Channel 4’s gripping three-part series, Dirty Business, shines a light on a decade-long investigation into sewage pollution by England’s water companies. Starring David Thewlis (known from Harry Potter) and Jason Watkins (The Crown), the drama follows real-life whistleblowers and victims affected by contaminated water causing environmental damage and personal tragedy.
The story begins in Oxfordshire with Ash Smith (Thewlis), a retired detective, and Peter Hammond (Watkins), an Oxford professor. Their journey starts when they notice a dead fish in the River Windrush. Digging deeper, they uncover a disturbing pattern of river pollution linked to sewage discharge and recall a tragic case from 20 years prior—when eight-year-old Heather Preen died after contracting E. coli from a beach in Devon.
Dirty Business is a fact-based drama, blending documented events with some fictional elements to explore the ongoing environmental and public health crisis. The series highlights the creation of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP), an organization formed by Ash and Peter. Using Freedom of Information requests and insider whistleblowers, they work tirelessly to expose the negligence of water companies and demand accountability.
READ MORE: Cheltenham Town’s Tommy Backwell Secures Loan Move to Weston-super-Mare
READ MORE: Government Provides £15.5m Loan to Rescue Gloucester City Council from Financial Crisis
The show also revisits the 1999 inquest into Heather Preen’s death. Despite severe symptoms and an aggressive E. coli infection likely linked to polluted water, no definitive source was identified, leading to a verdict of misadventure. South West Water, responding to the series, emphasized that no conclusive evidence has ever linked Heather’s illness to storm overflows or bathing water quality, noting extensive improvements to wastewater infrastructure since the 1990s.
Heather’s mother, Julie Maghan, initially hesitant, supported the production to honor her daughter’s story. She described the experience as reliving a family tragedy but appreciated the awareness the series brings to this serious issue.
Dirty Business offers a powerful look at environmental pollution’s real human cost, making it a must-watch for those concerned about water quality and corporate responsibility. The series is now available on Channel 4.