No quarter given
> The Apartment’s tough judge Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen intends to show no mercy to the contestants of the series’ sixth season
Rising Changing Rooms DIY SOS: The Big Build.
Prior to Changing Rooms, LlewelynBowen worked with top design firms, before starting his own consultancy in 1989. He has also been a judge on Australia’s Seven Network reality renovation series House Rules since 2017.
During a tele-conference call, Llewelyn-Bowen reveals that the sixth season was shot entirely in Johor Baru, the same location as last season. “We are very much using the extraordinary dynamism of Malaysia and of the region,” says Llewelyn-Bowen.
“It is where the prize apartment is set as well. It is a great way to get the contestants hooked and drag them into the competition. “What we all try to do with the challenges is to make them feel attainable for the audiences.
“Obviously. it is a very aspirational show, it feels glossy and we come up with some very fashion-oriented looks, but as head judge, I am always keen that we keep it as real as possible.”
Llewelyn-Bowen tends to be the most blunt and ‘in-your-face’ judge on the series. But he explains that the dynamics between him and the contestants have changed greatly over the seasons.
In the early seasons, contestants were scared of him, but quickly worked out that he could be tough but also supportive.
“My judgements are never arbitary, they are never capricious, they are never personal. I don’t judge contestants on their personal Design,