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28th January 2021
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Ideal Standard factory at Armitage stars in new BBC children's programme about toilets
A new television programme featuring bathroom manufacturer Ideal Standard's Armitage factory in Staffordshire aired on Wednesday.
The new show called 'Do You Know?' is on BBC's CBeebies channel and features a behind-the-scenes look at how a toilet is made at what is the UK's only major remaining bathroom sanitaryware manufacturing plant, which is located on Old Road in the village of Armitage near Rugeley in Staffordshire.
The new programme is hosted by Maddie Moate, a UK based YouTuber and television presenter, who rose to fame with her educational content - and has amassed over eight million views on her YouTube films across multiple science and technology channels.
In this new series for CBeebies, the BBC's channel aimed at children aged eight or under, Maddie explores how everyday objects work and are made, helping views to better understand the world around us.
The episode featuring Ideal Standard was filmed in Armitage during the Spring and follows the entire process of how a ceramic toilet is manufactured - from raw material to casting, glazing, through the kiln drying and packaging.
Employing around 500 people, the Armitage Shanks factory originally opened in 1817 and produces over 1,500 toilets per day, along with other high quality bathroom ceramics, including basins and bidets, which are sold across the UK and exported globally.
Jenny Smith, media relations manager at Ideal Standard, says of the experience: "As the UK's only remaining major sanitaryware manufacturer we were delighted to welcome Maddie and CBeebies into our historic Armitage factory for this new show to help young children understand the skill and expertise that goes into making an the everyday item familiar to everyone that is the humble toilet.
"Maddie was lovely and it was great for the business and all the factory colleagues to be involved in something that showcases a behind-the-scenes look at how high-quality bathroom products are made here in UK, in the Midlands."
'Do You Know?' can be viewed on the BBC iPlayer, where it will be available for 26 days:
23rd September 2016