Scott Cam reduces Block contestant to tears: ‘Who’s running this show?’

After a dramatic few episodes on The Block that saw one team walk out for good, Scott Cam had a big announcement for the contestants.

Block host Scott Cam didn’t hold back when he learned one of this season’s contestants had failed to turn up to a challenge during Tuesday’s episode.

Cam and fellow presenter Shelley Craft were hosting a midweek challenge at an art gallery, where contestants would learn to make a paper mache lamp in order to win much-needed funds for their renos.

But there were noticeably fewer contestants in attendance than usual, with Perth couple Jesse and Paige having quit the show in the previous episode.

Also missing: Grant, aka “Grumpy,” who sent wife Courtney along solo, insisting that he had too much work to do back at their house.

It was a bold move on Grant’s part: Everyone has work to do, and The Block’s frequent challenges aren’t optional.

Cam wasn’t happy, and focused his frustrations on the one member of the team who’d bothered to turn up.

“Who’s running this show?”

Courtney seemed stunned to be getting called out.

“He’s not turning up to our challenge?” he barked.

“Who’s running this show? Grumpy or me? Well, now I’m grumpy.”

Even the eternally cheerful Craft couldn’t hide her frustrations: “You’re serious?” she asked, unable to believe a contestant simply wouldn’t turn up.

Cam then turned the screws a bit, announced that with Grant failing to attend, he wanted to make the challenge even more important, throwing a valuable artwork into the prize pool.

“$5000 cash, and the $20,000 artwork is up for grabs – and you’ve got no chance ‘cos you’re on your own,” he said, pointing at Courtney.

As the contestants broke away to start the challenge, Courtney fled the gallery in tears, with two of her fellow competitors following on to console her.

Courtney is consoled by the other contestants outside.

Later on, Cam approached her to hug it out, apologising for going “a bit hard” on her and explaining he was cranky at her husband’s no-show.

But despite making amends, he told her Grant would “live to regret” skipping out on the challenge.

Scott and Courtney hug it out.

Elsewhere in Tuesday’s episode, two new contestants joined the show after Perth couple Jesse and Paige dramatically quit on the previous episode following weeks of escalating tension.

Eventually, a Block executive producer intervened and urged them to take decisive action about their future with the show.

New Block contestants Maddy and Charlotte.

Their sudden exit left The Block with an unusual problem: A half-finished house and nobody to build it.

Within 24 hours, Sydney sisters Maddy and Charlotte arrived on site at Phillip Island and ready to get to work, five whole weeks into the season.

Despite being the show’s youngest team ever at just 24 and 22, the siblings are actually experienced renovators who flip houses for living – something they want to keep a secret from their fellow competitors.

But the Block newbies don’t get much of a welcome from at least one contestant, Kylie, who barely greets them and is later shown on camera calling her mother to complain that she thinks they’ll get special treatment.

Originally published as Scott Cam reduces Block contestant to tears: ‘Who’s running this show?’