Episode 44 Recap: Between cracked tiles, broken chimneys and bruised egos, the latest instalment of The Block left contestants on the brink.

Thursday night’s episode of The Block delivered a wild mix of baby showers, blow-ups and brick disasters as the countdown to landscaping reveal continued — and the stress levels hit boiling point across Charming Street.

The latest episode of The Block exploded with drama, laughter and heartbreak as contestants faced torrential rain, spiralling costs and emotional reveals. (image – Channel 9)

Em and Ben’s Big Day Turns Into a Big Drama

What started as a joyful baby shower for Emma and Ben — with a surprise visit from past winners Steph and Gian — soon became one of the most memorable events of the season.

Guests were treated to a gender reveal and some truly unexpected entertainment when Emma herself took to a stripper pole for a surprise performance, even offering a few lessons to her guests.

Both couples were thrilled to share the occasion, with Emma and Ben joined by their proud mums, while Steph and Gian also celebrated as they await the arrival of their own first child.

Unlike Emma and Ben, who already knew they were having a boy, Steph and Gian were yet to discover their baby’s gender. Cue Shelley Craft, who stepped in to organise a cheeky reveal involving a giant balloon.

The first burst showered the room in beige confetti — a lighthearted nod to Steph’s famously neutral colour palette. Moments later, the real reveal arrived, with pink confetti confirming that the couple are expecting a girl.

While the party offered a bright moment for some, Emma and Ben’s work woes weren’t far behind. Their backyard plans continued to crumble, with earlier mistakes forcing them to pull up completed landscaping work.

“It’s not exactly helpful,” Ben admitted, with the pair looking increasingly out of their depth as the clock ticked down to reveal.

Trouble Brews in House 2

Things weren’t much better for Han and Can, whose week was dominated by mounting bills and serious pool problems.

Their coping tiles were found to be 30 millimetres thicker than the rest of their pavers, forcing them to apply two extra coats of glue just to make them level — a fix that cost precious time and money.

Adding to the tension, Shaynna Blaze joined Scott Cam and Shelley Craft for walkarounds, and her well-meant feedback left Can feeling deflated when Shaynna remarked on how tired she looked.

Meanwhile, Han’s spirits lifted after the arrival of her dad, Lee, who quickly earned the respect of everyone on site. He was later crowned hardest worker of the week by Scott Cam, earning the team five free trees — though the recognition didn’t sit well with Can, who bristled that her own 83 days of effort had gone unrewarded.

“He’s only been here two days. I have done 83 days in this insane asylum and I have gotten no reward,” she fumed.

Still, Lee’s arrival proved a blessing. He even helped identify issues with the girls’ pool tiling before teaming up with Foreman Dan for a prank that left Lee convinced he’d have to rip down a freshly finished cabana wall.

“It’s definitely not coming off, it’s s–t to a blanket mate,” Lee said, before discovering the gag.

Unfortunately, the laughter was short-lived. The rain set in soon after, soaking freshly laid tiles and leaving Han and Can battling the elements to get their pool fencing finished before the installers left site.

In a rare stroke of luck, pool fencer Cal agreed to send someone out the next day, saving the pair from another major setback.

Britt and Taz Hit Breaking Point

Over in House 3, Britt and Taz were having an equally brutal week. Their outdoor stone fireplace was ruled non-compliant, forcing them to tear down the chimney they’d proudly built weeks earlier.

“It’s worse than what we thought,” Foreman Dan told their landscaper, Troy Lovett, as the bad news sank in.

Adding a taller flue was the only option — but it meant demolishing and rebuilding the entire structure.

A devastated Taz admitted, “We won’t stop but it’s getting to me a bit.”

Relief came when Sonny and Alicia stepped in to arrange help from the Cursio brothers, who also lent a hand to Han and Can earlier in the week.

Even so, with precious days remaining and the weather turning wild, Britt and Taz’s frustrations were written all over their faces.

Backyards, Breakdown and a Bit of Baby Beige

As the storm clouds rolled in, the entire site was left scrambling. Between Em and Ben’s landscaping chaos, Han and Can’s crumbling patience, and Britt and Taz’s chimney rebuild, morale was running low.

Still, the teams managed to come together — at least in spirit — to celebrate the lighter side of The Block, proving that even in the toughest weeks, there’s always room for a little laughter (and a pole dance or two).

With just days left until landscaping reveals, the only thing certain is that the finish line will be anything but smooth.