The Block on Channel 9 – This week on The Block is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic to date.
Not only do the Blockheads take on a challenge that leaves them all salty, but two houses cop a dramatic twist – with walls and a ceiling literally falling down around them.
Yikes.
But let’s start with snuggles.
It’s a gloomy day on site and Leah decides she is going to work from bed in her PJs. It’s a vibe we fully endorse.
It’s a very different mood over in House 4. Steph is eager to continue her positive run and is is busily out shopping for items for her work from home space.
The detail–oriented architect has managed to prise her Hermes bag off her arm and replaced it with her laptop, which has each room fully laid out on it, and a mood board complete with the varied neutral tones she’s using.
We say board, but it’s actually some sort of tray and wowsers, this woman is organised on a whole different level.
It’s a stark difference to House 5’s Liberty, who is still struggling with her confidence after hitting a major slump following the judging on Sunday.
She’s not the only one who’s been shaken this week. Houses 2 and 3 learned yesterday that they need to re–stump parts of their homes.
When pulling up the old flooring, it was revealed that the existing homes had treated pine stumps – something that’s no longer up to code. That has meant a huge financial and labour–intensive load has been added to their plans.
While they rallied yesterday to get on track, House 3 are about to cop another massive issue.
Their room still has dirt floors – despite it being a Wednesday – and they’ve just discovered their brick walls are literally crumbling apart.
Some of the brickwork has being structurally shaken by the demo, and in other areas, the brick’s mortar is coming away altogether.
How great are these charming old houses, guys?
Brett and Kristy are rocked by this revelation and we are going to take a punt that right about now, we’re guessing Brett is heavily regretting his enthusiastic decision to choose House 3 back in week one.
Keith’s immediately concerned about the scope of the fault, wary Kristy and Brett won’t finish their home at all in time for reveal.
He calls for the site engineer, Doug, to come and check out the issue.
“The person that did the brickwork here originally would have used the same technique throughout the whole house,” he admits. (Let’s hope that person isn’t watching.)
“I just hope this doesn’t keep happening week after week, because they simply won’t be able to afford it.”
Keith lets Kristy know the extent of the “nasty” problem. She is stoic as she accepts the news but afterwards, she and Brett let themselves feel the full magnitude of what they’ve just learned.
“Imagine if we have to do full new brick laying here,” ponders Brett. “Ooft,” says Kristy.
Imagine away… because, that’s looking like a very real possibility.
There’s no better time for Keith to issue the teams with the structural engineering plans for their entire homes. He urges them all to take a solid look over them, as they will need to consider what’s ahead when they’re making week–to–week decisions.
“Or there could be trouble ahead,” Scott Cam warns in an ominous voiceover.
…Is it just us, or does this feel like a clue?
Before they can enjoy some structural drawing analysis – and who wouldn’t? – Eliza and Liberty need to get some pep back in their step.
Leah too, is ready to rise. She’s flung back the bed covers. “I’ve taken the feedback from the judges really seriously this week and I’ve brought back some punch,” she says, with renewed vigour.
She heads out shopping for her work from home space and she’s thrilled when she find the perfect chair… until she returns to her van to cop a parking fine. “Let’s not tell Ash,” she declares, dramatically ripping the ticket in half.
Back at The Block, Keith and engineer Doug have come up with a solid idea (pun intended) to firm up the problematic wall in House 3’s work from home space. There’s steel and beams involved. It’s all feeling quite good again. Especially because along with House 2, they’ve also got their floor down… finally.
So, Kristy and Brett celebrate by throwing a barbie for their crew, because nothing creates morale like marinated grilled meats.
At the end of a tough day, it’s all coming up rainbows after storms for the houses.
Hold that chicken satay stick… things are about to take a dramatic turn in House 4.
Steph and Gian have so far experienced zero issues whatsoever of late. It makes for a nice change for the couple, who are up to their third set of builders in as many weeks.
But as they’re merrily sharing what they have planned for their room, they hear an enormous crashing sound.
“Guys… what was that?” frets Steph.
“That was the ceiling,” someone states, and the couple rapidly race off in search of the noise.
It’s all getting a bit much on site, so bright and early the next day, our Blockheads pop off to the Baths in Brighton to take on a challenge.
They’re dressed in their 1950s bathers and Scott Cam and Shelley Craft are sporting lifeguard attire. “It’s Scotty Hasselhoff!” quips Eliza.
Eliza goes on to explain she has opted to personally cover every limb as she is not “tanned, or shaved or waxed.”
“We can’t allow people to see that,” she says firmly.
The teams discover they need to use paddleboards to fetch key items from the ocean, then put them to use on a sand sculpture.
First up, they must grab flags with creatures to sculpt. They demonstrate their competitive sides, as they (somewhat reluctantly) leap into the water, with hilarious results…
But it’s not all fun and games. The winning team will also claim $5000 cash, plus a bonus point gnome. That narrows the focus somewhat.
It’s an enlightening insight into the dynamics between each pair. When the teams are mid sculpt, Scotty points out there’s a treasure chest of props floating nearby, to make their designs even more – erhm – spectacular.
Leah and Ash are taking a very strategic approach to the challenge, opting for some technical points of difference to make their seahorse stand out. “Leah’s actually pretty good at art,” says Ash.
Eliza also claims to be creative. She is worried her squid design resembles a certain male appendage, so makes some artistic tweaks to ensure it’s not too graphic…
Jokes aside, there’s five grand and the all–important gnome on the line and the Blockheads are taking that extremely seriously. Leah and Ash are declared the winners, and the strategic pair are absolutely delighted.
“That gnome – that’s just a game changer,” Leah affirms. “That extra point will really come in handy,” Ash agrees.
“We just don’t know when to play it…” Leah hedges, and with scoring being as close as it has been, we suspect it will end in drama when they eventually do.
The Block airs Sunday 7.00pm and continues Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now. Catch up on all the latest episodes on 9Now.
This recap has been used with permission from Channel 9
Special thanks to Lulu Wilkinson at Nine.
Link to 9Now HERE
Link to Lulu’s full recap including with extra video content and info HERE
About The Block
Get ready, Australia. The Block, the number one renovation reality program, returns for an incredible 19th season on Sunday, August 6, at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Set in the family-friendly Melbourne suburb of Hampton East, the new series features five houses designed and built in the 1950s and located on the aptly named Charming Street. These grand old dames are now aged in their 70s and way overdue for a contemporary update.
For the first time in Block history, host Scott Cam will be providing contestants with the full renovation schedule ahead of time this season. So get your cameras out, Blockheads, it’s photo time.
Adding to the year of Block firsts and amping up the stakes at play during the 48-hour House Decider Challenge, contestants will be seeing all finished designs of the houses on Day 1. Who will prevail and get the house of their choice?
Not only will they get the schedule and designs up front, but in another first, they’ll receive their entire budgets as well.
However, the Blockheads will soon find out that it’s not all smooth sailing when renovating an original 1950s home – structural issues, extreme weather events, and a mountain of demolition will test our five keen couples every step of the way.
Plus, The Block’s state-versus-state rivalry will be amplified by the sheer closeness of the houses this year. Who knew being able to peak into your neighbours builds would cause such tension?
The couples in contention are: sisters Eliza and Liberty Paschke (personal assistant, 37, and integration producer, 34, VIC); parents Kyle and Leslie Cottone (firefighter, 36, and teaching aide, 34, WA); parents Leah and Ash Milton (first aid officer, 31, and builder, 36, QLD); married couple Kristy and Brett Beames (project manager, 34, and safety officer, 34, SA); and newlyweds Steph and Gian Ottavio (architect, 27, and start up worker, 27, NSW).
Real estate expert Marty Fox isn’t the only new addition to the lineup this season. The formidable foremen Keith Schleiger and Dan Reilly will be joined on site with the fan favourite from last year, Tom Calleja.
The nation fell in love with Tom and his wife Sarah-Jane because of their work ethic and relatable marital bickering, and he jumped at the chance to work with Scotty and come back as this year’s official Block plumber.
The designs of the amazing homes in this series again come from The Block’s resident architect, Julian Brenchley.
At stake is $100,000 for the overall winner of The Block, on top of any profit the five couples can all make on the critical auction day. Plus bragging rights for the winners’ state.
Since premiering on Channel 9 in 2003, Australia’s richest reality program has awarded a total of $32,592,807.65 in prizemoney.
The Block – on Channel 9 and 9Now
Media Release – Nine
TV Central Nine content HERE
