Corby, a town in Northamptonshire, experienced one of the biggest child poisoning cases the UK has ever seen, after it was exposed to a high volume of toxic waste in the 1980s and 90s.

Children born in this period were three times more likely to have birth defects than the rest of the UK.

In Toxic Town, Jack Thorne (Best Interests) will focus on three mothers who fought on the frontlines for justice, battling in court for recognition of Corby’s mistreatment.

Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who), Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), Rory Kinnear (The Diplomat) and Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) will star, with more cast to be announced. 

Thorne says: “The Corby Toxic Waste Case is one of those moments in history that is defining. It showed our ability to close our eyes and ears to the safety of our people. It also showed the remarkable way that people will fight for what’s right. 

“Toxic Town tells the story of these funny, brave, incredible women and the way they scrapped for their children.”

Toxic Town is being produced by Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones’ (Black Mirror) indie Broke & Bones.