The Block 2021 episode 14 recap: ‘Biggest cheating scandal in TV history’ — Block comes close to being derailed

A bitter allegation of cheating against Josh and Luke erupts, as a trail leads to one of the most unlikely suspects.

Hoo boy. The Block producers have been taunting us with a cheating scandal since this season started, but unlike other series, where accusations of cheating were inflated then fizzled into nothing, this is a genuine, game-disrupting piece of actual skulduggery.

This episode begins with Ronnie and Georgia salty that their magnificent room, described by judge Neale Whitaker as “the most beautiful master bedroom I’ve seen in 11 years of judging on The Block” limped home in fourth place.

RELATED: Master bedroom reveal marred by cheating controversy

Admittedly it was because they’d installed a walk-in robe that Kylie Minogue would struggle to turn around in, but it’s left them with a bitter aftertaste.

Georgia and Ronnie aren’t impressed.

As Georgia warns Ronnie “don’t go there” during their post-judging interview, he points the finger at winners Luke and Josh for cheating.

“I don’t think. I know,” he says. “They know exactly the full schedule of what rooms are coming up and what the challenge days are.”

And how do they know this? Their builder Ryan has a photo of the production planning whiteboard on his phone. The whiteboard is housed in Scott Cam’s office, and is meant to be off limits to the contestants.

Knowing the schedule is an enormous advantage. It allows contestants to get ahead with ordering materials, drawing up plans, scheduling trades and demolishing.

Scott Cam wipes clear the building schedule after he discovers some contestants have a copy of it on their phones. Picture: Channel 9

Ryan made the major error of giving Ronnie and Georgia a quick glimpse of the photo on his phone the previous week. The pair had obviously decided not to make an issue of it, but the combination of losing with one of the show’s best ever master bedrooms, and Josh and Luke winning was too much for Ronnie to keep it in.

While Josh and Luke are off in the Yarra Valley enjoying a night in what appears to be a fancy Nissen hut, Georgia tells Mark and Mitch about the boys knowing the schedule in advance.

Tanya overhears and disappears to tip off the boys that the jig is up. Hmmmmm.

When they arrive back on set the next day, Josh and Luke ask Ronnie and Georgia for a chat which starts cordially and ends with Ronnie saying “The Block is the biggest game on Australian TV, so for someone to have the full schedule is the biggest cheating scandal in TV history” and Luke mystifyingly shouting “Shut up, Hollywood!” in return.

Luke and Josh aren’t happy with Ronnie’s claim they are responsible for the biggest cheating scandal in TV history. Picture: Channel 9

Georgia and Ronnie go and make an official complaint to the production office, before they’re summoned to Scott Cam’s office with Josh and Luke to witness him wiping the board clear. Georgia is understandably angry at even being summoned at all given she’s the cheating victim, not the perpetrator, and runs off distressed.

Ronnie and Georgia are summoned to a meeting with Luke and Josh to clear the air after they accused the twins of cheating. Picture: Channel 9

“I don’t want to be on camera now, I’m having a moment, leave me alone,” she says, disappearing to sob in a loo.

Then we hear from Vito and Tanya.

“We’re trying to stay out of it,” Tanya says, conveniently omitting the fact she is the one who tipped Josh and Luke off in the first place. “I just can’t be bothered. I don’t want to be a part of it. It’s really not our business.”

Double hmmmmmmmm.

That night Josh and Luke are hosting the winners’ dinner at their site.

“Going to be an awky one,” Luke says, unnecessarily.

After a tone deaf speech about how proud he is of their win, Luke hands over to Scott Cam, who brings out a board game of Cluedo and tells the group he’s determined to find out who took the photo.

It’s all too much for Georgia at the inaccurately named 'winners are grinners' dinner. Picture: Channel 9

The boys deny it was them, but are refusing to snitch on whoever sent it to them.

“I cheated, but I know that others cheated too,” Luke says. “It fell in our lap and I’m not a strong enough person not to look, and that’s the truth.”

Jesse and Kirsty are only hearing about the scandal for the first time here, and look genuinely shocked, so they’re off the suspect list.

Mark and Mitch only found out about it when Ronnie and Georgia told them. Ronnie and Georgia are clearly in the clear.

Meanwhile, Tanya and Vito are desperately trying to change the subject, wittering on about the lamb and refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.

Could it be that the culprit is Ms Purple, in the production office, with the camera?

Tanya tries desperately to change the subject to the lamb. Picture: Channel 9

MISSED AN EPISODE?

Episode 13: Master bedroom reveal marred by cheating controversy

Episode 11 & 12: Georgia threatens Block foreman for ruining plan

Episode 10: Serious Block accident leads to walkout

Episode 9: ‘Atrocious’ bathroom stuns Block judges

Episode 7 & 8: Block contestants worried about ‘novice’

Episode 6: Absolute bulls***: Fury over judges’ ruling

Episode 5: Boozy night lands one Block team in hospital

Episode 3 & 4: Love Island twins accuse Mitch and Mark of copying

Episode 2: Love Island twins stick boot into country singer

Episode 1: Shocks, showdowns and soup-inspired style