Keith Schleiger, known to many as the formidable foreman on Nine’s hit reality show The Block, has made a surprising admission following his departure after 11 seasons. Schleiger, who stepped back from his full-time role in 2024, recently revealed that he hasn’t been keeping up with the current season due to a packed personal schedule.
Speaking candidly to the Daily Mail, the 50-year-old television personality explained, “I haven’t seen much of it, I must admit,” citing his children’s sporting commitments as a major reason for his absence from the show’s viewership. “Both of my kids are very into sport, and I’m quite often not home between the hours of 7.30 and 8.00 due to my kids playing sport, so I haven’t seen a lot of this season,” he shared.
Life Beyond the Camera
Despite not being a regular viewer, Schleiger expressed confidence in the show’s current foreman, Dan Reilly. “I’m sure Dan is doing very well,” he said, adding, “He’s very good at his job, and I don’t know if he’s missing me or not, but I’d say he would be.”
Schleiger’s life post-The Block has been anything but quiet. Earlier this year, he underwent emergency surgery due to an infection that spread to his leg, a complication from a hip replacement a decade ago. “I recovered very quickly,” he explained. “They removed all the infection from me, and now, so far, so good.”
“I’m not out of the woods yet, but, so far, the infection hasn’t come back, and I’m probably out of the woods in February next year.”
New Ventures and Opportunities
In a surprising career twist, Schleiger has taken on the role of “Foreman of Workplace Hunger,” a title given by the iconic Australian ice cream brand Golden Gaytime. This new venture involves promoting their latest product, the Golden Gaytime Slab, aimed at satisfying the appetites of tradies across the nation. “After this interview, I’m going to go to the factories around here and make sure that this snack stacks up,” he said enthusiastically.
While he relishes his new role, Schleiger admits to missing the show that made him a household name. “Oh, I definitely miss it, but I’m also enjoying spending more time with my children and actually spending more time on the golf course,” he confessed.
Reflections on ‘The Block’
Schleiger’s decision to leave The Block was not made lightly. The demands of the show, particularly its filming locations in Phillip Island and Daylesford, made it difficult for him to balance work and family life. “The only time I would have seen my family would have been probably once a week on a Sunday for a few hours,” he explained.
Despite his departure, Schleiger remains interested in the show’s evolution, particularly its new format where contestants renovate empty shells instead of existing homes. He also expressed approval of the show’s decision to part ways with serial bidder Adrian Portelli. “I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “I’d like to see the show go back to normal auctions.”
As Schleiger continues to navigate life after The Block, his reputation as a hard taskmaster remains intact. “In my building, I’m still the same person you saw on TV,” he asserted. “Having said that, if someone needs to be told off, I’ll certainly tell them off.”
While his journey on The Block may have ended, Keith Schleiger’s influence and presence in the industry continue to be felt, both on and off the screen.
