EXCLUSIVE: Neale Whitaker teases when My Reno Rules will be hitting screens.

My Reno Rules' Adrian Portelli and Dr Chris Brown / The Block's Neale Whitaker, Shelley Craft and Dan Reilly.

Neale Whitaker opens up about his decision to join My Reno Rules after appearing on 19 seasons of The Block. Photos: Channel 7 / Instagram/nealew

After 15 years on The Block, including brief cameos on the past two seasons, Neale Whitaker surprised fans in August when he announced he would be joining rival Channel 7 series My Reno Rules. The interior design expert will appear as a judge on the upcoming reality series alongside top buyer’s agent and Luxe Listings Sydney star Simon Cohen, and the founder of Greenhouse Interiors, Julia Green.

My Reno Rules is a brand-new renovation competition hosted by Dr Chris Brown and sponsored by Adrian Portelli, the billionaire who purchased all five homes on The Block 2024. Channel 7 announced the new series in July, describing it as “a brand-new renovation competition that’s raising the stakes and flipping the script with two epic twists set to transform the lives of everyday Aussies”.

Neale told Yahoo Lifestyle that while he can’t say much about the series because filming is still underway in Melbourne, he’s very excited about being a judge in a full-time capacity once more.

“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s wonderful to be involved with a new show,” he said.

“It’s good to have my sort of judging boots back on again, or my judging hat back on again, and so far, it feels like a real feel-good show.”

When does My Reno Rules premiere?

Neale reveals that the series will likely air on Channel 7 in the first half of next year, meaning that it wouldn’t go head-to-head with The Block, which typically premieres in August.

“The big twist in the plot of that show, which is no secret, because it’s already been announced, is that the houses are being given away,” he said.

“So basically any Australian, any one of us, has the opportunity to win those homes, so that is a massive, massive twist.”

My Reno Rules' Simon Cohen, Neale Whitaker, and Julia Green.

Neale will appear on the judging panel alongside Simon Cohen and Julia Green. Photo: Channel 7

Why did Neale Whitaker quit The Block?

Neale announced in May last year that he was stepping back from his long-term role on The Block to be with his partner, David, as he battled “some serious health issues”, but would still make guest appearances.

He then spoke openly about his decision to leave the series at the 2024 Logie Awards in August, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that it was “time to move on”.

“Oh gosh, it was a big decision, but it was something that I had to do for my personal life,” he shared, adding that it “felt like the timing was right”.

“It’s always going to have a very special place for me, that show, always. And I think if I’m honest, I’ll always feel like an honorary member of the show — I don’t know whether they’ll approve of that, but that’s how I feel.”

Jumping ship to Channel 7

Neale admits that when Channel 7 first contacted him about appearing on the My Reno Rules judging panel, he “thought about it for five minutes” before saying yes.

“I was ready for a new challenge and a step away from The Block,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle. “I had to step away from my permanent role on The Block a couple of years ago for personal circumstances, sadly.

“My partner went through some very major health problems, and I really did have to make some big changes in my life, and at that particular time, it was very difficult for me to be travelling backwards and forwards as much as I was.”

Now, Neale is happy to report that David is “a lot stronger now”, which allowed him to think “much more clearly about the future”.

“So when Channel 7 came along and asked me if I would like to have a role on My Reno Rules, I thought, ‘Why not?’,” he remarks.

“It’s a lovely new challenge, and I’m ready to take on something new. So yes, I’m very happy about it.”