Netflix is set to release Toxic Town, a gripping new drama highlighting one of the UK’s largest environmental scandals, which left families devastated due to toxic waste mismanagement. Scheduled to premiere on February 27, 2023, the series stars Jodie Whittaker, best known for her role as the Doctor on Doctor Who, as she portrays Susan McIntyre, one of the mothers central to the true story.
The series is inspired by the Corby poisonings, which occurred between 1984 and 1999, when the Corby Borough Council undertook the demolition and redevelopment of the former Stewarts & Lloyds steelworks site. This operation led to the release of toxic sludge and dust across the town, which has been linked to birth defects among the children born during the cleanup period.
Whittaker takes the lead role as Susan McIntyre, whose son, Connor, was born with significant limb deformities. “His entire life has been pain, and it wasn’t his fault,” she says, encapsulating the heartache faced by families like hers. The storyline follows McIntyre and other mothers as they engage in what has been compared to David and Goliath—a battle for justice against powerful institutional negligence.
Alongside Whittaker, the cast of Toxic Town includes Aimee Lou Wood as Tracey Taylor, Claudia Jessie as Maggie Mahon, and Robert Carlyle portraying key figures from the tumultuous saga. These talents bring depth to the story, which explores not only the devastating health effects of the toxic waste but the relentless fight of the mothers against the local council.
“These lionesses were incredible,” Whittaker remarks about her character and the other mothers involved. Its portrayal of resilience has critics dubbing Toxic Town the “British Erin Brockovich,” solidifying its commitment to telling this urgent narrative. The mothers were not entrenched legal experts, yet they took on the council with unwavering conviction.
Backtracking to the roots of the scandal, the trouble began with the Corby Borough Council's decision to manage the cleanup of what was left of the old steelworks. Open lorries transported toxic sludge through the town's streets from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. During this time, dust from the drying sludge would coat everything, leading to reduced air quality and serious public health risks, particularly for the pregnant women breathing it in.
Tracy Taylor, another mother affected by the toxic exposure, vividly recalls the disastrous conditions, stating, “It was like the Sahara Desert had done a great big whoosh over.” Missed opportunities for protecting public health became glaringly apparent, as investigations revealed various contaminants, including arsenic and cadmium, were exposed to residents.
After years of struggle and tragedy, 19 babies were reported to have been born with limb differences, far higher than the national average. The mothers faced numerous challenges trying to prove there was direct causation between the toxic waste and the birth defects. “I asked the doctor why it had happened,” says McIntyre, questioning the coincidences of the deformities among mothers who had lived within the vicinity of the cleanup.
Facing numerous hurdles, the case did not go to trial until 2009. A key breakthrough came from whistleblower revelations about safety regulations being ignored during the cleanup process. Des Collins, the lawyer representing the mothers, discovers internal documents detailing negligence by the council. He likens the situation to something straight out of fiction, reflecting the surreal nature of the evidence.
After extensive legal battles, the mothers were awarded £14.6 million and issued apologies from the council, who remained adamant about their lack of wrongdoing. “I don’t think Corby Council has anything to regret,” said former council leader Kelvin Glendenning, expressing complete denial about the situation’s gravity even after the ruling.
With Toxic Town, Netflix captures not only the legal struggle but also the human experiences behind the courtroom drama. It threads together the resilience of the community, particularly the powerful love of mothers fighting against overwhelming odds. The narrative sheds light on issues of environmental justice, where the consequences of negligence can alter lives irrevocably.
The series promises to be compelling, compelling viewers to reflect on current environmental governance and the importance of community vigilance. It connects the past to modern-day discussions surrounding environmental health, as Jodie Whittaker powerfully summarizes, “A story is never finished if it’s still having an impact.” Audiences will surely find both entertainment and meaning when Toxic Town hits the small screen.