Dirty Business | Preview (Channel 4)

Based on a decade-long investigation into England’s water companies, and telling the real stories of whistleblowers and victims who believe their lives have been destroyed after encountering sewage-polluted water, Dirty Business is a major new factual drama investigating one of the biggest potential corporate scandals in British history.

Dirty Business follows the story of two unlikely detectives, who notice that the fish in the river running through their idyllic Oxfordshire hamlet are dying. They contact their water company to find out why, and the company’s strange and evasive reply sparks an investigation that remains ongoing to this day.

David Thewlis plays Ash – a concerned citizen, and former police detective, of a small town in Oxfordshire who notices that his local river is becoming increasingly polluted. 

Ash teams up with his neighbour Peter, played by Jason Watkins. Peter is a Professor of Computational Biology who uses his scientific rigor and investigative skills to establish that their local sewage works is not treating sewage correctly, subsequently and frequently dumping raw, untreated sewage into local waterways. 

Asim Chaudhry also features as whistleblowing sewage plant worker Mickey. Burdened by the inefficiency and neglect by the water company he works for, he partners with Ash and Peter to supply information on critical failures from the inside. 

Dirty Business also follows the true story of the Preen family, wracked by grief when their 8-year-old daughter Heather dies after contracting e-coli 0157. Heather had been playing on a beach where days earlier a nearby storm pipe had discharged into the sea.

The Preens believe Heather’s death was the result of her coming into contact with the raw sewage. It also follows the story of young surfer Reuben who believes his chronic illness, Meniere’s disease, is as a result of surfing in polluted water, changing his life forever.

David Thewlis said: “What shocked me about this story was just how much has been allowed to go unchecked - two ordinary men uncovering negligence, illegal pollution, and corporate indifference that should never have been tolerated. Being a part of this series has been a chance to channel the anger and frustration so many feel about what’s been done to our rivers and communities, and to show the courage it takes to stand up and demand accountability.”

Jason Watkins said: “I wanted to be part of this series because of how human and grounded the story is - it’s told through ordinary people who refuse to look away when something isn’t right. Dirty Business captures the quiet determination it takes to stand up to a system far bigger than the individual, and shining a light on the real human cost of environmental damage and corporate neglect felt both urgent and important to be part of.”

Asim Chaudhry said: “What drew me to this role was the courage it takes to speak out when a system is failing. There’s anger, frustration, and a deep sense of responsibility in the character, and I wanted to bring to life the human side of standing up for what’s right, even if there’s a risk it might come at a personal cost.” 

Other cast include: Posy Sterling, Tom McKay, Jon Culshaw, Vicky Pepperdine, Craig Parkinson, Charlotte Ritchie, Chanel Cresswell, Lucia Keskin, Alex Jennings.

Dirty Business begins Tuesday 24th February at 9pm on Channel 4.