Netflix shines light on true story ‘that’s been buried for a long time’

Many of the stars of Toxic Town had not heard of the scandal the drama is based on, but are hoping the Netflix retelling will bring it into the spotlight.

The show follows the real-life battle of families in Corby, Northamptonshire, whose children were born with defects in the 1980s and 90s.

In court it was argued that toxic airborne pollutants from the town’s demolished steelworks had harmed unborn babies.

Actor Brendan Coyle, who was born in Corby, admitted he had been unaware of the story, but said there was excitement in his hometown to see it told to the world.

“One of the mothers has been in touch… It’s kind of the talk of the town. People are excited about it,” he said.

“For them, the mothers and these children, to have their story told… it’s amazing. It’s something that’s been buried for a long time in terms of people’s perception.”

In the drama, the Downton Abbey star plays Roy Thomas, a fictional Corby borough councillor.

The 62-year-old actor explained that, like many in the town, his family had moved from Scotland to work at the Corby Steelworks, which in 1979, just before its closure, had about 10,000 employees.

“When I was born in Corby, 80% of the population of that town had been born in Scotland,” he said.

“My granny and granddad came down from Bellshill, which is a mining community outside Glasgow. They never lost their accent because you’re in amongst it, you know?”

Members of his family, including his brother, still live and work in the area.

“My brother asked ‘Is there any craic in this?'” he laughed.

“On the surface it’s very bleak… but in the documentary [the Horizon programme on the case] you see the women they talk to and there’s great spirit and humour and great craic.

“I think Jack [Thorne, writer of the drama] has captured that brilliantly.”

For executive producer Annabel Jones, humour was an important part of the storytelling.

Credit: bbc.com

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