Episode 24 Recap: A $260,000 caravan win brought The Block to boiling point as Neale Whitaker returned to judge the spa challenge with his trademark candour.

The Block’s latest episode delivered high drama, with Neale Whitaker’s return and a record $260,000 caravan prize leaving contestants reeling. (image – Channel 9)

Midweek on The Block is rarely calm, but this Wednesday night’s episode packed in everything: late-night antics, design clashes, and the return of former judge Neale Whitaker, who did not hold back in his critique of the contestants’ efforts at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa.

By the end of the night, one couple was in tears with joy after winning the biggest prize in the show’s history, while another drove home devastated after yet another near miss.

A Public Holiday Blowout

The episode began with the teams waking up groggy but amused after a public holiday celebration outside their caravans. Drinks flowed, and in true Block fashion, things escalated into chaos. Ben, Taz and Han crammed themselves into a portable hot tub before Han and Can staged a wrestling match in the middle of the campsite.

The spectacle gave Scott Cam plenty of opportunity for cheeky commentary. But Han brushed it off, quipping: “We were providing some quality WWE entertainment.”

It was a light-hearted moment that temporarily smoothed over recent tensions. Even Shelley Craft noted the sense of release after weeks of pressure.

Walkarounds: Rumpus Room or Theatre?

As Cam and Craft made their way through the houses, the focus turned to the upcoming rumpus room reveal. Each team had taken a different approach. While most followed the brief, Han and Can opted instead for a theatre room, complete with a coffered ceiling, velvet soundproofing panels and a giant television. Over in House 3, Britt and Taz embraced wellness, transforming their space into a retreat with reformer Pilates machines.

But the spotlight was less on the rumpus rooms and more on the looming Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa challenge, where weeks of effort would finally be judged.

Neale Whitaker’s Return

The biggest surprise of the episode came when Neale Whitaker arrived in Daylesford to assess the spa rooms. Once the longest-serving judge on The Block, Whitaker stepped away last year to care for his husband. At the time, he voiced frustrations over how his emotional farewell was edited, but his warm reunion with Cam and Craft suggested any tension was firmly in the past.

For viewers, his return was welcome – and as it turned out, he was in no mood to sugarcoat his opinions.

Room by Room: Praise and Punishment

Emma and Ben
The self-described “bridesmaids” of the season, Emma and Ben were desperate for a first win. Their spa featured a dark marble wall with golden flecks, a bluestone slab beneath the bath, gold tapware, and a timber batten ceiling. Whitaker appreciated the design’s restraint.

“What I like about this is you just want to relax, you don’t want something that’s too busy,” he said.

It was a warm reception, but not enough to carry them over the line.

Britt and Taz
Known for their calm energy, Britt and Taz produced a green oasis with a white bath, square tiles in matte and gloss finishes, and a stone pendant light. Whitaker admired their tile choices and overall atmosphere. “It feels like you could really chill out in here,” he said. However, he thought their abundance of plants and dried flowers detracted from the space, and a simple wooden stool felt out of place in a luxury spa.

Robby and Mat
Confident in their background running salons and day spas, Robby and Mat presented a space designed for indulgence. Pink ombre wall tiles paired with rose-gold fittings gave the room a soft warmth, and Whitaker acknowledged the strength of the concept. “The pink works well with the rose gold tapware, somebody is thinking about the overall presentation,” he noted. But the “crazy paving” style floor tiles were a misstep, in his view, creating too much visual noise. He also cautioned that their bold pink palette could date quickly.

Sonny and Alicia
The Queensland couple had endured harsh criticism in recent weeks and were desperate for redemption. Their spa was simple yet refined, with subtle ceiling details and a heated bench seat. Whitaker was visibly impressed.

“It’s impressive in its simplicity, and I guess it goes back to what I was saying at the beginning about how you want to switch off in these rooms so actually, less is more,” he concluded.

It was the validation they had been waiting for.

Han and Can
All eyes were on House 2, whose “bold” design had become the talk of the construction site. With a marble wall, multi-coloured herringbone floor tiles and even a painted pressed metal ceiling, the result was chaotic. Whitaker did not mince his words.

“I haven’t said this for a very long time but this is a crime scene. Everything in here is jarring. All of those individual elements can be fine on their own but not together. It’s a mess, it’s everything that a spa experience shouldn’t be.”

Though he dismissed most of the room, he did concede: “I like the lamp.”

The Verdict

With judging complete, Whitaker named Britt and Taz in third place, Emma and Ben in second, and Sonny and Alicia as the winners. The result left the Queensland couple in tears of relief and joy. Having previously failed to secure a single room win, they now held the keys to the largest prize ever awarded on The Block – a $260,000 Titanium caravan that will be included in their home’s sale package.

Even Robby and Mat applauded their victory, but the mood was starkly different for Emma and Ben. Their cheerful resilience finally cracked as they left the judging, struggling to contain their disappointment at finishing second yet again.

“Someone comes out on top and it hasn’t been us yet but we’ll keep trying,” Ben said, before driving home quietly with Emma, both clearly rattled by their continued near misses.

The Leaderboard So Far

As the competition ticked past its midpoint, prize money standings revealed just how unevenly the wins had been distributed:

Robby and Mat: $115,000
Sonny and Alicia: $45,000
Britt and Taz: $40,000
Emma and Ben: $35,000
Han and Can: $25,000

Looking Ahead

While the Hepburn Spa challenge ended in triumph for Sonny and Alicia, and bitter disappointment for Emma and Ben, attention now shifts to Sunday’s rumpus room reveals. Promos teased unfinished spaces and stern feedback from Shaynna Blaze, suggesting the drama of midweek was only a taste of what is to come.