The world of Australian television and home renovation is built on solid foundations, and few figures have embodied that strength quite like Dan Reilly, better known to millions as Foreman Dan from the perennial powerhouse reality series, The Block. With his firm hand, unyielding standards, and no-nonsense approach to the high-stakes chaos of construction, Dan became the structural conscience of the show. Yet, beneath the hard hat and the authoritative demeanour lay a deeply compassionate heart, one that, alongside his equally beloved partner, Dani Wales, has endured a personal trial of heartbreaking scale.

This is the story of Dan and Dani, a couple whose fifteen-year romance and partnership have transcended television fame to become a quiet, powerful symbol of enduring love, partnership in grief, and the breathtaking courage required to find a new beginning after experiencing an unspeakable end. Their recent journey—a devastating cycle of expectation, loss, and the cautious hope of new life—is a raw testament to human resilience that resonates far beyond the blueprints of a television renovation.

The Foundation: London, Laughs, and Lasting Love

Before they were renovation royalty, before they were known to millions, and long before the piercing glare of television cameras captured their every argument and triumph, Dan and Dani were simply two Australians finding their way in the maze of London. Their story began not with a dramatic television introduction, but with the casual familiarity of mutual friends. It was at a birthday party, amidst the bustle of a city thousands of miles from home, that their paths converged, marking the start of a relationship that would become one of the most stable and admired in Australian media.

They made their partnership official on March 7, 2009. In the high-speed, often transient culture of young Aussies abroad, their connection proved to be anything but fleeting. It was the kind of deep, comfortable compatibility that thrives on shared ambitions, mutual respect, and the ability to laugh through the challenges of building a life together. This foundation, forged in the independence of their London years, was the bedrock that would later allow them to tackle monumental renovation projects and, far more significantly, face profound personal adversity.

Their early years together were a blueprint for their future: collaborative, driven, and always focused on building something tangible. They returned to Australia, bringing with them not just memories, but a concrete vision for their shared future, one that involved bricks, mortar, and the creative transformation of houses into homes.

The Grind: From Contestants to Cornerstones of The Block

In 2012, Dan and Dani stepped into the spotlight, taking on the arduous challenge of The Block. They competed not once, but twice, returning for the all-star series in 2013. As contestants, their dynamic was instantly captivating: Dan, the pragmatic, meticulous tradesman, and Dani, the visionary designer with an impeccable eye for detail. They brought an authentic, gritty reality to the competition, showcasing the sheer hard work and emotional strain that goes into transforming a property against a terrifying clock.

Their time as contestants established their brand and their working relationship. They learned, sometimes the hard way, to communicate under extreme stress, to compromise when visions clashed, and to celebrate the small victories that punctuate a seemingly endless grind. These televised trials were, in retrospect, merely training for the larger, non-televised challenges life would later throw at them.

The transition from contestants to integral parts of The Block machine was seamless. Dan’s expertise soon elevated him to the position of Foreman, a role he now inhabits with a blend of tough love and expert guidance. For years, he has been the unflappable presence on the worksite, the man who ensures the impossible deadlines are met and the quality never slips. Simultaneously, Dani continued to build her career as a respected interior designer and commentator, using her platform to share her passion for stylish, practical home spaces.

Fifteen years into their relationship, and following the intense period of career-building, Dan decided it was time to solidify their personal structure. After eight-and-a-half years of being together, the proposal finally came in October 2017. As Dan’s longtime friend and colleague, Scotty Cam, gleefully announced, “Dan Reilly has popped the question,” it was a moment of public jubilation for a couple whose relationship had been built entirely out of the public eye before reality television swept them up.

The proposal itself, as Dani recounted to Ivory Tribe, was perfectly characteristic of Dan: intimate, understated, and authentic. It took place over a quiet dinner in Melbourne, right before dessert, with a small, private audience. Dani, knowing her partner’s aversion to grand, performative gestures, found the simplicity of the moment “perfect, really.” It was a true reflection of their union: strong, deeply felt, but never requiring external fanfare.

The final official step came in November 2018, when they married in a stunning outdoor ceremony at a private estate in Fingal, situated on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula. Their wedding was not about formality but about celebration. As they told Together Journal, they never felt the burning need to marry, but they “love a party and love each other, so we thought, why not?!” It was a confirmation of a partnership that had already been functional and complete for nearly a decade.

For years, Dan regularly shared sweet, unprompted messages about Dani on Instagram, showcasing the genuine, enduring depth of his affection. This public display of unwavering commitment was always admired, painting a picture of a couple who had it all: success, stability, and a love that had stood the test of time, renovation, and fame. The next, and most anticipated, chapter was motherhood and fatherhood.

The Shattering Loss: Ten Beautiful Days with Billie

The year 2024 began with the sweetest of announcements. In July, Dan and Dani revealed they were expecting their first child, a moment of unbridled joy for a couple who had consciously built their empire before embarking on the ultimate project: a family. Their social media feeds quickly transformed, filled with the excitement of a nursery taking shape and the palpable anticipation of becoming parents.

However, the foundation of their happiness was about to be tested in the most cruel and absolute way. In December 2024, their daughter, Billie, entered the world, but her time was tragically limited. Just ten days after her birth, the unimaginable happened: they lost their beautiful baby girl.

The silence that followed this announcement in the media was a reflection of the profound shock felt by their community of fans and peers. When Dani finally spoke in January 2025, four weeks after Billie’s birth, her words were a devastatingly eloquent articulation of parental grief.

“Today marks 4 weeks since our Billie girl came into our lives & everything changed,” she wrote in an Instagram post. The subsequent sentence became the central emotional thread of their experience: “How is it possible to have both a full & broken heart at the same time?!”

This sentiment encapsulates the core truth of infant loss: the love is immediate, absolute, and overwhelming, but the loss is equally immediate and crippling. The “full heart” refers to the perfection of those ten days—the moments of holding, of meeting, of simply being her parents. The “broken heart” speaks to the future that was stolen, the milestones that will never be met, and the profound, physical absence of a child.

Dani acknowledged the bitter irony of time. “It’s true what they say, time is a thief – but on the other hand, it also gave us so much. So many memories and firsts for Billie.”

These ten days, which could have been swept aside as a blur in the face of subsequent grief, were instead intentionally and lovingly imprinted on their memories. They were ten days of motherhood, ten days of fatherhood—a lifetime of love condensed into less than two weeks. For Foreman Dan, the man of unwavering structure and planning, this event represented the ultimate failure of control, a devastating truth that life often respects no blueprint. It forced him to confront the delicate, fragile nature of existence, a stark contrast to the solid, predictable rules of construction he commanded every day.

The process of grieving is intensely personal, but Dan and Dani’s response was, characteristically, a testament to their strength as a unit and their desire to make meaning out of their catastrophe. They did not retreat entirely; instead, they funnelled their colossal grief into a tangible, helpful mission.

The Legacy of Love: Billie’s Besties and Billie’s Special Day

In honour of their daughter, Dan and Dani established Billie’s Besties. This initiative was not merely a memorial; it was a focused, practical effort designed to transform their pain into comfort and support for other families facing similar tragedies. The charity’s entire purpose is to support The Royal Women’s Hospital’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Melbourne—the place where they spent those precious ten days with Billie.

The creation of Billie’s Besties provided an essential outlet for Dan and Dani, a means of extending Billie’s life and love far beyond her brief physical presence. By supporting the NICU, they are ensuring that the medical professionals and support systems who cared for their daughter are equipped to help others. They are building a legacy not of bricks and mortar, but of kindness and medical hope, proving that the deepest suffering can yield the most profound compassion.

The extent of their vulnerability and their desire to share Billie’s story was fully revealed with the announcement of their forthcoming picture book, Billie’s Special Day, which was released in October. This is not a fictional story; it is a meticulously documented testament to her short life.

Crucially, the book includes Dan’s journal entries—a breathtakingly intimate glimpse into the mind and heart of a man who usually projects professional control. These entries document “the little moments, the lessons, and the love we shared with our girl in her ten beautiful days earthside.”

For the public, this is perhaps the most emotionally resonant aspect of their journey. Dan, the Foreman, keeping a journal; the man of action articulating the deepest depths of his feeling on paper. It transforms the figure known for his building standards into a vulnerable, grieving father. The journal is a sacred record, showing how he cherished every breath, every touch, every moment with his daughter.

The book, as they explained in their joint Instagram post, is their way of sharing that intensely private story—a “gentle reminder to celebrate the moments we have with those we love most.” It is an instruction manual on how to keep love alive in the face of overwhelming loss. It is a powerful message that grief does not erase love; it elevates it to a new, more profound dimension.

The sheer courage required to release such personal, painful documentation is immense. It forces readers to confront the fragility of life and, simultaneously, celebrates the ferocious power of parental love, even if that love is only expressed for ten days. Through Billie’s Besties and Billie’s Special Day, Billie’s influence is extended indefinitely, ensuring her life, however short, had a purpose that continues to comfort others.

The Promise of Dawn: A New Beginning in 2026

The journey through loss is never linear, and recovery is not about forgetting, but about integration—learning to carry the loss while still moving forward. For Dan and Dani, that forward motion took a beautiful and profound turn.

In a moment of cautious, yet overwhelming, happiness, the couple announced that they are expecting a new baby, due in 2026. This announcement was not a simple statement of fact; it was a complex mosaic of hope, fear, and the enduring memory of Billie. This new pregnancy is not a replacement for Billie, but an expansion of their capacity to love. It is a testament to the belief that even after the deepest winter, spring can return.

The emotional landscape of such a situation is complex. There is the joy of a new life promised, but also the inevitable shadow of anxiety and the constant, heartbreaking comparison to the previous experience. Every milestone, every ultrasound, every kick felt by Dani will be filtered through the memory of the previous journey.

Dan’s role during this time is paramount. Having proven his ability to be Dani’s emotional bedrock during their darkest period, he now must be the steady, protective force shielding her and their unborn child from undue stress, while also honouring Billie’s place in their family.

The baby due in 2026 will arrive into a family that has already been tested and has proven its extraordinary strength. This child will grow up knowing the story of their older sister, Billie, whose memory is enshrined not just in their home, but in a charitable foundation and a picture book. Billie’s story ensures that the new baby will understand, from the outset, the true value of every single precious moment.

The new baby is not just a source of personal happiness for Dan and Dani; it is a symbol for all who have experienced loss. It shows that life, however terrifyingly unpredictable, can offer a chance at renewal. It is the ultimate act of faith after experiencing the ultimate betrayal of expectation. It closes the loop on their journey from love and ambition in London to the success of The Block, and then, through the most crushing experience a couple can face, leading them back to the profound simplicity of waiting for a new life.

Their love story, now etched with the indelible lines of grief and resilience, is an infinitely richer narrative than the one captured by television cameras. It is a story that proves that the strongest foundation a couple can build is not in concrete or steel, but in the unconditional, enduring support they offer one another when the entire world comes crashing down. The arrival of their new baby in 2026 will not be just a birth; it will be a celebration of love that simply refused to break.