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"Family always first": Block judge reveals real reason for sudden departure

<p>Neale Whittaker has shared his frustrations over the premier episode of the new season of <em>The Block</em>, saying a vital piece of information was edited out. </p> <p>Audiences were shocked on Sunday night when Neale told his fellow judges Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer that he had some important news to tell them before commencing their judging duties. </p> <p>Visibly emotional, he confessed that he would be “breaking up the band,” and wouldn’t be able to join them as a full-time judge this season, saying he "can't be here every weekend this year". </p> <p>His longtime colleagues embraced him and told him he had their full support, and then the moved on to judging rooms, with viewers not told the reason for Whittaker’s decision.</p> <p>After the episode aired, Neale took to Instagram to share his frustrations with the edit, and shared the reasoning behind his impending absence to his followers. </p> <p>Sharing a clip of the moment as it went to air, he wrote, “There’s nothing more frustrating than an unexplained decision or an incomplete narrative – especially where health and family are concerned."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvnn9S-vkXO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvnn9S-vkXO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by NEALE WHITAKER (@nealewhitaker)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“This is what went to air tonight on the first episode of <em>The Block</em>’s 19th season, my 17th. I broke the news to Shaynna and Darren that I would be unable to join them each week and explained my reasons. It was an emotional conversation for all of us. Unfortunately those important reasons didn’t make the cut so here goes.”</p> <p>Whittaker explained that he’d “chosen to put family first,” and support David, his partner of 20 years, through “some serious and ongoing health issues.”</p> <p>“Melbourne real estate expert Marty Fox will be standing in for me on the weeks I can’t be there, but I’ll still be popping up from time to time over the next 12 weeks. The good news is that David is making great progress, my <em>Block</em> family has been fully supportive of my decision and I’m looking forward to returning to The Block full time for the show’s 20th anniversary season in 2024,” he continued.</p> <p>The post was flooded with comments of support and well wishes, with previous <em>Block</em> contestants Elise and Matt writing, "Family always first buddy ❤️ when we all heard the news we put David straight into our prayers ❤️❤️❤️ we hope he’s on this way to a full recovery."</p> <p>Another fan wrote, "Family is so important Neale! I’ll be waiting to see you pop in, over the next 12 weeks."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Can you guess this TV judge from this 1980s throwback pic?

<p>You may know him from a hit TV show on Channel Nine, but back in the '80s this star looked a lot different to the man he is now.</p> <p>Wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, a black scarf and rocking a full head of dark curly hair, the TV personality is seen sitting on his bed in a photo that was uploaded to his Instagram on Tuesday.</p> <p>“What Barbra Streisand had, I had to have. That’s how I rolled,” wrote the TV star in the caption.</p> <p>He proceeded to make fun of himself with a string of hashtags that included “#curlyperm #unidays #proofs #badhairday #university #1980 #studentlife #eyebrows #warwickuniversity”.</p> <p>Have you guessed who it is yet?</p> <p>The mysterious man in the photo is none other than The Block judge and interior designer Neale Whitaker.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo8cQEclO6C/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo8cQEclO6C/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">What Barbra Streisand had, I had to have. That’s how I rolled 😉😂 #curlyperm #unidays #proof #badhairday #university #1980 #studentlife #1980s #eyebrows #warwickuniversity</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/nealewhitaker/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Neale Whitaker</a> (@nealewhitaker) on Oct 14, 2018 at 11:53pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>These days, Neale is now almost always seen donning a suave outfit, and t<span>he design guru is best known for his gig on The Block, where he critiques and praises teams' home makeovers and designs.</span></p> <p>Neale also features on Love it Or List It Australia on Foxtel’s Lifestyle Channel, starring alongside Selling Houses Australia's Andrew Winter.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmxW_rRgPdF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmxW_rRgPdF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">So @haydenandsara @theblock you’ve thrown down the gauntlet. This is how I looked in the 1980s. Do I still dress like this now? 😉😂😂 #vintage #headshots #1980s #80sstyle #londonstyle</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/nealewhitaker/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Neale Whitaker</a> (@nealewhitaker) on Aug 21, 2018 at 11:32pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>And this isn’t the first time the TV judge has shared a flashback from the past. In August he posted an image to his Instagram showcasing four photos of himself from the '80s wearing rather questionable attire.</p> <p>“This is how I looked in the 1980s. Do I still dress like this now?” Neale captioned the image. </p>

Art

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Inside The Block judge Neale Whitaker’s new $1.8 million country home

<p><em>The Block</em> judge Neale Whitaker and his partner have purchased a new country property in Berry, which is on the south coast of New South Wales.</p> <p>The couple bought the four-bedroom home that sits on 2.5 acres of land for $1.8 million.</p> <p>Whitaker told the <em>Sunday Telegraph</em> that they will renovate the property over time but it’s liveable as of now.</p> <p>“It’s exactly what we wanted,” he said.</p> <p>The country home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and has been recently renovated by its previous owners.</p> <p>The property also has a four-car garage which can be used as a studio or workshop space.</p> <p>The home is surrounded by mesmerising views, with the property overlooking the Bundewallah Valley.</p> <p>The cul-de-sac the home is situated on is a popular walking track for locals and is within walking distance of the Berry village.</p> <p>The property has plenty of potential for Whitaker’s design eye, with it also including a farm shed, a horse paddock and room for a pool.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the charming country property.</p> <p>What are your thoughts on the home? Let us know in the comment below. </p>

Home & Garden

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The Block judge Neale Whitaker’s incredible Sydney home is for sale

<p><em>The Block</em> judge Neale Whitaker is putting his incredible Sydney home on the market less than two years after he snapped it up for $1,705,000.</p> <p>The three-bedroom apartment in the inner-city suburb of Alexandria has a price guide of $1.6 million and has been home to Whitaker and his partner David Novak-Piper for more than a decade.</p> <p>The warehouse-style apartment has two bathrooms, two parking spaces and a spacious balcony that looks out onto the gorgeous Sydney surrounds.</p> <p>“What really sold us on this place was the high ceilings, the incredible concrete beams and the [leafy] outlook,” Whitaker <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>told Domain</strong></em></span></a>.</p> <p>“Alexandria is quite an industrial suburb … but when you’re sitting in the apartment you can only see the trees and the roof of the Sonoma Bakery, which is quite nice.”</p> <p>To see the property, scroll through the gallery above.</p> <p>What are your thoughts? What score would you give it, if you were a judge on <em>The Block</em>?</p>

Home & Garden

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Carrie Bickmore breaks down over brain cancer appeal backlash

<p>On Monday night, The Project co-host Carrie Bickmore launched her latest Beanies 4 Brain Cancer appeal in an effort to raise funds for the disease that claimed her husband’s life in 2010.</p> <p>After the show, however, the Gold Logie winner was the target of <a href="/entertainment/tv/2017/06/backlash-over-carrie-bickmores-brain-cancer-appeal/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">dozens of scathing comments</span></strong></a>, slamming her for scheduling the appeal on the same day as Neale Daniher’s annual Big Freeze at the MCG, which also sells beanies to raise money for motor neurone disease research.</p> <p>Last night, Bickmore addressed the backlash with a teary statement, explaining the clash was “completely unintentional” and that she was “absolutely gutted” over the harsh comments.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheProjectTV%2Fvideos%2F10154678515138441%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>“We were due to launch our beanies a couple of weeks ago but they didn’t arrive in time so we had to push it back a few weeks and in the business of making it all happen, and keeping our supporters happy, we didn’t take note of the fact the new date then clashed with Neale’s Freeze at the G,” the visibly emotional Bickmore explained. “We just wanted to finally get the beanies out to everyone and of course now I wish I had waited another few days.</p> <p>“I spoke to Neale today, they had an incredibly successful campaign yesterday which is great news. We both pour our heart and souls into these campaigns and I have been absolutely gutted that anyone would think I would try and derail someone else’s lifesaving work.”</p> <p>Despite all the drama, both Bickmore and Daniher’s charity beanies sold out, and both raised much-needed funds and awareness for their respective causes.</p> <p>What are your thoughts on the backlash and Carrie’s response? Let us know in the comments.</p>

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Backlash over Carrie Bickmore’s brain cancer appeal

<p>The Project host Carrie Bickmore has faced backlash for launching her brain cancer appeal on the same day as a similar fundraiser.</p> <p>On Monday night, Bickmore launched her Carries Beanies 4 Brain Cancer <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.carriesbeanies4braincancer.com/">appeal</a></strong></span>, donning her custom-made beanies throughout the show. She spoke about her late husband who died of the cancer and told the emotional story about a young girl who had been struck down with the disease.</p> <p>But the timing of Bickmore’s launch upset many people as the appeal was on the same day as the Big Freeze at the MCG.</p> <p>The Big Freeze is an <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://fightmnd.org.au/">annual fundraiser</a> </strong></span>by Fight MND that also sells beanies to raise money for research into motor neurone disease. The fundraiser is spearheaded by AFL legend Neale Daniher, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2013. He has since spent his time dedicated to raising awareness and money for MND. </p> <p><img width="517" height="388" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/cc4910971e820e5f322846be69460b7d" alt="Neale Daniher and Melbourne fans walking before Big Freeze 3 at the MCG. Picture: Mark Stewart." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Although people acknowledged Bickmore’s tireless efforts in fundraising for brain cancer, many took to social media to lambast Bickmore for her decision to launch her appeal on the same day as Daniher’s The Big Freeze, accusing her undermining The Big Freeze and asking her why she couldn’t at least wait another day.</p> <p>What’s your take on the issue? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p> </p>

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