Everything we know About Toxic Town – Unveiling the true Story of the Corby Poisonings

Toxic Town, Netflix’s upcoming drama, is quickly becoming a must-watch as the series sheds light on one of the UK’s most shocking environmental scandals. Recently, the platform dropped a trailer that reveals just a glimpse of the heart-wrenching journey the characters will face. 

This limited series follows a group of mothers who embark on a David vs. Goliath fight for justice after their children are born with severe disabilities linked to toxic waste mismanagement in the town. The show delves into the years-long battle that ultimately uncovers a terrible truth.

With its stellar cast and the emotional weight of the story, Toxic Town is set to make a significant impact. Stay tuned as we continue to uncover more details about this intense drama. You won’t want to miss the twists and turns that await in this incredible story, so keep an eye on this space for all the latest updates.

Release date & Where to Watch

The four-part series is set to debut on Netflix on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

What is Toxic Town About?

Toxic Town is based on one of the UK’s most significant environmental scandals—the Corby poisonings. The series is inspired by the real-life legal battle that unfolded after toxic waste was improperly managed in Corby between 1984 and 1999. The toxic waste left a ghastly legacy, leading to a significant number of children being born with deformities such as missing limbs, underdeveloped fingers, and deformed feet. These birth defects were linked to the way the council had handled waste disposal.

Creator and writer Jack Thorne explained, “The Corby Toxic Waste Case is one of those moments in history that is defining. It showed our ability to close our eyes and ears to the safety of our people. It also showed the remarkable way that people will fight for what's right. Toxic Town tells the story of these funny, brave, incredible women and the way they scrapped for their children.” (via whattowatch)

He was also inspired by the mothers’ commitment, revealing in an interview with Tudum, “There’s just so much internalized blame that these women obviously had [to deal with]. But they were able to ‘collectively join together and work to actually empower not just themselves and their children, living or dead, but a whole community.”

“It was just so incredible to see and to see how it affected other parts of their life,” Thorne continued. “It’s not just this simple hero’s journey of women banding together and fighting the man and getting this court victory. There’s nothing simple about it at all. You see where their power comes from, which is really just in the most basic level of humanity that they show for each other.”

Toxic Town showcases the bravery, resilience, and emotional journey of these women, giving viewers a glimpse into the incredible struggle for justice in a small town affected by one of the UK’s largest environmental disasters.

Who’s Starring in Toxic Town?

• Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Black Mirror) as Susan McIntyre (Susan feels guilty when her second child, Connor, is born with a hand deformity. However, after discovering other similar cases, she takes the lead in the fight for justice)

“You see these young mothers and their emotional journey and the toll the pursuit of the truth takes on them. What struck me most is that I’d never heard of this story before. But I wanted to pay tribute to this group of women, who had to fight so hard for justice. They didn't give up despite how long it took and how heartbreaking the fight was,” Jodie Whittaker shared about playing Susan. (via whattowatch)

She added, "The first thing you see in the description in the script is that even though she’s from Corby, she’s got a Scottish accent. Corby has a strong Scottish contingency from all the steel workers who migrated down there in the 1930s. I've lived in London for 22 years and I still sound like I've just come off t’train, so I understand it, but Susan has got a really thick Glaswegian accent."

• Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education, The White Lotus) as Tracey Taylor (After the death of her newborn daughter Shelby due to developmental defects, Tracey teams up with Susan to challenge the council's negligence.)
• Claudia Jessie (Bridgerton) as Maggie Mahon (Maggie’s son Samuel is born with a deformed foot, but her husband, a driver for the council contractor, fears losing his job if she joins the fight for justice.)
• Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) as Sam Hagen (A local councillor whose pursuit of truth becomes crucial for the mothers as the Corby case moves to court.)
• Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) as Roy Thomas (The council leader, desperate to revitalize Corby, is willing to do whatever it takes, including disregarding the truth.)
• Rory Kinnear (The Diplomat) as Des Collins (A determined lawyer who continues to fight for justice in the case, even when critical evidence is lost in a fire.)

"Des is originally from Corby and he understands what coming from that area does to you in terms of your psyche. Also his background as a lawyer comes from holding powerful companies to account for the things they've done wrong. The energy, the fire and the passion come from Susan and the other mothers, but Des is there to unpick a particularly difficult lock,” Rory Kinnear said about playing Des.

• Karla Crome (Carnival Row) as Pattie (Barmaid Pattie's baby is born with hand deformities, and her testimony plays a crucial role in the case against the council.)
• Stephen McMillan (Boiling Point) as Ted
• Lauren Lyle (Outlander)
• Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones, Get Millie Black) as Derek
• Michael Socha (This Is England) as Peter
• Matthew Durkan as Marc Taylor
• Simon Harrison as Mick Palmer
• Frank Bourke as Tony Cox
• Toby Eden as Connor
• Steven Elder as David Wilby
• Lindsay Bennett-Thompson as Dr. Louise Parker
• Ravi Multani as Pub Goer
• Andy M Milligan as Workman

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Are the Characters in Toxic Town Based on real People?

Yes, some of the characters in Toxic Town are based on real people. The mothers in the case, including Susan, Tracy, and Maggie, are all real individuals involved in the fight for justice. However, the character of Roy Thomas, the head of the council, is an "amalgamation" of various people and perspectives from the council at the time.

Sam Hagen, the whistleblower who leaked the crucial files, is also a real person, and he sadly passed away in 2020. The council leaders, Pat Miller and Bill Martin, are fictional characters. (via Leicestershire Live)

Is There a Trailer for Toxic Town?

In the official trailer for Toxic Town, we witness a poignant scene where Jodie Whittaker's character, Susan McIntyre, reflects on the challenges faced by mothers in their fight for justice. She poignantly states, "This is what mothers do, we blame ourselves." 

The trailer also features the empowering anthem "I Will Survive," underscoring the resilience and determination of the mothers as they confront the toxic waste scandal affecting their community. Additionally, the trailer introduces Tracey Taylor, portrayed by Aimee Lou Wood, who shares her personal experience: "Didn't drink. Didn't smoke. Sometimes children are just born different." 

These insights from the trailer highlight the emotional depth and the unwavering spirit of the characters as they navigate the challenges of seeking justice in the face of adversity. For a visual glimpse into the series, you can watch the official trailer below:

Is Toxic Town Based on a true Story?

Yes, Toxic Town is based on the true story of the Corby poisonings, where a group of mothers fought Corby Borough Council over the alleged mismanagement of toxic waste at a steelworks site. 

After the Stewarts & Lloyds site closed in 1981, the council began a 15-year process to clear the site, during which toxic chemicals were spread across populated areas. This led to a significant rise in birth defects, with children born with upper-limb differences, believed to be caused by their mothers' exposure to the toxic waste during pregnancy.

The families of 19 children, all born with upper limb defects over the same 15-year period, took the council to court, and in 2009, the High Court ruled that the council had been negligent in its management of the waste. This ruling marked the first time a UK court recognized a direct link between industrial pollution and birth defects. (via Glamour Magazine)

As Thorne told Tudum, "The more you look into it, the more complicated it all becomes. I’ve done legal dramas before, but this one... being taken through the actual truth of it and seeing the journey that they had to go on in order to prove this, I found very surprising and shocking." He also described the story as "a genuinely working-class story," emphasizing the resilience of people outside the system fighting for what they deserved. 

What has the Writer Jack Thorne said About the cast of Toxic Town?

Writer Jack Thorne describes the cast as "a company of dreams," expressing his amazement at having such talented individuals involved in the story. He added, "I couldn’t believe that we were able to get these people, and that they were prepared to be part of this story. And boy, did they all deliver.” (via Tudum)

Regarding the performances, Thorne highlighted Robert Carlyle’s transformation, saying, "[Robert Carlyle] just transformed himself." He also praised Jodie Whittaker for her portrayal of one of the mothers at the heart of the case, saying, "Jodie [Whittaker, as one of the mothers at the center of the case] similarly … I’ve never seen her do anything like this, sort of finding that chaos and that truth and that bravery that Susan has got." 

Thorne continues to praise Aimee Lou Wood’s performance for its "quietness and that tragedy," noting how each cast member brought something new to the role that he had never seen before. "When you’re with a cast that’s doing that consistently, it’s so exciting to watch and it’s so beautiful." 

What has the cast of Toxic Town said About the Poisoning Scandal?

Speaking to Radio Times, Jodie Whittaker shared her perspective on the scandal and the series. "These lionesses were incredible," she said. "They had their cubs in their mouths, and however long it took, they carried them to the finish line."

Whittaker added, "They weren't lawyers but they knew that they were right. Had the council been the ones fighting for justice, they might have had a bigger headline." She further remarked, "A story is never finished if it's still having an impact. Lessons haven't been learnt, unfortunately water companies are being fined for dumping sewage and major buildings and housing projects have been built over reclamation sites."

Whittaker further added, "You hope the containment is there, but we have no sense of whether there's going to be a disaster down the line." Whittaker added that she hopes Toxic Town will show the people in Susan's life – and indeed, the wider public – "what she went through" and "shine a light on the fight, and her grace and integrity".

Rory Kinnear shared, "I hadn't heard anything about this story before. Obviously it was in the press at the time, but it’s interesting to know why it hadn't been given more coverage or why it hadn't landed more in the national consciousness. I think a lot of the other actors would say that they hadn't heard the story before either.” (via whattowatch)

Filming & Production Details

Production on Toxic Town began under an Equity union contract, which meant it fell outside the 2023 actors' strike. Principal photography kicked off in September 2023, with filming primarily taking place in Breightmet, Bolton. Additional locations included Stockport, Holmfirth, Liverpool, and Manchester.

Behind the Scenes

Toxic Town is an upcoming British drama miniseries penned by acclaimed writer Jack Thorne. It is directed by Minkie Spiro, with Amy Trigg co-writing episode three. The miniseries brings together a talented team, including executive producers Annabel Jones, Minkie Spiro, and Jack Thorne, as well as Delyth Scudamore and Patricia Tookey-Dickson as producers. Broke & Bones is the production company behind it.

In an interview with Tudum, Jack Thorne reflected on the compelling drama of the story, saying, “I didn’t know the story… until it was brought to me by [my co-executive producers Annabel Jones and Charlie Brooker].” He found the unfolding events perfectly suited to the structure of a TV series. 

Thorne also shared, “It has been a true privilege working with Annabel, Minkie, Delyth and the whole Broke & Bones family on this incredible story, and we are so grateful to Netflix for giving us the opportunity and support in telling it." (via whattowatch)