It’s only day two of The Block and the biggest ever season of the show is already making history.
For the first time a team quits leaving the remaining contestants and host Scott Cam shocked and confused.
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Before we meet the replacement couple we head to Block HQ to find out what judges Shaynna Blaze, Neale Whittaker and Darren Palmer think of the House Decider challenge rooms.
And the teams choose the historic homes they’ll be renovating this year.
But first let’s unpack that shock exit.
Scott Cam assembles all the teams for an impromptu meeting. But there’s one notable absence – influencer couple Joel and Elle.
“I’ve just found out that Joel and Elle are on their way to the airport,” he reveals to the remaining teams.
“They have left the show.”
After only just finding out the news himself, Scotty explains that Joel and Elle left the show without saying goodbye.
Sharon speculates that Joel and Elle’s exit could’ve had something to do with a family situation.
“But we knew that had happened before they got onto The Block because he [Joel] had told us that unfortunately his mum had a fall, but she was okay and they’d seen her the week before,” Sharon explains.
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The remaining teams want to know if everything is okay. Scotty assures them that all is well and that The Block simply “is not on brand” for Joel and Elle.
“And they also said the toilet paper was too scratchy,” Scotty jokes.
While everyone else is still in total shock from the bombshell Scotty’s just dropped, Sarah-Jane says she “saw it coming.”
“I had a huge ‘I told you so’ moment. I could see it coming from a mile away,” she says.
“They didn’t make any effort to get to know us. They looked miserable the whole time,” Sarah Jane adds.
Joel and Elle’s exit comes after the judges are left confused by their coastal style room in the House Decider challenge.
Before the pair decides to call it quits Joel and Elle gather at Block HQ with the other teams to find out what the judges thought of the challenge rooms and who would get first pick of the houses.
For the challenge Joel and Elle present a room that fits more in Bondi than in Gisborne, Victoria.
“They have smashed the life out of this home and that breaks my heart,” Shaynna says.
Neale advises Joel and Elle to “amp up the heritage in the old part of the house.”
Their room earns them a score of 21.5 out of 30 – placing them fourth. At the time, Joel and Elle seem to take the criticism in their stride and say they were willing to learn from it. Maybe, not.
In Pictures
Joel and Elle’s House Decider Challenge Bedroom
The judges were not happy with the “modern” vibe.
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The judges are “very impressed” by Tom and Sarah-Jane’s guest bedroom. They love their copper and olive color palette and Shaynna says it feels like a boutique hotel. The judges score them 23.5 out of 30.
In Pictures
Tom and Sarah-Jane’s House Decider Challenge Bedroom
Judges wowed by couple’s color palette and style.
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Dylan and Jenny are up next. The fact that they’re both trades is obvious in their near-perfect execution. The judges adore the VJ paneling in their room but think that their styling is a bit of a “mish mash”.
In Pictures
Dylan and Jenny’s House Decider Challenge Bedroom
The judges had mixed feelings on the space.
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“They’ve made individually good choices, but all those individual choices don’t work together,” Darren says. Overall, it’s still a great effort that earns them a score of 22.5 out of 30.
Ankur and Sharon are nervous ahead of their room reveal and aren’t sure how the judges will feel about their very rustic approach to the country aesthetic. Sharon says she “just doesn’t want to come last.”
“It does feel country, but I’m not sure which continent that country is on,” Darren says. He warns that their very rustic approach will be “divisive in the market.”
But overall the judges agree that the room works and score them 22 out of 30 . “They’ve done what they’ve done very well.”
In Pictures
Ankur and Sharon’s House Decider Challenge Bedroom
The judges have mixed emotions on the space.
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Best friends Omar and Oz are last to be judged. The judges are happy to see that the boys preserved the original paneling but feel that’s where things stopped. Neale wants to see a room that is less generic and has more personality.
“Your room today is not luxe enough boys, but it’s not too far off,” Scotty reassures Omar and Oz before revealing their score of 21 out of 30.
In Pictures
Omar and Oz’s House Decider Challenge Bedroom
One judge labels room feature a “big mistake”.
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With the scores in, that means Tom and Sarah-Jane take out the first challenge win of the season and get to pick the house they will renew for the rest of the season.
Despite raving about House 4, Tom and Sarah-Jane decide to stay put in House 1.
Runners-up, Dylan and Jenny choose the highly sought after House 4.
Ankur and Sharon pick House 3 – the biggest house on The Block. Joel and Elle choose House 2 which leaves Omar and Oz with House 5.
Of course, with Joel and Elle gone you might be wondering who will renovate House 2?
Enter Rachel and Ryan – a brand new couple that will pick up right where Joel and Elle left off.
They arrive on site with just a day’s notice and are greeted by Scotty. He brings Rachel and Ryan up to speed and they head straight to House 2 to get started.
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With the houses divided up and the teams finally settled, the competition is now in full swing. And this week the teams must deliver their main bathroom.
In Pictures
Scotty’s house renovation so far
Sneak peek at the first three rooms.
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The Block airs Sunday at 7.00pm and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on Nine. Catch up on all the latest episodes on 9Now.