Tejal Somvanshi
A new Netflix drama has brought attention to what the streaming service describes as “one of the UK’s biggest environmental scandals.” “Toxic Town,” starring Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood, tells the story of mothers in Corby, Northamptonshire who fought for justice after their children were born with birth defects linked to toxic waste from a demolished steelwork.
The Real-Life Environmental Battle
In 1980, Corby Steelworks closed, leaving thousands unemployed in the small Northamptonshire town where once about 10,000 people worked in steel production. The closure marked the beginning of a regeneration project that would have devastating consequences for local families.
During the redevelopment, millions of tonnes of contaminated waste were moved from the former steelworks to Deene Quarry on the town’s outskirts. The land reclamation project, funded by government and European grants, aimed to transform the industrial site into housing and a theme park.
Years later, an alarming pattern emerged when mothers living near the reclamation site gave birth to children with upper limb deformities. While a 1999 Northamptonshire Health Authority study found no unusual cluster of birth defects, solicitor Des Collins conducted his own investigation with startling results.
“It revealed birth defects in Corby were three times higher than in the surrounding area,” Collins discovered. His team of experts, including toxicologists and pollution specialists, argued that the council’s mismanagement of toxic waste had spread contaminated dust throughout the town.
The heavy metal cadmium was identified on the former steel site, with medical experts citing research linking it to birth defects in animals. The families’ legal battle culminated in a landmark ruling in 2009 when Justice Akenhead found in favor of the claimants.
The victory marked the first time a UK court recognized that airborne pollutants could harm unborn babies. Though Corby Borough Council disputed the verdict and prepared an appeal, they ultimately reached a private settlement with the families in 2010.
Bringing the Story to Screen
The four-part Netflix series features an ensemble cast led by former Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker as Susan McIntyre, with Sex Education’s Aimee Lou Wood as Tracey Taylor and Bridgerton’s Claudia Jessie as Maggie Mahon – all portraying real mothers who fought the case.
The Diplomat’s Rory Kinnear plays solicitor Des Collins, while The Full Monty’s Robert Carlyle portrays Sam Hagen, a then-Corby Borough Councillor. Downton Abbey’s Brendan Coyle, who was born in Corby, stars as Roy Thomas, a fictional amalgam of several people from the authority.
Jack Thorne, known for His Dark Materials and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, wrote the series. Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, Thorne explained his motivation: “It felt like this incredibly and shameful thing happened and I had no idea it happened. Bringing attention to that, not just for Corby, but the implication for every single one of us, felt an important thing for TV to do.”
Thorne noted that the “hardest bit” was deciding which mothers to focus on in the drama as all “deserve attention.”
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Critical Reception
Critics have praised the series for its powerful performances and storytelling. Jodie Whittaker has been described as “obviously award-worthy” in her portrayal of Susan McIntyre, while Aimee Lou Wood has been equally lauded for her performance as Tracey Taylor.
One of review notes that despite the distressing facts of the case, “Toxic Town” ultimately becomes “a bittersweet feel good piece” in the tradition of British films like “Pride,” “Brassed Off,” and “The Full Monty,” where ordinary people in deindustrialized towns score victories by supporting each other.
The show has been recognized for its careful portrayal of the emotional journey undergone by parents of disabled children, as they “fight the instinct to believe that they are at fault and try to improve their children’s lives without treating them as a problem.”
Impact on Corby
For many in Corby, including actors involved in the production, the Netflix series shines a light on a story that has remained largely unknown outside the town.
Brendan Coyle, who was born in Corby, admitted he had been unaware of the scandal but said there was excitement in his hometown to see it told to the world. “One of the mothers has been in touch… It’s kind of the talk of the town. People are excited about it,” he said.
“For them, the mothers and these children, to have their story told… it’s amazing. It’s something that’s been buried for a long time in terms of people’s perception.”
Tracey Taylor, whose daughter Shelby died at four days old, told the BBC: “I don’t think the people of Corby realise just how much they have been affected by this. Hopefully, they will now, and hopefully, they’ll see why us mothers had to stand strong and do it.”
Maggie Mahon, whose son was born with a club foot, described seeing the show as “emotional.”
A Platform for Awareness
Rory Kinnear, who plays solicitor Des Collins, believes the Netflix platform will help bring wider attention to the case. “As the sibling of a disabled person myself, one is well aware that they are not at the forefront of public interest,” he said.
“What excites me about this is, not just the story itself, but the fact Netflix are doing it and it’s a departure for them to do a four-part series like this of this subject matter.
“You could well imagine this being on late on BBC2 or Channel 4, and 250,000 loved it and watched it, but it doesn’t have any impact. I think Netflix’s ambition with it is to make sure it’s something everybody watches, talks about and is made aware of.”
For those interested in learning more about the real-life case, BBC Radio Northampton has produced an eight-part documentary series called “In Detail: The Toxic Waste Scandal.” The podcast features 32-year-old George Taylor, who was born in 1992 with a unilateral upper limb defect, as he investigates what happened in his hometown.
“I’ve never had the chance to really understand what happened in Corby that left us kids the way we are,” said George. “Even if people know this story – I think they’ll be surprised by what we found. It’s been an eye-opener.”
Frequently Asked Questions
“Toxic Town” is a four-part Netflix drama that tells the true story of mothers in Corby, Northamptonshire (UK) who fought for justice after their children were born with birth defects. These birth defects were linked to toxic waste from a demolished steelworks. The series stars Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood and is based on what Netflix describes as “one of the UK’s biggest environmental scandals.”
After the Corby Steelworks closed in 1980, the town began a regeneration project that involved moving millions of tonnes of contaminated waste from the former steelworks to a quarry on the town’s outskirts. Years later, an alarming pattern emerged when mothers living near the reclamation site gave birth to children with upper limb deformities. In 2009, a landmark ruling found that Corby Borough Council’s mismanagement of toxic waste had caused birth defects in children. This was the first time a UK court recognized that airborne pollutants could harm unborn babies.
The series features an impressive ensemble cast including:
• Jodie Whittaker (former Doctor Who) as Susan McIntyre
• Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) as Tracey Taylor
• Claudia Jessie (Bridgerton) as Maggie Mahon
• Rory Kinnear (The Diplomat) as solicitor Des Collins
• Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) as Sam Hagen
• Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) as Roy Thomas
The series was written by Jack Thorne, known for His Dark Materials and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Yes, “Toxic Town” is based on real events that occurred in Corby, Northamptonshire. The drama portrays the true story of mothers who fought for justice after their children were born with birth defects linked to the mishandling of toxic waste during the redevelopment of a former steelworks site. The case culminated in a landmark ruling in 2009 and a settlement with the families in 2010. The characters in the show represent real people who were involved in this environmental battle, though some characters are composite characters created for dramatic purposes.
Solicitor Des Collins conducted an investigation that revealed birth defects in Corby were three times higher than in the surrounding area. His team of experts, including toxicologists and pollution specialists, argued that the council’s mismanagement of toxic waste had spread contaminated dust throughout the town. The heavy metal cadmium was identified on the former steel site, with medical experts citing research linking it to birth defects in animals. The court ultimately found in favor of the claimants, establishing a link between the council’s negligent handling of the waste and the children’s birth defects.
For those interested in learning more about the real-life case, BBC Radio Northampton has produced an eight-part documentary series called “In Detail: The Toxic Waste Scandal.” The podcast features 32-year-old George Taylor, who was born in 1992 with a unilateral upper limb defect, as he investigates what happened in his hometown. Additionally, the Netflix series itself provides a dramatized but informative account of the events, bringing this important environmental and public health story to a wider audience.
