A big part of the show is the interactive element: six different zones are set up for some serious play. “Obviously it would be totally and utterly torturous just to have Lego on display,” says McNaught.

One of the 49-year-old’s favourite elements is the “E for Earthquake” section, where you get to test how your construction would survive should it be hit by a natural disaster. It illustrates the crux of the show – to teach children through play.

“The secret message behind Bricktionary is that failure is OK. In the real world that may not be the case, in the Lego world you can make as many mistakes as you like and you get unlimited do-overs,” he says. “That’s our secret message: if you want to build a bridge and it keeps falling over, the next time, you’ll build it better.”

Lego Masters, the top-rating TV show that launched Brickman into the public consciousness, starts filming again next week for the 2023 season, plus a Christmas special. Before the show launched on Nine (the owner of this masthead) in 2019, McNaught admits to having a few reservations. “I don’t want to speak ill of my television cousins but let’s be honest, reality television has got a pretty bad rap at times.”

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As well as the dedication and enthusiasm of the contestants, part of the show’s charm is the natural chemistry between McNaught and host Hamish Blake. “I’d never met Hamish before, as it turns out we have very similar hobbies, interests, similar senses of humour. His professionalism just made it easy, he’s such a pro and such a natural, it’s disarming.”

Interestingly, the program is not scripted. “We don’t have a script at all. Obviously a lot of stuff gets left on the cutting room floor, but we forget that cameras are rolling. We have points we want to hit but we don’t write what we’re going to say.”

The Bendigo- and Shepparton-raised McNaught has another book, Brickman’s Big Book of Better Builds, coming out in November. Aimed at Lego fans, he describes it as a how-to guide to winning Lego Masters.

His favourite Lego moment is hearing about David Aguilar, the Andorran teen with only one arm – who calls himself Hand Solo – who made himself a prosthetic arm from Lego.

Speaking about what inspired his love of the 90-year-old Danish toy, McNaught says he has fond childhood memories of sitting at his grandfather’s feet in suburban Melbourne, on a cold and rainy day, playing with Lego and feeling contented, secure and loved. That recollection is part of why many adults have an enduring interest in the little bricks capable of big things, he says. “There’s the desire to create that for the next generation.”

Sadly, he can’t offer any quick fix to the age-old problem of stepping on Lego: be neat or wear boots, he says.

Bricktionary: The Interactive Exhibition is at Melbourne Museum from September 3 - January 29, 2023.

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