House Rules' Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen: My fight with Jamie Durie
The House Rules judge talks going head-to-head with the new kid on the block
- by
Zoe Burrell
British designer Laurence-Llewelyn Bowen has most certainly become a household name in Australia since joining House Rules back in 2017. And now, he is back Down Under to reprise his role as a judge on the latest season of the hit renovation show.
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While Laurence’s suits are as outrageous as ever, this season is shaking things up by introducing a new judge, Jamie Durie. However, many people might not know that Laurence and Jamie go way back – seven years in fact!
The pair have worked together on the US reality program The Apartment since 2012.
“Jamie’s relationship with me absolutely out-paces anything he’s ever had with a woman,” Laurence tells New Idea.
“For seven years Jamie and I have been working together. Basically, I’m the constant in his life.”
Despite being pals, Laurence reveals that when it comes to the show, the pair have no qualms about butting heads.
“Jamie and I know each other so well we cross swords,” the designer admits.
“There’s nothing polite about it. He’s quite a kid brother with me, if I’m pontificating, he’s tugging at my trousers. It’s certainly not all flowers and roses. We do very much disagree … And then you’ve got Wendy [Moore], poor, poor thing who is trying to keep everyone sane!”
Of course, Laurence admits that it all comes down to their different approaches to judging.
“Jamie is so different from me because he is so emotional,” he says.
“Jamie will very much give the viewer a sense of what it’s like to be in the space. I am about the mechanics of picking it to pieces and telling everyone what works and what doesn’t.”
Of course, it’s not just the addition of Jamie that’s different this season. Laurence reveals that this season will see designs we never thought possible.
“I think the big thing that people are really going to go crazy for this season is just the exploration of a lot of the colour and the innovations that are out there for home design,” he dishes. “From revolving closed carousels to pop-up gadgetry and all that kind of stuff.”
LLB has certainly been keeping busy in OZ, having just finished Instant Hotel and now appearing on House Rules. But, things are just as busy back home in Britain for the designer.
He recently celebrated his daughter Cecile’s wedding with not one but two ceremonies and now the designer reveals that there is set to be another family wedding in 2020.
“Hermione has announced her engagement as well,” he gushes of his younger daughter. “I am definitely marrying them off. It’s all getting very Pride and Prejudice.”
For Laurence, there is nothing more important that spending time with his family, and he particularly loves doting on his adorable two-year-old grandson Albion.
“He calls me governor, although now he’s decided I look like a sad old lion, so he calls me govy-lion,” he shares. “He’s very, very sweet.”
However, Laurence is worried that Albion might not have inherited the family’s flair for creativity.
“The one who absolutely is not creative is Albion,” he jokes of the toddler. “You know, you give him a handful of crayons and he uses them as a dart.”
House Rules airs Sun. 7pm and Monday-Wednesday 7:30PM.