Channel 4's Dirty Business: A Fact-Based Drama on Water Pollution
Channel 4 has launched a compelling new three-part drama series titled Dirty Business, which will air over three consecutive nights this week. The series features acclaimed actors David Thewlis, known for his role in Harry Potter, and Jason Watkins, star of The Crown, in leading roles. This hard-hitting drama delves into a decade-long investigation into England's water companies, drawing comparisons to ITV's impactful series Mr Bates vs the Post Office.
Inspired by Real Events
Dirty Business is explicitly based on a true story, with its creators labelling it as a "fact-based drama", though certain elements have been fictionalised for narrative purposes. The series follows the story of whistleblowers and victims whose lives were devastated by sewage-polluted water, incorporating real-life footage of sewage-filled rivers, beaches covered in waste, and dead fish throughout its episodes.
The plot centres on two characters: Ash Smith, played by David Thewlis, a retired detective, and Peter Hammond, portrayed by Jason Watkins, an Oxford professor. Their investigation begins in Oxfordshire when they contact their water company about a dead fish in the local River Windrush. As they dig deeper, they discover that many fish are dying due to sewage contamination, prompting them to establish the organisation Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (Wasp).
A Tragic Historical Timeline
The drama interweaves two timelines. Alongside Ash and Peter's modern-day investigation, it revisits a heartbreaking event from 1999. Eight-year-old Heather Preen died after contracting an aggressive strain of E coli while playing on a beach in Devon during a family holiday. She developed severe diarrhoea, began bleeding from her rectum, and passed away in hospital within two weeks of the trip.
During Heather's inquest, it was confirmed that no definitive source of infection was established. The jury returned a verdict of misadventure, noting that E coli O157 is bacteria commonly carried by animals like dogs and cattle. This tragic case underscores the series' exploration of water pollution's human cost.
Whistleblowers and Investigations
Ash and Peter's organisation, Wasp, utilises Freedom of Information requests and information from whistleblowers within sewage plants to uncover systemic issues. The series also features actor Asim Chaudhry as Mickey, a whistleblowing sewage plant worker, highlighting the role of insiders in exposing wrongdoing.
Ahead of the series' release, a South West Water spokesman commented on the historical context, stating: "Despite the thorough and intensive nature of the investigation, no sufficient evidence was found linking the illness to storm overflow activity or bathing water quality. The circumstances of wastewater infrastructure and regulation in the late 1990s were very different from today." The spokesman also mentioned significant investments made since then, such as the Clean Sweep programme.
Family Involvement and Emotional Impact
Heather's mother, Julie Maghan, was consulted for the drama. Initially reluctant, she agreed to assist, telling The Guardian: "I've always said it was like a bomb had gone off under our family. This little girl, just playing, doing her nutty stuff on an English beach. And that was the price. I didn't know if I could go back into that world. But I'm glad I have." Her involvement adds a layer of authenticity and emotional depth to the series.
Dirty Business is now available to watch on Channel 4, offering a powerful dramatisation of environmental negligence and the fight for justice, resonating with contemporary concerns about water quality and corporate accountability.
