Former long-time The Block judge Neale Whitaker has revealed his honest thoughts about the 2024 season of the renovation show.
The Block fans are missing Neale in the landmark 20th season after he announced on May 8 that he was leaving the show after a mammoth 17 seasons to support his partner, David, who has been dealing with “serious health issues”.
Still, he did return as a guest star on two occasions, with the 62-year-old confessing it was “lovely” to visit the Phillip Island set.
So, what does he really think about The Block 2024?
“One thing I did notice in all my years on the show was how incredibly high that bar got raised each season,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle, adding he was “very impressed”.
“When I was first judging the show with John McGrath, we used to think that was incredible. And it was, but when you put it alongside what those contestants achieve now, it is absolutely mind-blowing. It really is.”
Neale added: “The standard, the quality of build, the quality of interior design, the quality of construction, the vision, if you like, that those young couples have, and also the understanding of the market, is really quite phenomenal.”
Will Neale Whitaker ever return to judge The Block full-time?
Neale admitted that he will “always feel like a member of The Block extended family after such a long time with the show”.
“It was a part of my regular life for such a long time that I think it will remain with me for a very long time to come,” he told the outlet.
So, with that being said, can we ever expect him to return as a full-time judge?
”Who knows what the future holds,” he said, adding that he’s “open-minded”.
“I’m in a very nice stage in my career where projects come along, like this beautiful project with Gro Urban Oasis. Things sort of come along into my life and it’s lovely.
“So it’s kind of que sera, sera, what will be, will be. I’m open-minded about what the future holds.”
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