Toxic Town: Release, cast, plot as Jodie Whittaker leads waste scandal show on Netflix

Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker takes the lead in a gripping new drama based on a real-life toxic waste scandal. The Netflix series, Toxic Town, follows a group of mothers as they fight for justice in the wake of the Corby poisonings, which resulted in babies being born with birth defects.

The streaming giant describes the show as a "story of community resilience in the face of institutional negligence and greed - and the power of parents' love for their children".

The cast of Toxic Town boasts an array of talent from popular British shows such as Doctor Who, Trainspotting, Outlander and Game of Thrones. Here's everything you need to know about Toxic Town, including its release date, plot, and cast.

Leicestershire Live reports Toxic Town is based on one of the UK's most significant environmental scandals - the Corby poisonings. From 1984 to 1999, the Corby Borough Council oversaw the demolition, excavation, and redevelopment of the former Stewarts and Lloyds site.

Open lorries spilt toxic sludge onto the roads, and vast amounts of toxic dust were released into the air. The High Court in London established a link between atmospheric toxic waste and birth defects.

The series centres on a group of mothers who waged a David versus Goliath battle for justice, tracing the years of their struggle as a horrifying truth emerges.

Toxic Town will be released on Netflix on Thursday, February 27.

There are going to be four episodes in the new mini-series, which will be around 60 minutes in length.

Leading the cast of this much-anticipated mini-series is the talented Jodie Whittaker as Susan McIntyre, a mother battling for her son Connor, born with a deformed hand. A poignant clip from the series trailer reveals the heartache behind Whittaker's role when she discloses, "has been in pain his entire life and it wasn't his fault".

Joining her are some of television's finest, including Brendan Coyle, known for his work on Downton Abbey, Stephen McMillan who starred in Boiling Point, and Claudia Jessie from the Netflix smash-hit Bridgerton.

The cast of Toxic Town includes:

• Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) as Susan McIntyre
• Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) as Tracey Taylor
• Claudia Jessie (Bridgerton) as Maggie Mahon
• Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) as Sam Hagen
• Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) as Roy Thomas
• Rory Kinnear (The Diplomat) as Des Collins
• Stephen McMillan (Boiling Point)
• Lauren Lyle (Outlander)
• Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones)
• Michael Socha (This Is England)
• Karla Crome (Carnival Row)