweep, and Chantelle, a milliner, were just a pair of giddy Blockaholics who had no idea they'd be competing against formidable previous contestants, including last year's winners Alisa and Lysandra. Their fellow 'fans' team, the Super Ks, had the advantage of Kyal's carpentry skills, which showed as the couple won room after room and challenge after challenge.

Steve and Chantelle were very much the rookies of the series - and the stress began to show in their interactions with one another. The couple's arguments became increasingly uncomfortable to watch and they began sleeping in separate beds (possibly due to the stifling heat, but who really knows?) The negative - and often very personal - feedback from fans on social media didn't really help matters, either.

Although the producers' editing choices possibly made things look worse than they really were, Steve and Chantelle made no efforts to hide the fact they were feeling the strain, making remarks like, "Can I have a different partner today, please?" and "This week has been bad for our relationship".

In their final interview before last night's finale, Chantelle was overcome as she admitted she felt as though "[the show] wasn't that hard for anyone else", and that she didn't really know where things were at with her boyfriend of two years.

Steve, looking forlorn, seemed to agree. “Our relationship took a big hit coming on to The Block,” he added. "I just want to reconnect with my little buddy."

At the start of the finale, the couple's relationship status was tricky to work out. Things seemed a little awkward, but considering they had an auction and the $100,000 outcome of a competition looming over their heads, a few nerves were understandable.

However, as Chantelle and Steve watched in shock as their reserve price was smashed by a cool $636,000 - taking out their tipped-to-win competitors - it was clear the strain of renovating an apartment in limited time, with virtually no experience and a gaggle of video cameras shoved in their faces, had lifted.

As they celebrated their win, embracing and kissing tenderly, they looked like any other very-much-in-love (and suddenly quite rich) young couple.

Chantelle confirmed this, telling reporters, “We’re closer than ever really ... Every relationship has arguments and disagreements and people caught some of those on camera."

“People say if you can survive The Block you can survive anything and we have come out the other end together," she added. "We get to have this memory with each other forever which is so cool.” Earning almost a million bucks together can't hurt, either.

But Chantelle says she doesn't want Steve to give up his day job, despite their new-found wealth. She likes him covered in soot, apparently, and told Chrissie Swan and Jane Hall's Mix 101.1 radio show this morning that he'd keep some of those jobs on, "To keep the missis happy." Oh, okay.

So there you go. Perhaps The Block isn't the marital kiss of death we all thought it was - but it's no honeymoon either.

Did you think Steve and Chantelle would win The Block?

CLICK THROUGH this gallery to see some of the highlights of last night's finale: