The Block 2024 episode 49 recap: Quitting at the finish line leaves Brad and Kylie ineligible for big prize

2 weeks ago 3

Mimi and Kristian discuss the leaving of Kylie and Brad.

Old habits die hard.

And that certainly proved to be the case when five All-Star teams returned to help the class of 2024 complete the communal club house.

There’s a lot riding on this week. The team that creates the best space will get $50,000 off their reserve on Sunday.

Six biggest moments from the flirting scandal

New taxes threaten Block auction results

It didn’t take long for Ronnie and Georgia (who competed in 2017 and 2021) to show everyone who is boss, for last year’s winner, Steph to start micromanaging the work site and advocating for a beige aesthetic and for Eliza (2023 runner-up) to be on the scout for an eligible bachelor between scheduling time for some pampering.

Ronnie and Georgia were paired with sisters Maddy and Charlotte to renovate the BBQ area, Steph and Gian joined Courtney and Grant to take on the day spa, Eliza and Liberty became part of the boys’ club (complete with appropriately loud work attire) to “help” Ricky and Haydn finish the alfresco dining zone, Alisa and Lysandra were recruited to crack the whip over Mimi and Kristian with the cinema and Jimmy and Tam got saddled with Kylie and Brad’s game room.

Poor Jimmy and Tam found themselves flying solo because Kylie and Brad had fled home after Kylie did a barefoot runner from judging.

After making her disdain clear with rolled eyes and loud complaints about the show and host Scott Cam, a fed-up Kylie sprinted from the judging room leaving her fellow contestants stunned, Scott visibly unimpressed and producers scrambling.

Gathering the troops together the morning after, a disappointed Scott announced Kylie and Brad were gone for good and would not be in the running for the final challenge prize.

A diplomatic Ricky said: “Kylie and Brad were our best mates on The Block, but to get to the very end and let that be the last thing that you do, I can’t help but think that she will regret it.”

Mimi digests the news that Brad and Kylie have left permanently.

MORE: Do you have to tell buyers your house is haunted?

Bert Newton’s birthplace up for sale

Cate Blanchett’s first home hits the market

Likewise, Charlotte couldn’t understand why Kylie and Brad would choose to sit-out the “most fun week of the show” after all their weeks of slog.

The woman at the centre of Kylie and Brad’s hasty exit – Mimi – gave very little away about what she was thinking or about the details of that drinking session with Brad.

“That’s their decision. It’s a bit disappointing,” Mimi offered awkwardly as Kristian sat alongside her silently.

Putting the controversy aside, everyone was focused on winning this final week, realising that chipping money off the reserve price was akin to getting $50,000 cash in hand.

“That could make or break you winning The Block,” Charlotte explained so that viewers at home would understand how important this last week was.

Of course, Jimmy and Tam have no skin in the game apart from their reputation as Block machines.

Known for finishing their spaces early and efficiently, the 2020 winners weren’t too worried about having to tackle the job without Kylie and Brad.

The biggest hitch for the power couple was the fact they had inherited some of Kylie and Brad’s choices. And given Tam’s penchant for colourful and quirky fixtures, I’m guessing Kylie’s funereal style wouldn’t exactly be to her taste.

MORE: Who will win The Block this year? Experts have their say

“So, you have to pick up where they’ve left off and then come up with a design in your head about how you want the space to look,” Tam explained. “But we are just going to have fun with it and put the Jimmy and Tam spin on it.”

Ricky and Haydn think Kylie will regret her decision to walk off the show.

Also eager to make her mark on things was Steph. Within minutes of arriving on site, Steph was insisting Courtney and Grant draw up a schedule and make some architectural changes to their spa.

As Steph enthused about wanting to her “twist” on the room, Gian pointed out the fact that they were only there to help.

“We aren’t the contestants,” he said and she fobbed him off to continue babbling about her ideas.

Meanwhile their former rivals were taking a more relaxed approach to their stint.

Admitting she was “here for a good time not a long time” Eliza lured Haydn to take time out of shopping for a 30-minute shoulder massage and hit the water in the boys’ boat for some fishing.

“The difference between us and the other All Stars is we don’t have a competitive bone in our bodies. And we don’t like renovating!” Eliza laughed.

Despite having the brazenly least-skilled duo as teammates, Ricky and Haydn didn’t let that hold them back at a Block-themed quiz night hosted by Brian Nankervis.

The pair’s secret study sessions on The Block history paid off with an elated Haydn and Ricky winning some fancy mowing equipment.

Ricky and Haydn win the quiz with Eliza and Liberty.

While the quiz night was meant to be all in good fun, there was one person who took it very seriously. Georgia.

The mother-of-three proudly declared she was back to win, quickly showing Maddy and Charlotte how to get their in-ground trampoline and sandpit plans approved.

Georgia’s approach? You don’t ask for permission. You simply present the plan to foreman Dan as a fait accompli.

The show stalwarts were less helpful with advice when Charlotte and Maddy discovered Ricky and Haydn’s delivery truck was parked over half their worksite.

Frustrated, Maddy moaned: “I’m sick of these boys coming in thinking that they can walk all over us and that their space takes priority.”

Although he apologised, Ricky downplayed the inconvenience writing off the girls’ reaction as exhaustion and stress.

Also under the pump was Mimi.

Maddy and Charlotte crack it over Ricky and Haydn’s truck blocking their worksite.

Renowned for prioritising “me time” and late-night partying over hard yakka, Mimi felt intimidated to be paired with straight-shooting twins Alisa and Lysandra.

Before they had even seen Mimi in action (or rather inaction), Alisa and Lysandra scoffed that this year’s teams were being far more coddled than the OG contestants.

“They get coffee, hair and make-up. I think they get their bums wiped too,” Lysandra joked.

Realising the twins were going to be far less understanding than Kristian, Mimi begrudgingly sighed “It’s time to get stuck in and do some work.”

Better late than never, I guess.