Meet The Cast Of Toxic Town, And The Real Lives Of The People Who Inspired The Characters

The series follows Susan McIntyre (Jodie Whittaker), who fights for justice after her son Connor is born with a deformed hand. Over the course of several decades, McIntyre, along with other parents, takes the council to court, ultimately exposing its cover-up of the toxic waste's harmful effects.

After winning the case against Corby Borough Council, it is reported that McIntyre and the other families received an amount around £14.6 million. Now 56, Susan still champions the victims of Corby's poisonings. Recently, McIntyre revealed some of the challenges she faced while raising Connor.

'I used to watch one of the older kids riding a bike and think, "Will Connor ever be able to do that?" The child’s mother told me, "We’ll make sure he does." She had me put a hand behind my back while I tied my laces, so I could figure out how Connor would manage. It was tough, but we did it together.'

Susan still calls Corby home, and is reportedly enjoying retirement by herself, and with her family. Her sons, Daniel and Connor now live with their own families.

Previously, Whittaker has featured in: Broadchurch (2013–2017), Doctor Who (2017–2022), Attack the Block (2011) and the Black Mirror episode The Entire History of You (2011). Journeyman (2017). Next, she is set to star in the upcoming British crime thriller, Frauds.

A recent cover star of ELLE UK, Aimee Lou Wood starred in Toxic Town as Tracey Taylor, a young woman living in Corby who initially gives birth to her daughter Shelby Anne, who dies shortly after. Tracey later gives birth to healthy twins, Brandon and Callum, followed by a son, Dominic, however, is moved by Susan's plight and wishes to join the movement to ensure that Shelby's death is not in vain.

Earlier this year, Taylor spoke to the BBC and discussed the ordeal she faced. '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.'

Prior to starring in Toxic Town, Wood has featured in the likes of: Mary Stuart (2016–2017) and People, Places and Things (2017) Sex Education (2019-2023), The White Lotus (2025) and is set to star in the upcoming projects Sweet Dreams and Film Club.

Robert Carlyle features as Sam Hagen, an employee at Corby Borough Council, who is alerted by a technical officer (Ted) about unsafe practices at the steel plant reclamation site. The report highlighted ignored regulations, leading to toxic waste spreading throughout the town. Later in the series, we see Hagen anonymously provide crucial evidence to solicitor Des Collins, which helped find Corby Borough Council guilty.

In 2002, Hagen passed away after dedicating his life to public service, and is heralded for being a whistleblower against his local council.

Prior to Toxic Town, Carlyle has featured in the following film and TV projects: Trainspotting (1996), The Full Monty (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), There's Only One Jimmy Grimble (2000), The Beach (2000), The 51st State (2001), Eragon (2006), 28 Weeks Later (2007) and The Legend of Barney Thomson (2015),

In the show, Rory Kinnear's character Des Collins takes on the battle against Corby Council after reading an article in the Sunday Times. He meticulously gathers evidence, navigates legal challenges, and uncovers key breakthroughs during the investigation. His persistence and dedication ultimately help the aggrieved families win their case.

Now, Collins is a still a practicing solicitor and continues to run his successful practice, Collins & Solicitors. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Collins recalled the painstakingly long 11-year long legal battle.

'Their attitude was, "We will use every trick in the book to get out of this,"' Collins says. 'We were asking for documents and they were telling us they didn’t exist. They were asking us to specify which lorry load, on which day, on which route had caused the problems with X child.'

A seasoned actor, Kinnear has starred in a number of TV shows and films including: Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time to Die (2021), Bank of Dave (2023) The Imitation Game (2014), Men (2022) Black Mirror (2011), Penny Dreadful (2014–2016) and The Diplomat (2023-Present).

Brendan Coyle portrays Roy Thomas, a local council leader who is fixtated on modernising Corby. Unlike other characters, Roy Thomas is not actually a real person, but is based on a combination of people and viewpoints that represented the council from 1984 to 2010.

Recently, series writer Jack Thorne, detailed the workings of Thomas' character. 'With Roy, I really wanted to make sure that we were explaining why he believes what he believes.'

'That thing of being part of a queue outside the unemployment office with 11,000 people, and his fears about how a town like that is going to survive when he was seeing other towns all over the country being killed by industrial change, being killed by the death of industrial Britain.'

Coyle is best known for featuring in the following projects: Ailsa (1994), The General (1998), The Jacket (2005), Lark Rise To Candleford (2008-10) and Downtown Abbey (2010-2015).

Joe Dempsie stars as Derek Mahon, an employee of Rhodes and Miller, and is married to Maggie. Trying to climb the career ladder and better his family's life, Mahon wishes to work in the office as opposed to driving lorries (which transport the toxins causing defects), however, is often met with pushback from his manager.

When the trial goes public, Derek is hesitant for Maggie to get involved, until he realises just how his job has unintentionally harmed his family.

It's likely you'll recognise Dempsie from a number of other popular British TV shows including Skins (2007-08), Game Of Thrones (2011–2013; 2017–2019), Deep State (2018-19) and Get Millie Black (2024).

Michael Socha played the role of Susan's on and off again partner, and the father to their two sons. At the beginning of the series, we see him and Susan happily living together, up until the birth of their second son who is born with a hand deformity.

Struggling to see the child as his own because of his disability, Peter ultimately decides to move out of the family home and abandon Susan and the kids. He makes a return to the family later in the series and apologies to Susan for his past behaviour, however, their time together is cut short when the family realise Peter is after the settlement money from the court case, which leads to Susan kicking him out of the house for good.

Previously, Socha has starred in a number of film, TV series and stage productions, however he is best known for Summer (2008), This Is England (2010, 2011), Being Human (2011-13) and Once Upon In Wonderland (2013-14).