Lego X Factor: Master model builder wins job

Legoland Discovery Centre has filled the post of master model builder at its new centre in Manchester after holding X Factor-style auditions to find the most talented amatuer Lego builder around.

Postman Alex Bidolak, aged 25 from Oldham, won the coveted job after coming top in two gruelling rounds of the “Brick Factor” competition judged by six-year-old George Brown, 12-year-old Josh McNelly, model building expert Marcel Kloos, and a host of local children.

“This is the toughest job interview I have ever had, but it has all been worth it as now I get to play with Lego all day long!” Bidolak said.

Eight contestants took part in the finals going head-to-head to produce animal models in under fifteen minutes. They produced a range of creatures from birds through to whales.

Alex’s model of a goose impressed the judges most. He said he had been inspired by being attacked by a goose during his postal rounds that week which he saw as “a good omen”.

For the second round the contestants had to make portraits of celebrities in under an hour. The judges’ attention was caught by impressive models of author Terry Pratchett, The Stone Roses singer Ian Brown and Homer Simpson, but Alex’s sculpture of footballer Ryan Giggs won the day.

Alex will start his new job on the 4th January, three months before the Discovery Centre is due to open in March 2010, and will perfect his skills creating seasonal models and repairing existing ones.