The Block judge 'furious' after producers control storyline: 'No way'

They’ve been towards the bottom of the leaderboard for the majority of this year’s season of The Block, but Ricky and Haydn finally scored their first room win in Sunday night's episode. The best friends’ large rumpus and games area complete with a pool table and arcade games received 28 points, putting them in equal first place alongside sisters Maddy and Charlotte.

Ricky and Haydn also notably received a 10 from judge Shaynna Blaze, marking the second 10 she’s given this season after Kylie and Brad’s impressive living and dining space. Her unusually high score for the boys’ room was met with plenty of surprised reactions from fans, and an insider has since claimed that it wasn’t entirely her decision to give them a 10.

“Shaynna knew there was backlash on the way as she was told to score Ricky and Haydn’s room high this week,” a source close to production tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “There is no way Shaynna would give a room with a pool table a 10.”

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The insider went on to say that while Shaynna has been a part of The Block since 2012 and considers the people who make the show family, she was “furious” that producers controlled the storyline.

“We know that the judges get influenced to suit storylines that are unfolding but this one didn't sit well with Shaynna who had her well-regarded brand as an interior designer to think of,” they continued.

“When you are a home stylist and that is what people know you for it is a pretty hard sell to get Shaynna to lie about what she thinks of a room, but this hasn't been the first time. However, if Shaynna does come back next year, she wants it to be the last.”

'Conspiracy theory' about Ricky and Haydn's $50,000 win

This comes shortly after season 19 ‘villains’ Kristy and Brett Beames correctly guessed on their TikTok ‘conspiracy theory’ series that Ricky and Haydn would win $50,000 at the Domain Listing Challenge because they wouldn’t have been able to finish their house without some extra cash.

“I do think this is an opportunity to give a financial boost to whose gonna need it the most, and a team that’s not been finishing rooms - whether that’s down to poor planning, whatever it’s down to - they need money to throw at trades, and I think they’re gonna give it to the boys,” Brett remarked.

The former contestants have been quite celebrated on social media recently, with their interactions increasing by 90 per cent since they launched their TikTok series. It seems the public would even be interested in seeing them back on The Block next year, with Woman’s Day suggesting there is a “villains series” in the works.

However, an insider tells us that Kristy and Brett’s return to The Block could be “the nail in the coffin” for Shaynna Blaze as she “pretty much hated” the South Australian-based couple.

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Is Shaynna Blaze leaving The Block?

Shaynna Blaze recently responded to rumours that she will be leaving The Block next season during an appearance on the Something To Talk About podcast. While New Idea reported in June that Shaynna was jumping ship to co-host Channel Seven’s renovation series Dream Home alongside Chris Brown in 2025, she has since asserted that she’s not going anywhere.

“No, I love [The Block],” she said. “It is a family. I'm so lucky with two shows, Selling Houses and The Block, that we were a family the whole time. We supported each other through all the hardships of what you do on these shows - they’re not easy. And I absolutely love it.”

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