PLAY TELEVISION RISKY TO TEAR DOWN JUDGES

Homes and Gardens tradie Adam Dovile knows better than most the stress this year’s House Rules hopefuls are under.

The Silver Logie winner and his now wife, Lisa, took out season two of the same renovation reality series, whose ratings have surged this year after a format change.

But Dovile warns the new freedom contestants have to criticise each other – and the judges – may be a risky strategy.

“There were a lot of times when you wanted to say something, but in the end, I don’t know how much of an advantage that is,” he said.

“I guess for the viewer, it’s a bit of a laugh to hear what the other people are thinking.

“But in the end ... whether you agree with ( the judges) or not, they’re the professionals and you have to take it on board.”

The affable builder, who swapped his carpentry career for a TV role on Channel 7, even came to the defence of this year’s villains, Fiona and Nicole.

“I keep telling people, it’s the most stressful situation you’ll ever be in and everyone handles stress differently. The villains are usually the ones that just crack under that pressure. I’ve got no doubt in my mind they’d be really good people off screen but obviously you really wouldn’t want to rely on them if your life depended on it.”

His experience on Better Homes has been a lot more hospitable, with Dovile revealing a surprise bromance on the lifestyle show – with Dr Harry Cooper.

“He’s a fantastic bloke and obviously been in the game a long time,” Dovile said. “He’s good for advice and a champion of a man.”