It’s Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen. He did some rather controversial makeovers on British Changing Rooms back in the day.
It’s funny how nothing can be kept a secret any more and we find everything out before an official announcement is made.
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Haven’t heard Laurence before. It will be interesting to see how his views on makeovers compare with Joe’s.
News Corp adds Sydney based architectural expert Drew Heath has also joined the fifth season.
Just checked his website. Oh hello there! I’ll definitely be watching. Shame about the wife 
In case you can’t get to that article behind the pay wall.
Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen replaces judge and architect Joe Snell but judge Wendy Moore, mentor Carolyn Burns-McCrave and local architecture expert Drew Heath are all returning.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, British born international design style star and award-winning Australian architect and builder Drew Heath join HOUSE RULES.
Channel Seven’s HOUSE RULES begins 2017 with two new judges at the helm eager to inspire your living space from the roots up.
Nobody understands furnishings, fabrics and fashion more than our flamboyant judge Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Born with an innate instinct for colours, trends, textures and design, his ability to unleash endless possibilities in any home is second to none.
Laurence, not subtle in his taste, or opinions features for the first time on Australian free to air TV excited to pass on his highly sought-after expertise whilst unearthing contestants’ talents for working with colour, light and texture.
On joining HOUSE RULES, Laurence says:
“I’m incredibly passionate about encouraging Australians to discover the potential within their own home. I do have a reputation for being quite tough… and that’s putting it mildly, but when people are just creating show rooms for the hell of it they’re not creating their dream home. I feel we all have the ability to unveil the hidden magic in which we reside.”
Drew Heath started his architecture business in 1996, specialising in organic handmade and handcrafted building designs. Drew has won numerous awards for his buildings which have an aura of calm and raw understated elegance. His buildings are influenced by his love of nature, creating a sense of well-being and calm. HOUSE RULES is his first foray into television with the exception of a few appearances connected to his work.
“House Rules is an exciting opportunity for me to do something completely different. I see the house as the most important place for our well-being so it will be interesting and difficult to judge others as it makes you think about your own principles. I look forward to being inspired by the teams who come from all walks of life."
Laurence and Drew will join host Johanna Griggs, Pacific Magazines general manager of homes and food and fellow judge Wendy Moore and design expert Carolyn Burns-McCrave. HOUSE RULES was a ratings smash in 2016, averaging more than 1.57 million combined viewers across Australia. More than two million people tuned in to see Queensland twins Luke and Cody win and realise their dream home.
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So if Laurence and Drew are both judges that’ll mean the homeowners opinion will count for even less this year. Possible though Drew is taking on the builder role that Chester Drife had in the first season or two before disappearing without a trace.
And can’t believe Carolyn hangs on - anytime contestants take notice of what they say the judges usually slam them for it.
Last year’s second-placed team Claire and Hagan Rice have put up the renovated home at Mornington Peninsula for sale because they needed more space. The house will be auctioned on April 15 through Guest Real Estate with a price guide of $590,000-plus. Herald Sun adds the couple and their kids hope to move somewhere near Blairgowrie where they have bought a bigger salon, at which Hagan plans on opening a coffee window that also serves healthy food.
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New promo aired tonight featuring this season’s teams.
Johanna Griggs hasn’t featured in any promos yet. I was wondering if she left but I see her name mentioned in the press release above.
Cue 0.001% of viewers saying “ohhhhh, that’s where I’ve seen him before”
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New promo aired tonight featuring judges Wendy, Laurence and Drew offering interesting comments as they tour each renovated house.
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I see they’re already showing some completed rooms in the promos. They could’ve just had a promo where you hear the judges interesting comments without seeing the finished rooms.
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Two teams competing in this season have been revealed so far: a “glamour” couple from Gold Coast (as shown on TV), and Hobart engaged couple Ella Cuthbert and Sean MacKay
##HOUSE RULES 2017
Australia’s biggest renovation show returns in 2017. Now in its fifth year, HOUSE RULES continues to break new territory with even bigger challenges and designs. This year’s ride of a lifetime will see six new teams gambling with the most important possession in their lives: their home.
To win the ultimate prize, they will have to completely renovate six houses in only six weeks. Together, the teams will travel the country, hand over the keys to their homes and leave their opposition to transform every room in their house. Guided by just five HOUSE RULES, the teams will each be given a designated zone in the house.
They must draw on all their creative talents, determination and strategy to produce breathtaking reveals that impress not only the home owners but the judges too.
Host Johanna Griggs returns with judge Wendy Moore, who will critique this year’s homes alongside two new judges, including international design style star Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and acclaimed Australian architect and builder Drew Heath.
With only one week to completely transform each home, the teams will need all the help they can get.
Back to guide them, and help them decipher the HOUSE RULES, is interior designer Carolyn Burns-McCrave.
All six teams will walk away with a completely renovated interior of their home.
The final two teams left standing have their home completely renovated from top to bottom, inside and out, and will face-off in an epic Grand Final for a $200,000 cash prize.
The six teams vying for the 2017 crown are:
QUEENSLAND / Aaron & Daniella
SOUTH AUSTRALIA / Kate & Harry
TASMANIA / Sean & Ella
WESTERN AUSTRALIA / Andrew & Jono
VICTORIA / Fiona & Nicole
NEW SOUTH WALES / Troy & Bec
###Aaron and Daniella
Queensland
###Kate and Harry
South Australia
###Sean and Ella
Tasmania
###Andrew and Jono
Western Australia
###Fiona and Nicole
Victoria
###Troy and Bec
New South Wales
House Rules will premiere Sunday 30 April at 7pm leading into the MKR final at 8pm.
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Hasn’t that tactic failed before? The Renovators and Masterchef?
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Seems like a bad move to me - one hour on Sunday then 1:10 on Monday.
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The Renovators premiere was aired between two episodes of Masterchef on the one night,wasn’t it?