Series synopsis
Dirty Business is a British drama crime television series that premiered on Channel 4 on February 23, 2026. It ended on February 25, 2026. It stars David Thewlis, Jason Watkins, Posy Sterling and Tom McKay.
Two amateur detectives in an Oxfordshire village discover dying fish in their river. When they contact the water company for answers, the company's odd, evasive response prompts them to launch an investigation that continues today.
Premise
Two amateur detectives in an Oxfordshire village discover dying fish in their river. When they contact the water company for answers, the company's odd, evasive response prompts them to launch an investigation that continues today.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- David Thewlis as Ash Smith
- Jason Watkins as Peter Hammond
- Posy Sterling as Julie Preen
- Tom McKay as Mark Preen
- Alex Jennings as Sir James Bevsn
- Asim Chaudhry as Mickey Lazarus
- Alice Lowe as Susan Day
- Chanel Cresswell as Hannah Swift
Supporting cast
- Vicki Pepperdine as Lucy Hunt
- Juliet Cowan as Debbie Henderson
- Charlotte Ritchie as Sophie Harrison
- Tom Durant-Pritchard as Chris Hines
- Craig Parkinson as John Bull
- Stephen Wight as Alex Sinclair
Guest cast
- Elizabeth Berrington as Sarah Harrison
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 3 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 3 | February 23, 2026 | February 25, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 When a Oxfordshire river turns brown, two locals ask the water company why. So begins an epic 10-year trail to the heart of one of the great corporate and regulatory scandals in our country’s history. |
February 23, 2026 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 The drama continues. An eight-year-old girl dies after a trip to the beach. Was it the raw sewage dumped there? |
February 24, 2026 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The drama concludes as Dirty Business flushes out a story of pollution, criminal convictions and corporate wealth |
February 25, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Channel 4 |
|---|---|
| First aired | February 23, 2026 |
| Last aired | February 25, 2026 |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 21:00:00 |