With the first double-room reveal fast approaching, the Blockheads face a week of budget pressure, design doubt and unfinished spaces. A tennis-themed challenge sets the tone for a competitive episode, while one key flooring decision threatens to derail Tayla just as House 5 begins to find momentum.
The teams wake to a box of tennis balls and a note from Scott and Shelley, who summon them to Mount Eliza Tennis Club for the evening’s challenge. Reactions are mixed: Tayla is confident in her tennis skills, while several others admit they are nervous, uncoordinated or simply not fans of running.
Back on site, pressure is mounting with only four days until main bedroom and walk-in robe judging. Adam and Jolene in House 1 are behind after locking in plasterers late, blowing their budget in the process. Courtney and Sev in House 4 are also financially stretched after spending more than double their planned allocation on the first two rooms yet continue to push an ambitious design.
In House 2, Chantel and Wyatt debate whether the bedroom needs a television or artwork, while Wyatt jokes that his ideal space would be a gaming room. House 5’s Rick and Tayla finally feel they may be on track, with, fireplace framing, venetian plaster and flooring all planned. However, Tayla’s meeting with Mark from Buxton Real Estate unsettles her when he suggests replacing their herringbone flooring with chevron or parquetry.
Tayla scrambles for advice, first questioning whether herringbone is the wrong choice, then consulting her real estate-agent best friend and Flooring Xtra. Ultimately, she decides to stick with the original herringbone, reassured that it is timeless, luxurious and easier to lay than chevron.
Elsewhere, Lisa and Rosco in House 3 are battling delays after a plaster delivery setback leaves them worried their lime plasterer may not have enough time. House 1 is similarly anxious, with Jolene concerned by Adam’s stress levels and the lack of progress. Beyond the current rooms, landscaping week is already looming, prompting Chantel and Wyatt to use AI to develop courtyard ideas.
The episode also brings joyful personal news: after a private scan, Lisa reveals to Rosco that she is further along in her pregnancy than expected, around 10 to 11 weeks. The couple are thrilled to be giving Lando a sibling, and the news is warmly celebrated by the other Blockheads.
At the Mount Eliza Tennis Club, the Nature’s Way challenge begins in the rain. Tayla arrives highly confident, but the one-point slam produces surprises. Adam and Jolene beat Chantel and Wyatt, Courtney and Sev defeat Adam and Jolene, and Rick and Tayla then eliminate Courtney and Sev. In the final, Lisa and Rosco take on Rick and Tayla; after a rally, Lisa’s shot hits Rick and sends him tumbling, handing Lisa and Rosco the win and $5,000.
By Friday morning, three days remain until reveal. Scott and Shelley visit each house to assess progress. Tayla explains the flooring drama and receives reassurance that herringbone is a magnificent, luxury finish, but Shelley warns that House 5 must lift its styling and plan better after failing to finish previous rooms. Chantel and Wyatt impress with colour, curves, marble and texture, showing they are responding to judges’ feedback.
In House 4, Courtney and Sev are praised for what they are creating despite budget constraints, and Sev opens up about living with alopecia and bringing wigs to The Block. House 1 receives encouragement for its design features, though Shelley cautions that the earthy wall finish will need to be balanced with luxe elements. In House 3, Scott and Shelley like Lisa and Rosco’s layout, but the couple still need to prove they can complete a room.
A second challenge, Sizzle and Score, gives teams the chance to win pots and plants for landscaping week, with Chantel securing 10 of each. As deadlines tighten, Chantel and Wyatt become the first team to start painting, but Wyatt feels overwhelmed by the amount of work ahead. Scott grants extended hours to all teams, offering three extra hours over two nights to help them finish.
The episode closes with every house racing against time. Adam and Jolene regain some confidence but remain unsure how judges will respond to their timber wall. Courtney and Sev look for a cost-conscious solution for their fireplace plinth, with Sev attempting tricky mosaic tiling despite advice they are not for a novice. As reveal day approaches, the teams are still juggling budget, ambition and finish quality.
