The town of Corby, located in Northamptonshire, was once a beacon of industrial might, famed for its expansive steelworks that attracted thousands of workers, many hailing from Scotland. However, the landscape of Corby changed drastically in the 1980s when the steelworks shut down. By 1997, Corby Borough Council made the controversial decision to demolish the site, a process that involved transporting truckloads of toxic waste through the town, inadvertently spreading hazardous contaminants for miles around.
This may seem like a mundane backdrop for a Netflix drama, but Toxic Town is penned by the renowned Jack Thorne, a master of weaving social justice narratives. Thus, what unfolds is not merely a tale of environmental degradation, but a harrowing exploration of its human cost. The toxic waste transformed into dust, which residents of Corby—particularly pregnant women—unknowingly inhaled, leading to catastrophic consequences. Many babies were born with limb differences, and tragically, some did not survive.
At the heart of the story is Susan, portrayed by Jodie Whittaker, a spirited woman with a penchant for poor romantic choices. During her pregnancy, she resolves to give up drinking, smoking, and her antidepressants, commonly referred to as “happy pills,” to prioritize her unborn child’s health. Yet, when her son Connor arrives with underdeveloped fingers, Susan spirals into self-blame. His early life becomes a series of hospital visits, painful surgeries, and the cruel taunts of playground bullies.
As Susan begins to notice a pattern of limb differences among other children in Corby, she suspects that there must be a larger, underlying issue at play. A fateful encounter with Tracey (played by Aimee Lou Wood), a woman she shared a maternity ward with, reveals that Tracey’s daughter, Shelby, tragically passed away shortly after birth. The two mothers unite and enlist the help of a lawyer, Des (Rory Kinnear), to investigate whether they have a case against the council—and ultimately, to seek justice.
Meanwhile, tensions rise within the council’s offices. Ted (Stephen McMillan), a young go-getter whose father is suffering from the long-term effects of working as a foreman in the steelworks, begins to notice alarming discrepancies in the demolition operations. When he attempts to raise concerns with the council’s lead councillor, Roy Thomas (a composite character played by Brendan Coyle, a Corby native), he is met with indifference and dismissal.
Though Toxic Town comprises just four episodes, it expertly delves into the profound injustice and indignity faced by these courageous mothers and their children. Whittaker’s portrayal of Susan is nothing short of remarkable; she oscillates between humor and fierce advocacy for what is right, embodying the emotional core of the series. Alongside her, Wood and Bridgerton star Claudia Jessie, who plays Maggie—a mother grappling with her own child’s limb difference while navigating her husband’s work at the demolition site—deliver performances that add depth and poignancy to the narrative. Their compelling portrayals evoke tears, transforming what could have been a standard legal drama into a deeply affecting human story.
For those familiar with the true events, it’s known that the court ultimately ruled in favor of the mothers, and in 2010, Corby Borough Council settled the case for a staggering £14.6 million. However, the meticulously crafted tension throughout Thorne’s narrative ensures that viewers remain on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Watching Toxic Town should be considered essential viewing. It serves as a chilling testament to civil negligence that every citizen in the UK should be aware of, particularly given that the closing credits reveal that approximately 1,287 landfill sites across the country contain hazardous waste, with at least four of them situated beneath schools. Last year’s Mr. Bates vs the Post Office illustrated the potential for television to ignite public outrage, and Toxic Town possesses the power to do the same.
Toxic Town is currently streaming on Netflix.
