Popular star of The Block 'steps back' from the show: 'Too far'

Fans of The Block will be left disappointed after it was revealed Foreman Keith has been forced to 'step back' from the show this year due to the filming location.

According to the Herald Sun, Foreman Keith, whose real name is Keith Schleiger, will make "irregular appearances" in the new season for family reasons.

"With The Block shooting on Phillip Island this year Keith had to step back from his full-time duties because of his commitment to raising his two daughters," a Nine spokesperson said.

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"He couldn't come to the island for three months straight. It was literally a bridge too far," they added. "But Block fans will be pleased to hear that he has been involved with filming for our 20th season as a special guest."

It comes after Keith announced his new business, Keith's Bathrooms and Renovations, which was the first hint to fans that he would not be returning to the show full-time.

Producers left 'blindsided' by huge problem

It comes after Yahoo Lifestyle revealed that The Block 2024 has had its fair share of issues so far, with one team pulling out of the competition just six weeks into shooting the show.

Jesse and Paige from the Blue Team from Western Australia apparently decided to pull the pin as they buckled under the stress of the high-pressure environment.

"They seemed fine," a source tells Yahoo Lifestyle. "Obviously the production crew had noted there had been more tears with Jesse and Paige (with some of the outcomes) - but the 'welfare team' felt that their behaviour was pretty standard with every season up until this point."

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The source continued, "None of the other teams had noticed anything too unusual and everyone was left gobsmacked when the Western Australian team fled Phillip Island" adding that it left Channel Nine scrambling for a replacement team.

"Producers felt blindsided by their decision to quit. It certainly wasn't on their bingo card when they cast the season," the insider adds. This was supposed to be the wholesome, back-to-basics season of The Block, which viewers had been crying out for."

Up until this point, our show insider confirmed that this season was less about the drama between the houses and more about the drama of building a house — a change in pace from last year's controversy-filled season.

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