Toxic Town, a new four-part drama has just dropped on Netflix, and it covers the incredible true story of a group of mothers who, according to the streaming giant, fought ‘a David and Goliath battle for justice.’
The show stars former Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker as Susan McIntyre. She is joined by Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood as Tracey Taylor and Bridgerton's Claudia Jessie as Maggie Mahon— all of whom are based on real mothers who fought the court case.
What is the story behind Toxic Town?
The show is based on a story that dates back to 1980, when due to Britain’s deindustrialization, Corby's steelworks — which employed over 10,000 people‚ shut its doors. It was decided that the site would be redeveloped into housing and a theme park. As a result, millions of tonnes of contaminated waste were transported to Deene Quarry, located on the outskirts of Corby.
In the 80s and 90s, concerns were raised after multiple mothers gave birth to children with deformities. By the end of 1999, eight separate families had come forward about their children’s health issues, leading solicitor Des Collins to contact the media and ask for an appeal.
The following year, a report commissioned by the Northamptonshire Health Authority deemed that the number of deformities in Corby was the same as the national average. However, the families were undeterred, and the following year lodged a case with the high court.
In 2006, four families lodged cases asking for £150,000 compensation, and after several more legal battles, the case finally opened in 2009, with nineteen children now part of the class action.
One day in court, prosecuting barrister David Wilby QC likened living in Corby to being in an ‘atmospheric toxic soup.’
Finally, at the end of a three-month trial, on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, Judge Akenhead deemed Corby Council ‘liable in negligence’ and having ‘breached its statutory duty’.
He asserted that contaminants that were present on the Corby Council sites had in fact caused birth defects affecting the hands and feet of the children who raised the case. The judge ruled, ‘There was an extended period between 1983 and August 1997 in which Corby Council was extensively negligent in its control and management of the sites which they acquired from British Steel and otherwise used.
‘That negligence… led to the extensive dispersal of contaminated mud and dust over public areas of Corby and into and over private homes, with the result that the contaminants could realistically have caused the types of birth defects of which complaint has been made by the claimants.’
Council chief executive Chris Mallender initially refused to apologise, and said the council would look try to appeal. However, they eventually agreed to pay compensation to the affected families.
Who stars in Toxic Families?
Jodie Whittaker stars as Susan McIntyre, a mother whose son, Connor, was affected by the contaminated materials. On the maternity ward, she meets Tracey Taylor, played by Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education, The White Lotus), and the pair become fast friends.
Bridgerton's Claudia Jessie plays Maggie Mahon a woman whose husband works on the former steelworks site. Every day she cleans his clothes, which are caked in dirt, but doesn't realise the impact it would have on her pregnancy, later resulting in her son's club foot.
Also starring is The Diplomat's Rory Kinnear as Des Collins, the solicitor who took on the case. Robert Carlyle, best known for The Full Monty, Trainspotting and Once Upon a Time plays Sam Hagen, a then-Corby Borough Councillor and a whistle-blower who was vital to the success of the case. Downton Abbey's Brendan Coyle appears as Roy Thomas, a fictional character who represents multiple people of authority.
Have the real families seen the show?
Jodie Whittaker revealed that the real-life mothers have seen the show and even visited them while they were shooting. The actress described meeting Susan McIntyre, who she plays on the series, as ‘really emotional and nerve-racking.’
She said, ‘The mums did come on set one day. It was really emotional and nerve-racking, because I knew how fiery Susan was. If she didn’t like the way I was doing it, she’d say so.’
The mums even came together with the cast to film a video for Netflix explaining the story behind the show and sharing their opinions on the show.
Tracey Taylor, who is played by Aimee Lou Wood in the series, was one of the mothers affected by the tragedy, and her daughter Shelby died at four days old due to contamination from the Quarry. She 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, the woman on whom Claudia Jessie’s character is based, said that watching seeing the show was ‘emotional.’
Sarah O'Byrne is a writer for Grazia, heat, Closer, Yours, Bella and Crime Monthly. She primarily focuses on celebrity and entertainment news.