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From The Lady, which is currently airing on ITV, to I Fought the Law, British TV has a long tradition of turning real-life events into gripping dramas.
Dirty Business is Channel 4’s intense new three-part series that shines a light on the shocking fight against sewage-contaminated water in Oxfordshire. The drama follows two neighbours, a former detective, and a Professor of Computational Biology as they investigate dying fish and uncover corporate negligence, with crucial help from a whistleblower at a local sewage plant.
At the heart of the series is the Preen family’s devastating story after their eight-year-old daughter Heather dies from E. coli 0157 after playing on a beach polluted with raw sewage. Alongside them, young surfer Reuben faces life-changing challenges from Meniere’s disease, which he believes was caused by contaminated waters.
Starring David Thewlis, Jason Watkins, Asim Chaudhry, and Tom McKay, the series brings these real-life figures and their fight for justice to the screen. The series kicked off on Monday 23rd February and continues tonight, 24th February, with the second episode.
As the series unfolds, here’s a full cast guide, including where you may have seen the actors before.
Dirty Business cast
Below is a list of the main cast:
- David Thewlis as Ash Smith
- Jason Watkins as Peter Hammond
- Asim Chaudhry as Mickey Lazarus
- Posy Sterling as Julie Preen
- Tom McKay as Mark Preen
- Alex Jennings as Sir James Bevan
- Alice Lowe as Susan Davy
- Chanel Cresswell as Hanna Smith
- Vicki Pepperdine as Lucy Hunt
- Charlotte Ritchie as Sophie Harrison
- Juliet Cowan as Debbie Henderson
- Tom Durant-Pritchard as Chris Hines
- Craig Parkinson as John Bull
- Stephen Wight as Alex Sinclair
For more on the cast keep scrolling...
David Thewlis as Ash Smith
Who is Ash Smith? Ash Smith is a real-life local resident who, alongside Peter Hammond, noticed pollution in the River Windrush and refused to accept misleading data from the water company, sparking a decade-long investigation.
What else has David Thewlis been in? Thewlis is best known for playing Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter series and V.M. Varga in the third season of Fargo season. His other credits include: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wonder Woman and Enola Holmes 2.
Jason Watkins as Peter Hammond
Who is Peter Hammond? Peter Hammond is a real-life former police detective who joined Ash Smith in uncovering pollution in the River Windrush, using his investigative skills to challenge the water company and push the case forward.
What else has Jason Watkins been in? Watkins played DS Dodds in McDonald & Dodds, Harold Wilson in The Crown, and Gordon Shakespeare in the Nativity! films.
Asim Chaudhry as Mickey Lazarus
Who is Mickey Lazarus? Mickey is a whistleblowing sewage plant worker who helps Ash and Peter with their investigation.
What else has Asim Chaudhry been in? He is a British actor and comedian, known for creating and starring as Chabuddy G in People Just Do Nothing, and for roles including Abel in The Sandman, Roger in Wonder Woman 1984, and Mohan Thakur in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
Posy Sterling as Julie Preen
Who is Julie Preen? Julie Preen (now Maughan) is a campaigner and mother who has spent over 25 years raising awareness about water pollution after her eight-year-old daughter, Heather Preen, died from E. coli contracted on a beach near a raw sewage discharge.
What else has Posy Sterling been in? She has appeared as Molly in the 2024 film Lollipop, and in TV series including Trigger Point, Playing Nice, and The Outrun.
Tom McKay as Mark Preen
Who is Mark Preen? Mark is the father of Heather Preen and former husband of Julie.
What else has Tom McKay been in? McKay has appeared in British productions such as Black Cake, The White Queen, Kill Command, and Devils, and voiced the lead character, Henry, in the video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Alex Jennings as Sir James Bevan
Who is Sir James Bevan? Sir James David Bevan is a former British diplomat and ex-Chief Executive of the Environment Agency.
What else has Alex Jennings been in? The actor is recognised for roles in The Crown, The Queen, Victoria and The Lady in the Van.
Alice Lowe as Susan Davy
Who is Susan Davy? Susan Davy is the chief executive of South West Water and a board member of Pennon Group.
What else has Alice Lowe been in? Lowe is best known for playing Tina in Sightseers, Ruth in Prevenge (which she wrote and directed), and Dr. Liz Asher in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace.
Chanel Cresswell as Hanna Smith
What else has Chanel Cresswell been in? The actress is best known for playing Kelly Jenkins in Shane Meadows’ This Is England films and series, a role that earned her a 2016 Best Supporting Actress award. She starred as Coleen Rooney in Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama and Tammy in Netflix’s The Gentlemen.
Vicki Pepperdine as Lucy Hunt
Who is Lucy Hunt? Lucy Hunt is the CEO of Thomson Environmental Consultants. She was the Chief Operating Officer at the Environment Agency from 2020 to November 2023, after joining in 2006.
What else has Vicki Pepperdine been in? Her extensive television and film credits include Getting On, Worzel Gummidge, The Windsors, The Cleaner, Bad Education, and We Hunt Together.
Charlotte Ritchie as Sophie Harrison
What else has Charlotte Ritchie been in? The English actress is known for her TV work in Ghosts, Feel Good, You, and Call the Midwife, with film appearances including the sci-fi thriller Repeat and a small role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Juliet Cowan as Debbie Henderson
What else has Juliet Cowan been in? She is best known for her TV roles in The Sarah Jane Adventures, Cuckoo, and The Revolting World of Stanley Brown, with additional appearances in EastEnders, Brassic, Back to Life, Killed by My Debt, and The Power.
Tom Durant-Pritchard as Chris Hines
Who is Chris Hines? Chris Hines is a respected British environmental campaigner, author, and public speaker.
What else has Tom Durant-Pritchard been in? He is best known for The Crown, The Windsors, and Miss Scarlet. He's also appeared in Judy, Feel Good, Andor, and This Is Going to Hurt.
Craig Parkinson as John Bull
What else has Craig Parkinson been in? The actor is best known for Line of Duty, Misfits, and Grace, with an extensive TV and film career that includes Whitechapel, Doctor Who, and Four Lions.
Stephen Wight as Alex Sinclair
What else has Stephen Wight been in? He's known for Screw, I May Destroy You, and Manhunt, with a broad career across television, film, and theatre, including Andor, The Paradise, and Men in Black: International.
Dirty Business airs on Channel 4 at 9pm.
