A surprising update as The Block prepares to return
With the 2026 season of The Block just days away from premiering, longtime host Scott Cam has revealed he has been quietly recovering in hospital for almost two weeks.
Speaking on Brisbane radio’s Stav, Abby & Matt on July 31, the 63-year-old surprised listeners by sharing that he was calling from his hospital room.
“I am calling you from my hospital room, which I’ve been in for 12 days. I just had a knee replacement,” Scott said.
The revelation came as a shock to many fans, who had no idea the veteran television presenter had recently undergone major surgery.
‘The first five days were not good’
Scott didn’t hide how difficult the recovery has been.
He admitted the days immediately after surgery were the toughest, with significant pain requiring strong medication.
“The first five days is not good. Let me tell you,” he said.
“I was on the heavy duties [painkillers] in the early days because knee replacements are pretty big. Yeah, there’s a lot of pain involved.”
Although the worst appears to be behind him, Scott said he is still relying on a walking stick while he continues to regain his mobility.
“I’m still incapacitated a little bit with a walking stick.”
Fortunately, he is expected to return home on Sunday—just in time to watch the premiere of the new season of The Block from his own couch.
Another major operation after years of physical work
For Scott, this is not the first serious health setback linked to a lifetime spent working in the building industry.
Long before becoming the face of The Block, he worked as a carpenter, a career that placed enormous strain on his body over decades.
In 2020, he underwent emergency neck surgery after years of wear and tear caused his vertebrae to compress and pinch the nerves running into his shoulder and arm.
At first, Scott thought it was simply a trapped nerve.
Instead, doctors discovered a far more serious problem that required urgent surgery lasting around three hours.
He later explained that surgeons had to create space between the vertebrae to relieve pressure on the damaged nerve.
Turning his experience into a message for tradies
Looking back on that frightening experience, Scott said it completely changed the way he thought about health.
Having rarely needed hospital treatment before, the emergency surgery served as a wake-up call.
He has since encouraged young tradies not to ignore the physical toll of years of demanding work, reminding them that feeling “bulletproof” in their younger years doesn’t mean injuries won’t eventually catch up with them.
In 2024, he also partnered with SafetyCulture to raise awareness about sun safety for construction workers after noticing sun damage on his own arms from years of working outdoors.
Ready to welcome a new season—despite the pain
Despite another difficult recovery, Scott remains committed to returning as the host of The Block for its 2026 season.
The much-loved presenter will once again introducea brand-new group of contestants as they take on one of Australia’s toughest renovation competitions.
For viewers, Scott’s familiar face will be back on screen as planned.
But behind the scenes, the road to the new season has been far more painful than many realised.