The Block ex-foreman Keith Schleiger reveals real reason behind grumpy on-air persona

Former Block star Keith Schleiger has lifted the lid on his grumpy on-air persona, revealing what it was really like dealing with “amateurs” who would snap back at his directions during renos.

Keith Schleiger, from The Block In the Picture

Former Block star Keith Schleiger has told of putting up with “d---head” contestants on the hit renovation show who would tell him to “get stuffed.”

Schleiger was a fixture on The Block for 16 seasons before he departed the show at the beginning of 2024.

The commute from Melbourne to Phillip Island for the “Block Island” series got the better of him and he opted instead to open his own bathrooms and renovation business.

Dan Reilly took his place as the show’s foreman with the job of keeping construction on track and the contestants under control.

Keith Schleiger, right, with Dan Reilly. Picture: Supplied

Schleiger said while he missed being part of the show he did not miss mouthy, clueless contestants giving him grief.

It was the “d---heads” he was dealing with that led to his grumpy on-air persona, he said.

“Imagine … you are a builder and you have got some contestant who has got no idea about building and you’re giving them an instruction and they tell you to get stuffed,” he told the Your Haus & Home podcast.

“What are you going to do?

“All these amateurs, they have got no idea what they are doing, we are building beautiful homes for people. I never got why people would argue with me. It just did not make sense.

“If I am a subbie (subcontractor) going to a site and a foreman gives me an instruction, you just have to follow it. There are no ifs or buts otherwise you are off, see you later.

“So I used to get grumpy on tele but there was a reason for it because I had some d---head just giving me grief and it was not warranted.”

Shelley Craft and Keith Schleiger. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Schleiger said working on the show was not glamorous — “hectic is an understatement” — but it was an adrenaline rush.

“I am actually enjoying going back to my normal life and not having the stress of working 24 hours a day,” Schleiger said.

He declined to name his favourite contestants.

“No, there are too many,” he said.

“I would offend people if I did. I got a lot of mates from The Block.

“(There were) lots of great couples and lots of bad ones too.”