fans have made a major plea to producers this season, claiming that they believe has "past their use by date". Many viewers are begging for the show to bring in Steph Ottavio, last year's winner, to replace interior designer Shaynna Blaze, who has been on the show since 2012. One fan took to Reddit to share their thoughts on the judging panel, which includes designer Darren Palmer and real estate agent Marty Fox, who replaced Neale Whitaker, an interior design expert, last year.
"Really feels like this year Marty has stepped up to the Head B***h in Charge role among the judges," they began their harsh critique. "Darren seems subdued, almost intimidated by the new guy (I know he was here last year too) and old Shaynna Blaze is just spouting weird s**t in order to try and pull focus back to herself. "I also agree with the annual whinefest about getting new judges - dump Shaynna get a young interior designer from this millennium, she doesn't bring anything I haven't heard a thousand times before.
Keep Marty, an actual practical real estate view is essential. Third judge needs to be an experienced tradie - I want to know about the reno quality." Many others resonated with this idea, with one user responding, "Shaynna is so over her job.
She hates it. She needs to do us all and herself a favour and move on." "I don’t think Darren is intimidated.
He just likes standing back and watching Shaynna and Marty bicker for a while before giving his opinion," another countered. "I'd love to see them dump Shayna and pick up Steph (from Steph and Gian). I feel she'd bring a great positivity while still being critical, however have a good understanding of what the contestants are going through," a third suggested.
"Another good option would be Danni [Wales, who is married to Dan Reilly], she already does the walk around talk through with Dan and does a good job." "Steph would be perfect, agreed. We need new blood and someone with an eye to future not the past," the OP wrote.
"They should get rid of Shaynna & bring in a woman builder judge. This way they have, real estate, design & build quality covered," another added. On Facebook, the sentiment was similar (and just as harsh), with one user writing, "Why do we need two style judges and one marketing focused.
.. For the last three seasons I have said one style, one quality of work, and one saleability.
I am at the point of muting the TV so I don't have to hear the words 'but it's not BEACHY' come out of Shaynna's mouth." "Bringing in Marty was the best move, I think it’s time to replace the other two with one master builder, the other a stylist," another said. A third wasn't so sure, responding, "Marty is clueless.
When you are in the market to buy a property, you give the agent a list of requirements, he/she doesn’t show you something they would buy for their family. The way he judges is extremely narrow minded." "The judges are past their use by date!" someone else said.
"Fresh judges are desperately needed." Steph has previously told that while it’s lovely that fans think she'd be a great judge, she would never want to take someone else’s job. "I would love to come back on more of like a consultant level to chat with the contestants and help them achieve what they need to achieve when they get to judging," she shares.
"I feel like that's where you should start. I don't think it's fair for me to be a judge straight away, I think that I need to earn a few more stripes to then be on a panel of such an esteemed cohort of judges." When asked if they would ever want to compete for a second time after winning $1.
75 million on the show this year, Steph and Gian say they definitely aren’t opposed to the idea. "I reflect back to The Block and that was genuinely the best experience of my life," Gian said. "Nothing is off the table, and it goes beyond just the financial benefit.
People say, ‘Oh you won so much money on The Block’, but it’s more than the financial benefit that you get from The Block. It’s what comes with the entire experience." It comes following rumours earlier this year that Shaynna is set to leave The Block and Channel Nine in favour of Channel Seven's Dream House alongside Dr Chris Brown.
"Chris and Shaynna would be a winning combo. They would have a great on-screen rapport," a TV insider told in June. They also added that Seven tried to poach her for the first season of the show, but were unsuccessful, "It's true they tried really hard to get Shaynna the first time around.
In the end she proved too expensive.".
