Fuming neighbours fire up over Lambo Guy Adrian Portelli's new TV show to rival the Block: 'Nightmare'

Daily Mail​

6 days ago

Billionaire Adrian Portelli's new TV reno show has been lashed by angry neighbours who fear the businessman will transform their quiet street into a 'nightmare'.
The flashy property and lottery mogul, nicknamed Lambo Guy for his love of fast cars, will be the co-host of Seven's new home renovation show My Reno Rules.
Filming on the new show, which Seven bosses hope will rival the success of Nine's long-running series The Block, is set to start next month.
But producers already have a job on their hands to get Bulleen locals onside in Melbourne 's east when filming begins next month.
One warned the production could cause chaos at school pick-up and drop-off times.
'I think some neighbours won't be happy,' local Ben Holgate told Daily Mail Australia.
'Older people tend to be more easily upset and with school traffic going backwards and forwards - I don't know how the hell they're going to cope with that.
'It could be a nightmare.'
The production company has now been told to work with nearby St Clement of Rome primary school to ensure parents and children have safe access during filming on the narrow street.
Stakeholders are now working around the clock to ensure production goes ahead on schedule.
Portelli, 36, has provided the two neighbouring Pinnacle Crescent homes which will feature in the debut season of the new show.
The properties have prime city views and are in earshot of shops, public transport, the Eastern Freeway and schools.
The 600sqm three-bedroom property at 54 Pinnacle Crescent sold for $1,380,000 in May, while locals say the home next-door at number 56 was bought at the same time.
Local mum Diana said she was shocked when she found out Portelli would be launching his new show on their street.
She said locals had been speculating about what was planned when the two homes at the centre of the new show were snapped up simultaneously.
'We thought it was odd that they sold them at the same time and we were wondering if it was just coincidence until we got the letter,' she added.
Both homes had been empty for quite a while until one property sold at auction while the other was sold privately, they said.
'It's such a plain old street but it'll have city views so that is probably what attracted them,' she said.
'But I think traffic is going to be an issue. It's going to be annoying they're constructing at the same time so it will be busy.'
Diana also expressed concern that closer neighbours may need to be compensated 'for the inconvenience' while filming takes place.
'You're taking away someone's front parking for guests and stuff like that for months,' she said.
'There's going to be skip bins on the road apparently and obviously all the tradie cars and the production crew.
'They said there is going to be traffic controllers and the street is really narrow - it's a nightmare already at school time, but this will make it a bigger nightmare.
'I know the school's been notified and they've been working with the production company on a plan. I almost think the school needs to close this street off.'
During the 2024 finale of The Block, Portelli made history by purchasing all five of the properties for a huge $15million
Another neighbour, Jim Nelson said the queue of cars during school pick ups already stretched past the show home from the school.
'Twice a day the street is backed up with parents dropping their kids off,' he said.
'I don't know how that's going to work, I guess we'll just sit in the front window and watch the fun.
'We do have an absolute ringside seat here, it'll be an experience, it'll be fun to see our sleepy little street on the telly.'
An elderly neighbour, who refused to give his name, said he was angry after he was not informed about the TV show or the redevelopment.
'I will contact the council and check if the appropriate permits were issued,' the man said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Manningham Council about what permits were granted for the Pinnacle Crescent home and the proposed TV show.
Portelli's controversial rewards club company LMCT+ will be the major sponsor for the reality show.
As well as being Portelli's first foray into the world of television hosting, it will also see him at the same network as former Channel Nine journalist Alex Cullen.
The Today show reporter was sacked by Nine after he accepted a $50,000 gift from The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli for calling him 'McLaren Man' live on air.
Now the pair will be reunited, with Cullen revealing this week that he will be making a return to the small screen on 7News.
It comes after Portelli and Cullen's social media exchange made national headlines and ultimately led to Cullen's departure from Nine.
After putting the reward call out on social media, The Block entrepreneur then posted what appeared to be a bank transfer of $50,000 to the presenter on Instagram.
The ill-advised stunt led to Cullen being suspended by Nine, and he did not appear on the show while t he network investigated the payment.
Nine's parting of ways with Cullen went ahead despite Portelli's claim that the money was always meant for charity.
Portelli, who has spent millions of dollars snapping up houses over the last three seasons, shared a post to social media on Thursday revealing he was leaving the Channel Nine series for good.
The Block host Scott Cam begged Portelli not to attend this year's auction to give others a chance to own a home
'Bet my high school teachers never thought… I'D HAVE MY OWN TV SHOW ON Channel Seven,' he wrote alongside a promotional photo of him and Dr Chris Brown.
'The Reno games looking a little dusty. Time for a fresh coat. The gloves are off. My Reno Rules - Coming to Seven.'
Seven recently announced the brand-new home renovation series, My Reno Rules, produced by MasterChef Australia creators Endemol Shine.
The show will feature four teams of renovators competing on two neighbouring rundown houses in Melbourne.
The teams are competing for a huge prize, with a live grand finale awarding two fully renovated and furnished properties.
It comes after The Block's Scott Cam sent a warning to Portelli ahead of the Nine reality juggernaut's 2026 season premiere.
Cam begged Portelli not to attend this year's auction to give others a chance to own a home.
'To be honest, we said to Adrian 'we'd love you not to come next year, if that's all right.' But you know it's up to him it's a public auction and he can do whatever he wants,' he revealed on Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie.
'He said he won't come but he may. We don't know, but we do want to give mums and dads the opportunity to have a crack at a block house.
'If Adrian comes and wants to buy the lot of them, well, that rules them out,' Scott said.
'Hopefully we get, a few buyer advocates that come and are representing families. So hopefully they turn up and have a bit of a crack this year.'
During the 2024 finale of The Block, Portelli made history by purchasing all five of the properties for a huge $15million.
He ensured Maddy and Charlotte Harry became the youngest-ever winners when he bought their home for $3.5million.
Portelli's company, LMCT+, has frequently raffled off properties from The Block, including last year's $5million purchase of Steph and Gian's winning home.
St Clement of Rome was contacted for comment and asked if it had been in contact with producers but failed to respond before deadline.