House Rules host Johanna Griggs has a message for rival contestants on Reno Rumble

HOUSE Rules host Johanna Griggs has told contestants who moved to rival show Reno Rumble they’ve been tricked by Channel 9.

Johanna Griggs for House Rules 2015 Channel 7

JOHANNA Griggs has fired the first salvo in the House Rules v Reno Rumble battle, saying she warned former House Rules contestants joining the rival Channel Nine show they should not expect to win.

Tonight’s three-way reality TV standoff sees new series of Seven’s House Rules, Nine’s Reno Rumble and Ten’s MasterChef pitted against each other in the same 7.30pm timeslot.

While MasterChef is looking to feed the viewer appetite for cooking reality programming in the wake of Seven’s juggernaut My Kitchen Ruleswrapping last night, it’s the battle of the renovation shows that will be keenly watched.

Changing camps ... Michelle and Steve from House Rules.

Seven’s House Rules dominated ratings last year, and Nine’s newbie Reno Rumble sees former contestants of House Rules pitted against former contestants of its own reality renovation ratings success story, The Block.

RENO CONTROVERSY: Griggs slams rumours House Rules couples aren’t battlers

Griggs, back as host for the third season of House Rules, says she has no problem with Nine’s rival show, but is bemused by the move.

“They say imitation is flattery and there’s nothing more flattering than actually having a show that’s still on air (House Rules) that’s actually getting promoted on another network,” Griggs said.”

Ready to rumble ... Reno Rumble contestants and host Scott Cam. Picture: Martin Philbey

“I find the whole thing funny and a bit bizarre.

“I did say to them (the former House Rules contestants involved in Reno Rumble) when they talked to me about joining the show: “Mate, you have to ask yourself are they going to let you win?”

“My thought is that they are not going to let people who appeared on a rival format on a rival network, that is still in existence, look stronger than those from their own format.

“So you just kind of go ‘as long as you are prepared to accept that it might not pan out the way you think or hope it will, good luck, go for it’.”

Griggs finds it a ‘weird thing to have another network using people from a show that’s still on air’.

“I just find it hilarious. And it is flattering. We’re rapt — it feels like we’re getting promotion on two networks for House Rules.”

And if you don’t like renovating ... MasterChef is back for 2015 on Tuesday night, featuring judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan as well as new face Shannon Bennett.

Originally published as House Rules host Johanna Griggs has a message for rival contestants on Reno Rumble