How It's Made

The programme examines the production processes of ordinary objects by scrutinising them under a microscope. Items such as asphalt pavers and traditional Basque espadrilles are subject to detailed analysis, revealing the hidden complexities of their manufacture through scientific imaging and technical review.

Petanque Balls/Biologic Medicines is a programme presented as a single episode. It falls within the broader genre of documentary‑style broadcasting, offering viewers a close‑up look at the hidden workings behind objects we normally take for granted. The series title hints at a blend of seemingly unrelated subjects, yet the episode maintains a clear focus on the material world and how it’s assembled. In this particular instalment, the production turns its lens toward the everyday, putting ordinary items under a literal and figurative microscope. Viewers are taken through the step‑by‑step creation of things such as asphalt pavers – the heavy, road‑building blocks that keep our streets smooth – and Basque espadrilles, the traditional footwear known for their woven soles. By dissecting the manufacturing stages, the episode shows how raw materials are transformed into finished products, highlighting the techniques and machinery involved. The episode doesn’t stop at those two examples; it signals that a wider range of commonplace goods are also being examined. Each segment peels back another layer of the production chain, revealing the intricate processes that lie behind the items we use daily. Through this systematic analysis, the programme invites the audience to appreciate the complexity hidden in the simple things that surround us, offering a detailed look at how the mundane is, in fact, anything but ordinary.