Neale Whitaker

The Australian public may know Neale Whitaker as the stylish ex-judge on smash hit renovation series The Block, and co-host of Foxtel’s Love It or List It Australia, but his knowledge and expertise come courtesy of a successful publishing career that saw Neale at the helm of Aussie style bibles Belle and Vogue Living for more than a decade. Since arriving in Australia from the UK in 1999, Neale has enjoyed an impressive career as a respected media personality and one of our foremost style gurus. British-born Neale started his career in the office of legendary London fashion publicist Lynne Franks. After working as both PR and fashion stylist, Neale took on publishing roles for high-profile British retailers including Marks & Spencer and Debenhams. He also launched Food Illustrated for supermarket group Waitrose, a magazine that was praised internationally and set new standards for food publishing in the UK. In 1999, Neale moved from London to Sydney and edited directional interiors magazine, Marie Claire Lifestyle. His impeccable taste and professionalism won him many fans and he was kept busy with regular columns in The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Living supplement and US Gourmet magazine. During his five years at FPC Magazines (now News Life Media) he launched best-selling food magazine Delicious, one of the most successful magazine launches in the history of Australian publishing. After editing Australian interior design bible Belle for eight years, Neale joined Vogue Living as Editor-in-chief in 2014. In 2017 he moved into the role of Editor-at-large to allow time for increasing television and wider media commitments. Neale continued as a columnist for News Corp’s Stellar magazine until December 2019. In 2009, the producers of Nine’s TV show homeMADE asked Neale to join the judging panel and provide feedback to the young interior designers being put through their paces. Neale's frank honesty, warm humour and British eccentricities charmed audiences, and the following year he was invited to be a regular judge on the reboot of the multi-Logie winning renovation reality series, The Block. The show’s 2023 season marked 13 years (and 17 seasons) of Neale sharing his advice and insights with the show’s contestants and millions of viewers across Australia and the world. Neale retired from his full-time role on The Block in 2024, but remains a regular guest on the show. In 2017 Neale joined property guru Andrew Winter as a co-host of Foxtel’s Love It or List It Australia. Five seasons of the AACTA-award winning show aired between 2017 and 2023. Neale has also enjoyed ambassadorial roles in Australia with brand partners KING, Luxaflex, Wattyl and MINI Australia.