Adrian Portelli has launched a blistering attack on The Block and spruiked his own rival renovation show aimed at “everyday Aussies” after Nine’s reality series concluded dismally with two homes passed in at auction.
The billionaire and former serial Block buyer spoke to News.com.au on Wednesday, where he lashed out against the widely-condemned finale.
Fans branded the season’s ending “embarrassing” and a little more than a cash grab by Nine after four of the five couples failed to make a substantial profit.
“They’re completely out of touch and unrealistic,” Portelli said of this year’s five builds in the Victoria town of Daylesford, which each went under the hammer on Sunday for a whopping $2.99 million reserve.
“The Block pitches themselves as a good opportunity for families to buy these famous homes, but these houses aren’t built for everyday Australians. They are meant for the super-rich.
“Who is going to go and bid on them when they know they’re competing against billionaires? These houses aren’t targeted at everyday Aussies. They’re multimillion-dollar homes.”
Portelli infamously declared last year that the Block finale in Phillip Island would be his last appearance as a buyer on the hit renovation series.
The 35-year-old bought all five completed homes in Victoria for $15.03 million, making history by purchasing them to “go out with a bang”, but struggled to auction them off through a bungled raffle.
Without his deep pockets and the home’s higher-than-expected reserves this year, Emma and Ben and Han and Can’s properties were passed in.
Fan favourites Robby and Matt took home $109,999 or just $50,000 each, while Sonny and Alicia netted a meagre $120,000 as well as a new car.
Claiming the win were WA cops Britt and Taz, who walked away $520,000 richer after their home attracted a flurry of bids and sold for $3.41 million.
In his wide-ranging interview, Portelli said the reason he did not make a grand appearance in his yellow Lamborghini with his bidding paddle on Sunday was because Nine knocked back his pitch for My Reno Rules.
My Reno Rules is a fresh renovation series sponsored by Portelli, which he suggests will build on the popularity of The Block on rival Channel Seven next year.
The owner of the raffle company LMCT+ said the show was initially set to air on Channel Nine, but the network “lost interest,” so he took it to Seven.
Portelli said he pitched the show to Seven within five minutes, and 20 minutes later, the executives rang him back to say they would take it.
Making a clear jab at Nine, Portelli added My Reno Rules would be more successful than The Block because his new show appealed to “everyday Aussies” rather than “one per cent of its viewing audience”.
It comes after the billionaire did not attempt to hide his dissatisfaction with the auction results on Sunday, posting a selfie with “cricket” emojis.
He also scribbled out The Block’s logo and wrote My Reno Rules on top.
The Block fans quickly urged Channel Nine to cancel the series, arguing the show was in desperate need of a format change.
“How about just cancel the next season of the #TheBlock. Worst show in the f***ing world should’ve been axed years ago,” one person wrote.
“I think it’s time to cancel the Block @Channel9 #TheBlock OVER PRICED,” another person said.