Image: Nine
He’s been a beloved judge on The Block for 17 seasons, but Neale Whitaker has confirmed he’s stepping down from his judging role permanently, handing over the reigns to real estate agent, Marty Fox.
Neale broke the news to his fans in an Instagram post, writing: “In 2023 – as many of you will know – I took a break from The Block to spend more time with my partner David who is dealing with some serious health issues. We all hoped that by this year I would be able to return full-time to the show, but life doesn’t always run to schedule … I’ve handed my judging sheet permanently to Marty Fox (who stepped in so brilliantly last season) and I know he will have a blast with Shaynna and Darren as I did for 17 seasons.”
What his fellow judges had to say
The announcement was met with an outpouring of love from his fellow judges, past contestants and fans of the show.
Fellow juge Shaynna Blaze wrote “How can you thank someone for all their talent, intelligence & class who has been an integral part of your life on the screen? You can’t. But I do know The Three Amigos live on outside of the screen, always. Huge love to you Neale, and to David too.”
What past contestants had to say
Past contestants Andy and Deb and Ronnie and Georgia responded to Neale’s announcement with heartfelt messages of support. “Neale we have such wonderful memories of you on The Block,” wrote Andy and Deb. “Every time we bumped into you, you were kind, warm, genuine and smiling.”
“Neale, our all time favourite!” wrote Ronnie and Georgia. “Your insightful critiques and guidance have been invaluable on The Block. Thank you for inspiring us to push creative boundaries.”
Neale’s most memorable moment?
In his post, Neale reflected on some of the most memorable moments he’s experienced during almost two decades of judging The Block. “Who will ever forget Matt and Kim’s ‘crime scene’ room … sorry, Jackson Pollock homage?” he said.
Our favourite Neale moment
One of our favourite Neale moments on The Block is the time he waxed lyrical about the importance of lamps in 2023. “This room is crying out for a lamp,” he began when walking through Kristy and Brett’s living room. “It’s not just a little oversight, it’s a major oversight. This is the living room! What are we going to do at night, sit here underneath the downlights? Of course you need a lamp!”
We’ll definitely miss Neale’s presence on The Block this year, but we’re taking comfort in the fact that he’ll still be making guest appearances. “You’ll see me on Phillip Island from time to time,” he promises in his post. If, like us, you’re already experiencing Neale withdrawals, know that he’ll still be busy collaborating with Wattyl Paints, MyHouse and running his gorgeous guest house Taylors of Berry on the NSW South Coast. You can also check out his explanation of 5 up-and-coming interior trends or catch him in reruns of past seasons of The Block and Love it or List It.
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