The Block on Channel 9 –It’s fair to say The Block isn’t getting any easier for our teams.
Eliza and Liberty have a shock setback, Steph and Gian are forced to sell their spa and Dan delivers some urgent news which is completely disregarded by some.
The week is hurtling to an end and House 3’s Brett is doing his best to stay focused and on track. He and wife Kristy have copped two major shocks already, learning they needed to re–stump their house and repair shoddy brickwork.
“We are where we usually are on a Monday, on a Thursday,” Kristy summarises and if that sounds bad, it’s because it is.
By Friday morning, things have gotten even worse.
“There’s still hope,” Dan says, unconvincingly.
“We’re not finishing this room,” says Kristy, glumly.
But there’s another major priority about to kick off. A mammoth rainfall is predicted. No one wants a repeat of what happened at House 4, when Steph and Gian were left horrified when their waterlogged ceiling sheet came crashing down.
“It looks like we’re going to have a disaster of a day,” Dan outlines.
With the huge storm expected to barrage The Block, everyone is tasked with weatherproofing – and that includes removing any plaster ceilings through the old parts of the house.
The Blockheads understand the logic of Dan’s directive but are all concerned about how much time it will take to execute. “You don’t have the flexibility of time,” confirms House 1’s Kyle.
For Brett, the news demolishes any shred of remaining zeal. “I was trying to be positive, but now I’m a bit over it,” he says, dejected.
There’s one way to ensure a solid dose of bubbly enthusiasm on The Block and that’s to bring in Shelley Craft! She and host Scott Cam pop in for their weekly walkarounds, eager to check out what the Blockheads have in store for their work from home spaces.
But the bubbly enthusiasm is lacking at their first stop at House 5, when the pair discover what sisters Eliza and Liberty are planning for their walls.
Scott strongly encourages the girls to aim for a higher–end finish than what they have in mind. “This worries me,” he says, inspecting their original option.
Shelley too, gently points out that while their idea is good, the execution needs work.
Lucky for Liberty, the team’s stylist, both Shelley and Alice from Domain are on hand to help give her some first–hand advice as to what luxe can look like. Liberty joins the pair to check out a house in Toorak, and eagerly soaks up the inspiration.
There are tips aplenty, and she admits the much–needed expert advice has helped get her mojo back.
Back at The Block, the site builders are busy tarping up each house, while the teams rip down the old ceilings inside. It’s up to every contestant to check their own rooms are securely covered, and some are taking the forecast more seriously than others.
House 2’s Ash is seemingly unfazed by it all. “That’s not much,” he says, when Dan explains exactly what level of rainfall is expected. “We get that in five minutes [back home in Queensland.]”
Ash shares just how much fiddling around is required to safely tear down the ceilings. “So annoying,” he complains.
Dan again stresses he’s told the contestants to double check rooms have been suitably covered, as “we don’t want rain coming through those ceilings”.
In response, Ash appears to simply deliver a cheeky wink, as he slurps some noodles for lunch.
This feels ominous.
Speaking of warnings, House 1 receive a rap over the knuckles for making too much noise late at night. The pair admit they understand it’s the first and last warning.
Until Scott and Shelley drop by… and serve them up one more. This time, it’s about their budget and Scott isn’t mucking around (well, maybe just a little bit).
For Leah and Ash however, it’s nothing but praise for both their room and their budget.
“We’re not worried about these two, they’re perfect,” enthuses Scott.
“You always bring in some jinx!” laughs Leah.
And again… this feels ominous.
Over at House 4, the spa that they inherited and mentally sold for $50,000, is actually not sold at all. So, Steph and Gian construct a quality sign to lure in any potential bidders at a last–minute auction. With this level of creativity, we can only imagine they’ll land big bucks.
“Do you want a spa?” Gian says to anyone who’ll listen, desperate to flog his wares. He’s keen for “anywhere between three to four thousand”. We laugh.
Scott Cam happily takes centre stage as the auctioneer, but when he opens the bidding, he’s met with crickets.
Eventually, the series producer offers up $500. “A bargain,” Steph says, as she and Gian resign themselves to the fact that it was better than nothing.
Speaking of better than nothing, House 3 finally have both floors and walls and they’re ready to show off both to Scott and Shelley.
Shelley explains that the fact they know the budget and schedule up front means they’ll be able to properly plan for the mammoth re–stumping challenge ahead of them. Honestly, only that signature bubbly Shelley Craft enthusiasm could somehow make “re–stumping budgeting” seem like a good thing.
But Brett and Kristy have also finally uncovered something good in their house. The pair reveal a hidden treasure – some 1956 Olympic-branded bricks. Scott is delighted. “You know, I’m a brick collector,” he shares. “That is an absolute corker!”
Scott urges the pair to sell them and make a potential fortune… and we can only hope that goes better than the whole House 4 spa fiasco.
While we’re on the subject of fiascos, House 5 are about to experience one that’s even greater than their recent “what’s the difference between a nail and a screw” gaffe.
Somehow, the electrician has drilled holes in their fancy wallpaper in the completely wrong spot. Two whopping great holes where they shouldn’t be. It’s highly concerning for the pair, because wallpaper holes is definitely not considered luxe.
“Very stressful, very stressful,” Eliza chants, sucking in some very deep breaths.
Incredibly, the wallpaper team from Grafico have a minuscule amount of wallpaper left and are somehow able to patch the errant holes.
But just when things are looking up, they learn their expensive feature art is identical to the one selected by Leah in House 2… and Leah is not thrilled about it.
But matching paintings may be the least of Leah’s worries. Ash’s laidback stance on tarping and extreme rainfall is about to be well and truly put to the test.
“If water comes in my roof, I don’t care,” he claims.
And for one last time… this feels ominous.
Because just like that, Cyclone Ilsa hits.
Leah is in tears and Ash’s face takes on a whole different expression…
Will House 2 even have a room to present? We will soon find out.
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
