All season, host Scott Cam has been saying he thinks the best backyard will win The Block this year.

Finally, it’s the week to find out who that frontrunner will be.

It’s the biggest week of all, Backyard Week!

But to kick things off, it’s one of our favourite annual Block moments: when the contestants get to see themselves on TV by watching the first episode.

It always brings laughs and full body cringe…
And this year is no different! (Nine)
While most of the Blockheads enjoyed seeing themselves, Han has the opposite reaction to seeing her meltdown after being given House 2, which you may recall was far from their first choice!

“I just looked like a spoiled brat. That’s how it felt watching it and that’s why I was like, I feel gross about myself, I feel gross about the situation,” she says.
It’s a tough watch for Han. (Nine)
Monday morning means Open for Inspections, and everyone’s first look at the wine cellar they have heard A LOT about.

Minds are blown.

Can loves it so much she wishes she could change partners.
This would certainly shake things up. (Nine)
Elsewhere, everyone is puzzled with Britt and Taz’s wine bar in the shed – which as the judges pointed out, is unlikely to get council approval as the sheds are meant to be ‘uninhabitable’ spaces.

But while Han is wound up about it, especially as her original shed plans were axed for that exact reason, Can is more frustrated by her partner.

After watching the first episode, she’s realised they need to stop taking everything so seriously and have more fun.

“It’s a TV show Hannah, it’s not life or death,” she says.

However, Han’s right.

Site Manager Aidan is not impressed with House 3’s non-shed shed.

He thinks there is a difference between the plans they got approved and their final result, which definitely leans more habitable than not.

The room is not going to be approved by the building surveyor and they need to change it.
Not happy! (Nine)
Britt and Taz argue that it’s no different to Robby and Mat’s wine cellar, but Aido says it definitely presents like a bar.

Now the couple have to pull together a new plan for how to get it compliant and safe to say, they’re not stoked about it.
Oof. (Nine)
“Can’t wait to go home,” a frustrated Britt says.

“Couldn’t agree more, this is s–t,” Taz replies.

As well as backyards well over 1000 square metres, this week the teams also have to present their pool cabanas.

In House 5, Robby’s taking the reins with a risky idea: he wants to put a sauna in it. Their last big idea worked out perfectly, so surely it’s an easy yes. Right?

“Mat’s head of finance, the keeper of funds…” Robby begins.

After some persuasion, gatekeeper Mat’s onboard. Robby wins.

Down the other end, Emma and Ben are preparing to follow up House 5’s wine cellar with their own, under one end of their elevated house.

It’s been a few weeks in the making but very slow going.

Emma’s worried about getting it done, especially to the same standard as their rivals did.

After last week’s Room Reveal, Scotty revealed that the teams were all getting an extra $10,000 from Freedom to spend in store.

And Alicia was practically out the door before he’d even finished the sentence!

Speaking of Freedom, Emma and Ben have a consult to help them nail their pool styling.

But that quickly turns into a last-minute panic as she realises just how much concrete is about to be poured in their backyard.

It’s too much, she reckons, so they have to quickly pivot with some last minute grass additions.

…Then comes the rock saga.
Big rocks, big drama! (Nine)
House 1 had been storing some rocks for House 2, on the provision that they would be gone by the end of the day. But that was last Thursday.

And now, some of those rocks have ended up in House 1’s garden.

House 2’s landscaper Christian is flabbergasted at the audacity.
Christian has witnessed a rock theft in broad daylight and he won’t stand for it. (Nine)
He demands the return of his rocks but with fences and now their concrete slab in the way, it’s just too hard.

“Finder’s keepers,” Emma jokes.

That night, Robby and Mat head off for their MG Winner’s Getaway and over dinner, become $40,000 richer thanks to their win and three 10s.

That’s just the icing on the cake, however, because they’re also stoked to meet a special guest: famed landscaper and regular landscaping week guest judge Dave Franklin.
The man, the myth, the legend. (Nine)
He shares advice for approaching their backyard – and considering he will be judging on Sunday, that’s an invaluable advantage!

Meanwhile, chumps dinner is served on site and everyone’s playing very coy with their neighbours.

First, Britt and Taz avoid revealing that their shed is non-compliant.

Then, Emma and Ben choose not to weigh in on any ‘secret gnome’ chat… even though they’re of the belief that they possess one following their Domain Buyers Jury win.

Iiiinteresting.

Tomorrow night, the backyards continue to come together – or in the case of one house, be ripped apart!

Nothing is ever simple on The Block. We’ll see you then.