Channel Seven's forthcoming renovation reality series My Reno Rules is mired in production turmoil as a builder walked off the Melbourne set and questions swirl about whether Adrian Portelli will appear on screen. The Endemol Shine Australia series is positioned as a rival to Nine's The Block and will feature four teams of renovators competing on two neighboring, rundown houses in Melbourne. Filming had been scheduled to begin on Sept. 26, but multiple insiders say the production is now several weeks, potentially months, behind schedule as producers search for a replacement builder.
Portelli, known as Mr Lambo, has spent months promoting himself as a face of the series on social media. Property records show he bought two old suburban homes in Melbourne’s Bulleen for My Reno Rules through his company Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, with the two properties together valued at about $2.7 million and donated to the show. However, insiders told the Daily Mail there is little evidence of Portelli’s hands-on involvement behind the scenes, and some suggest his on-screen role remains unsettled. A Seven-issued statement last month described Portelli’s role as managing the show's live prize draw, but independent reporting indicates the role may be limited to sponsorship rather than a hosting duty.
Seven’s public briefing acknowledges ongoing pre-production conversations with several builders and notes that construction will commence later this year, with the series slated to premiere on Seven and 7plus in 2026. A spokesperson said, 'As part of the pre-production phase, there are continuing conversations with several builders. Construction will commence later this year.' The show is to be hosted by Dr. Chris Brown, with insiders suggesting he will anchor the program solo.
The production’s challenges unfold as Portelli recently exited Channel Nine’s The Block, announcing in July that he would no longer be part of the show after spending millions on Phillip Island properties in recent seasons. Portelli’s departure drew a mixed response from former Block contestants, who cautioned that simply latching onto a high-profile figure is not enough to guarantee success. Nevertheless, Seven is moving forward with a familiar judging panel for My Reno Rules: former Block judge Neale Whitaker is set to be part of the panel, joined by Top Buyer’s Agent Simon Cohen and interior design expert Julia Green, according to industry briefings.
At the Bulleen site, the production has faced turnover. A builder reportedly walked off the job after a disagreement over payment, according to people with knowledge of the site. Another insider says the setback is less about the condition of the homes and more about the ongoing search for a new builder to take over. The Daily Mail report underscored that while early media chatter claimed the houses were not TV-ready, a source close to the production disputed that characterization, instead attributing the delay to the staffing and scheduling scramble.
Property titles previously revealed that Portelli bought the two Bulleen houses for the project, with Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd listed as the purchaser and the properties donated to the series. The arrangement underscores Portelli’s behind-the-scenes influence while feeding questions about the extent of his on-screen presence. Seven has emphasized that the program is still in pre-production and that the timeline remains fluid as production works toward a 2026 debut on Seven and 7plus.
My Reno Rules is produced by Endemol Shine Australia and pitched as a fresh competitor to The Block, featuring four teams competing across two run-down houses in Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Dr. Chris Brown, a well-known property journalist and television host, is billed as the lead presenter, with Whitaker, Cohen, and Green forming a recognizable judging roster designed to give the show credibility among renovation enthusiasts. The broader context of Portelli’s ambitions, including his recent exit from Nine’s flagship series, has kept industry watchers focused on whether Seven can translate the same magnetism into a successful on-screen presence and a compelling, calendar-ready broadcast.