‘Should be banned’: TV host calls for The Block cancellation

Grand Designs Australia host Peter Maddison says, not everything is as easy as it seems to be on-screen, and The Block should no longer be aired.

The popularity of shows such as The Block are a source of growing frustration for Grand Designs Australia host Peter Maddison.

An architect by trade, Maddison says the fast and flashy renovations undertaken by amateur contestants give viewers unrealistic expectations about what goes into building projects.

“I hate The Block; it’s absolute bloody nonsense,” he tells The Binge Guide candidly ahead of his final outing at the helm of Grand Designs Australia.

“It should be banned from television because it leaves people with the false aspirations that they can become – in inverted commas – a project manager or a builder or a designer.

“It’s a joke. It’s a very bad example of the reality of building, the responsibilities around that and the difficulty of it all. They make it look very easy.”

With that in mind, Grand Designs is the antithesis of the quick fix of The Block.

Filmed over many months – or often years, depending on the challenges of the build – the series follows the journeys of couples undertaking grand-scale renovations.

“I have welded myself to a show that has integrity, where we show the real trials and tribulations [of building],” he says.

Peter Madison: “Once these homeowners finish the houses, and when we finish filming, they are just elated.” Picture: Sally Griffith for The Binge Guide

“And it’s not easy and it’s challenging, and there are ups and downs, and you do require skilled people to make [it happen]. It does take years, not six weeks, to complete.”

Maddison also says there’s no need to manufacture drama on Grand Designs because it evolves naturally over the course of the planning and building process.

Sure, it doesn’t involve cheating scandals or heated exchanges, but he says the ups and downs of a real renovation make for equally compelling viewing.

Sometimes budgets blow out and force owners to compromise their initial visions for the property.

On other occasions there have been unforeseen issues with planning permissions or heritage controls. And, of course, there were the assorted delays and material shortages caused by Covid.

Over the years, since the local version began in 2009, Maddison has showcased the transformations of 108 different properties and witnessed a growing emphasis towards sustainable living.

He has seen a home built out of stacked shipping containers; a “tardis” house with a tiny exterior that concealed the vast spaces within; and another created

in homage to 1950s pop art.

Visiting these projects over many months, and even years, means that Maddison also becomes invested in the evolution of both unique homes and the people who live in them.

“It’s very rewarding [to watch],” he says. “Once these homeowners finish the houses, and when we finish filming, they are just elated because they’ve made the journey and made the commitment, and they are sad to see us go. It is all reality and there’s no product placement in our show.”

Although he doesn’t always agree with their design choices, as a host, Maddison tries to remain neutral. So what happens if he’s truly unimpressed by what he’s seeing?

“I can always talk about the view when I’m stuck for words,” he reveals. “Sometimes the houses are terrible – they’re not all great.

“But I was told off in the early days by my executive producer [when I didn’t hide the disdain], to please give them something they can use on television which is positive... because to go around with my shoulders hunched, mumbling and grumpy, doesn’t come across well on television.”

Maddison continues: “So you’ll notice, on the show, if I’m just walking around talking about the view the whole time it’s usually because the architecture is sh*t.”

Indeed, the presenter says it took him some time to feel confident in the role of host. But he’s proud of how far he has come and is sad to be saying goodbye as Grand Designs Australia ends its more than decade-long run on Foxtel after this season.

“It took me a while to find my voice because it’s quite nerve-racking being a television presenter,” he says.

“It doesn’t feel like a natural place to be, but Fremantle, the production company, and Foxtel have been generous enough to let me have a voice – and I try to tell it the way it is.”

Grand Designs Australia’s final season premieres at 8.30pm on January 25 on Foxtel.

Peter Maddison stars on the cover of this Sunday’s The Binge Guide. Picture: Grand Designs Australia for The Binge Guide

Originally published as ‘Should be banned’: TV host calls for The Block cancellation