The Block 2021 episode 19 and 20 recap: Contestants discover building a cubby house is far from child’s play

Tensions run high as teams compete to build the best cubby and win the first game-changer of the competition — and jealously begins to run rampant during a hectic bathroom week.

Siobhan Duck

5 min read

September 8, 2021 - 8:35PM

News Corp Australia Network

Property

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Things have gotten really childish on The Block.

And no, I am not talking about all the teasing, tears and tantrums that have followed the cheating scandal.

With all the teams under enormous time pressure (thanks to those pesky public holidays reducing their working week), there was no better time for host Scott Cam to summon everyone off site for a challenge. In far off Geelong, no less.

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The four teams were each given $800 and five hours to build a cubby house — with the winner decided by two child judges. The prize? $10,000 and that all important game-changer gnome which allows the winning team to add a point to their scores on judgment day.

Mitch and Mark’s cubby was inspired by their granddaughters. Picture: Supplied, Channel 9

Ronnie and Georgia reached for the stars with a rocket-shaped cubby. The father-of-three looked the most comfortable and confident with the power tools, in that he could actually use them (unlike everyone else).

As a sweat-soaked Ronnie chipped away at his rocket, Vito and Tanya got lessons in how to use a nail gun from Scott.

During their lesson, Scott also urged them to copy Ronnie and Georgia and add a second storey to their playhouse (talk about mixed messages on copying). Scott warned the couple that they were already more than $10,000 in the red and without some prize money they wouldn’t be able to finish their property.

Of course, their underwhelming, jungle cubby did not win — and the full extent of their budget blowout became clear later when Scott revealed Tanya and Vito had flushed more than $4000 down toilet buying supplies they could’ve got for free from a sponsor.

Josh and Luke and Tanya and Vito’s cubbies were far more basic. Picture: supplied, Channel 9

Following the no-frills approach of their fellow cheaters, Tanya and Vito, the twins decided to build a cubby that required very little construction know-how. Basically, they built a big box filled with balls and a climbing wall.

“Four walls and balls might be enough,” Josh said. It wasn’t.

Georgia and Ronnie triumphed, beating out competition from Mitch and Mark’s pink, party pad and Jesse and Kirsty’s cute kids’ cafe.

Ronnie and Georgia’s space-themed cubby house featured a glittering interior and a second storey. Picture: Supplied, Channel 9

Of course, the cheating saga was still front of mind for most. Mitch made a few digs about it while delivering hot cross buns to his fellow competitors, and game of cul-de-sac cricket got particularly fierce when Ronnie stared down one of the twins at the crease.

Making matters worse, when Tanya and Vito’s kids swung by to visit on Easter Sunday, it riled Georgia and Ronnie who were missing their children back home in far off Perth.

“Here is my issue, I understand you live in Melbourne but when we all can’t see our families, in the spirit of fair competition I don’t understand why you’re able to still see your family and friends,” she moaned.”

“Tanya’s mum drops food off all the time and she does her washing. Tanya and Vito’s kids visit all the time. They hang out. How can you expect other competitors to be okay with that and to respect that?”

Georgia felt angry that the Melbourne couple were rubbing their noses in their happy family situation by “parading” their kids up and down the street and going out to dinner.

Georgia was angry that Tanya and Vito were rubbing their noses in their happy family time. Picture: Supplied, Channel 9

Mitch and Mark, of course agreed.

“I think the rules have been set. Do your job. Work hard. Don’t cheat,” Mitch said.

“And treat fellow contestants with a level of respect.”

They had plenty of time up their sleeves to ruminate on the cheating saga, having finished their bathroom (thanks to all those controversial early deliveries) well before deadline.

They were so ahead of the game that while everyone – particularly the twins – scrambled to get their painting finished, Mitch and Mark were sunning themselves on the beach.

In fairness, Mitch and Mark had faced their fair share of challenges getting their bathroom done. Foreman Keith shut their entire site down when he discovered live wires stretched across the ground outside.

Mitch and Mark treated themselves to a day at the beach after finishing their bathroom early. Picture: Supplied, Channel 9

And that was just the start of their problems. Later, when their builder Jason returned with the last of their whopping 3m tall tiles in the back of his van, having driven it away to cut off site to get around rules banning the use of power tools at night on The Block, he clipped the kerb with the wheel of his van and smashed the tile in the process.

Luckily, the always-organised Mitch and Mark had two spares ready to roll. Good thing too because the first spare was cut the wrong way by mistake.

Tension flared at the cul-de-sac Block cricket pitch. Picture: Supplied, Channel 9

With that, they decided to cut their losses and cut the third and final spare the next morning, with a clear head.

Kirsty and Jesse also faced tile drama. They were shattered to discover their tiles had been overcooked and would break into pieces when the tilers tried to cut them

While it looked like Kirsty would have to go and select new tiles, costing them time and money, the sponsor came to the rescue with a replacement batch.

Meanwhile it was one draining saga after another over at the twins’ master suite.

Switching up their floor plan to use the slab intended for their two-car garage as a bedroom and ensuite had yet again created unforeseen expenses.

Josh and Luke had to work around-the-clock to get their bathroom foundations right. Picture: Supplied, Channel 9

Having been waylaid by their concreting dramas, the twins were racing against the clock to get their room prepped for waterproofing. It meant having to get jobs that would normally take three days to complete, done in just one.

After a quick visit to the twin’s chaotic site, Ronnie surmised that, if they got their indoor/outdoor bathroom finished it would be the one to beat.

And thanks to the cubby house challenge, Ronnie and Georgia have that game-changer gnome.

The idea of snatching victory from the twins after the cheating scandal had Ronnie and Georgia cackling with the sort of delight reserved for cartoon villains.

Revenge, after all, is a dish best served cold. Or with a gnome, it seems.

MISSED AN EPISODE?

Episode 18: Superior organisational skills or cheats? Mitch and Mark in hot water

Episode 17: ”It’s crap”: The Block’s tackiest room slammed

Episode 16: ‘Piece of trash’ The Block descends into chaos

Episode 15: Block cheat flushed by hidden cameras

Episode 14: What caused Block’s biggest cheating scandal in TV history

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’