Meet the cast of Toxic Town on Netflix
From Jodie Whittaker to Robert Carlyle, the Toxic Town cast is full of familiar faces.
Netflix's latest drama Toxic Town is revisiting one of the UK's biggest environmental scandals, shining a light on the horrifying real events behind the toxic waste scandal in Corby.
Penned by writer Jack Thorne, the series follows a group of mothers from the town who fought relentlessly for justice after their children were born with limb deformities believed to have been caused by toxic dust from a former steelworks.
At the centre of the story is Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker as Susan McIntyre, who stars as one of the real-life mothers.
She's joined by Sex Education’s Aimee Lou Wood, Downton Abbey’s Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle, and Michael Socha.
But who's who in the cast of Toxic Town? Read on for everything you need to know about the actors in the Netflix drama, as well as the real-life stories that inspired them.
Toxic Town cast: Full list of characters and actors in Netflix drama
The full cast list for Toxic Town is below, but scroll on to find out more about the characters, plus where you may have seen the actors previously.
- Jodie Whittaker as Susan McIntyre
- Aimee Lou Wood as Tracey Taylor
- Claudia Jessie as Maggie Mahon
- Robert Carlyle as Sam Hagen
- Brendan Coyle as Roy Thomas
- Rory Kinnear as Des Collins
- Stephen McMillan as Ted Jenkins
- Joe Dempsie as Derek Mahon
- Karla Crome as Pattie Walker
- Michael Socha as Peter
- Lauren Lyle as Dani Holliday
- Ben Batt as Pat Miller
- Matthew Durkan as Mark Taylor
- Simon Harrison as Bill Martin
- Jaz Singh Deol as Chief Executive
By entering your details you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Aimee Lou Wood as Tracey Taylor
Who is Tracey Taylor? Based on the real-life woman of the same name, Tracey works in Corby for one of waste management companies but lives in nearby Kettering. Her life is turned upside down after the loss of her daughter Shelby Anne, but she eventually strikes up a friendship with Susan after bonding over unlikely circumstances.
Wood plays real-life mother Tracey Taylor, and when speaking about the role in an issue of Radio Times magazine, Wood said of the important series: "Anything that exposes an uncomfortable truth feels important to be a part of... I was in awe of her resilience."
Where have I seen Aimee Lou Wood? Wood is best known for her breakout role in Netflix's Sex Education as Aimee Gibbs, which happened to be her TV debut. She has also starred in Living, Seize Them!, Daddy Issues and Alice & Jack. She is currently starring in The White Lotus season 3 and is set to feature in Film Club.
Jodie Whittaker as Susan McIntyre
Who is Susan McInyre? One of the most vocal of the mothers campaigning for justice, Susan moved to Corby from Scotland aged three and has lived there since. She never paid much attention to the dirt that would sweep through the town until a journalist came knocking and she started to piece things together about how it could've impacted her son Connor's own disability.
Where have I seen Jodie Whittaker? Whittaker is perhaps best known as being the Thirteenth Doctor in Doctor Who, as well as her roles in Broadchurch, One Night and Time season 2. She has also narrated Tabby McTat, Ready Eddie Go! and starred in Black Mirror's The Entire History of You episode.
Robert Carlyle as Sam Hagen
Who is Sam Hagen? Sam works as a councillor for Corby Borough, eventually seeing first-hand how some protocols are ignored in the removal of toxic waste. He is alerted to it first by new engineer Ted and tries to use his own proximity to the council and local government to help the mothers' case.
Where have I seen Robert Carlyle? Carlyle is known for a number of notable roles, including in films like The Full Monty, Trainspotting and 28 Weeks Later. In terms of TV, he has starred in Once Upon a Time, Hamish Macbeth, COBRA and The Full Monty Disney Plus reboot series.
Rory Kinnear as Des Collins
Who is Des Collins? Des is the solicitor that Susan eventually selects to represent the mothers trying to build a case. He worked in Corby one summer as a teen so has ties to the local area, which sets him apart from some of the other legal help that comes sniffing round after the news is broken in The Sunday Times.
Where have I seen Rory Kinnear? Kinnear is known for his roles in multiple James Bond films, as well as in Bank of Dave and Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger, The Imitation Game and Black Mirror's The National Anthem episode. He has also starred in The Diplomat, Say Nothing, Our Flag Means Death and Penny Dreadful.
Lauren Lyle as Dani Holliday
Who is Dani Holliday? Dani is the other solicitor helping Des on the major case before them, trying her hardest to find evidence to prove a link between the airborne toxic materials and the subsequent rise in birth abnormalities.
Where have I seen Lauren Lyle? Lyle is best known for her roles in Karen Pirie and Outlander, having also starred in Vigil, Broken and Something in the Water.
Brendan Coyle as Roy Thomas
Who is Roy Thomas? Based on a number of real-life people, Roy is the council leader for Corby and envisions a future full of opportunity for the former steelworks town. His plans are major but involve redeveloping old sites, something that not everyone in the council shares the enthusiasm about.
Where have I seen Brendan Coyle? Coyle is best known for his roles in Lark Rise to Candleford and Downton Abbey. He has also starred in Riches, Starlings and Finders Keepers.
Claudia Jessie as Maggie Mahon
Who is Maggie Mahon? Another character based on the real-life person of the same name, Maggie is married to Derek, who works on the former steelworks site. Everyday she cleans his clothes, which are caked in dirt, but doesn't realise the impact it would all have on her pregnancy, later resulting in her son's own club foot.
Where have I seen Claudia Jessie? Jessie is best known for her role as Eloise Bridgerton in Netflix's Bridgerton, but has also starred in Line of Duty, Porters and WPC 56. She has also starred in Vanity Fair, Call the Midwife and Lovesick.
Stephen McMillan as Ted Jenkins
Who is Ted Jenkins? Ted is a new employee brought in as a senior engineering technician, but his father was once one of the head honchos at the former steelworks. Working on the reclaiming of the land, Ted is immediately dumbfounded at the lack of organisation, protocol and general maladministration going on.
Where have I seen Stephen McMillan? McMillan is best known for his role as Jamie in both the Boiling Point film and its eventual BBC series. He has also starred in The North Water, Dead Shot and The Lesson.
Karla Crome as Pattie Walker
Who is Pattie Walker? Another mother whose child is impacted by the toxic waste in the town. Pattie works in the local pub and is keen to get more mothers mobilised once Susan suggests forming a group where they can discuss their cases.
Where have I seen Karla Crome? Crome is known for her roles in Misfits, Hit & Miss and The Victim. More recently, she has starred in Am I Being Unreasonable? and Screw.
Michael Socha as Peter
Who is Peter? Peter is Susan's boyfriend who she has two children with, but after the birth of Connor, his feelings about their family situation change and he leaves them.
Where have I seen Michael Socha? Socha is known for his roles in Showtrial, This Is England, Being Human and Chernobyl. He has also starred in Once Upon a Time, Time, The Gallows Pole and DI Ray.
Joe Dempsie as Derek Mahon
Who is Derek Mahon? Derek works as part of the haulage company in charge of reclaiming the former steelworks. Although his days are filled with driving lorries, he has dreams of working with the big shots in the offices.
Where have I seen Joe Dempsie? Dempsie is known for his roles in Skins as Chris Miles, in Game of Thrones as Gendry Baratheon and in Deep State as Harry Clarke. He has also starred in Get Millie Black, Showtrial and Pieces of Her.
Toxic Town is streaming on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
