Dirty Business Drama Sheds Light on UK Sewage Scandal
Channel 4's three-part drama Dirty Business, starring David Thewlis and Jason Watkins, has captured attention this week by dramatising the real-life story of amateur sleuths who helped uncover Britain's appalling sewage pollution scandal. The series is being hailed as a clarion call for nationalising the water industry, with reviewers noting its potential to incite public disgust similar to Mr Bates vs the Post Office. Jack Seale praised it, stating that if this drama doesn't provoke outrage, nothing will.
Television Highlights and Critical Acclaim
Beyond Dirty Business, the week's television offerings included several notable productions. The Zero Line: Inside Russia's War on BBC iPlayer features harrowing accounts from Russian soldiers, detailing beatings and executions in a lawless military environment. Ben Steele's film includes anonymous interviews, with some subjects willing to be named fully, highlighting the grim realities of the conflict.
Disney+ has revived the beloved medical sitcom Scrubs, with a reboot that adds fury at the US healthcare system. Stuart Heritage noted that the revival stays true to the original's spirit, making it a safe bet for fans. Meanwhile, LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes on BBC iPlayer sees Ian McKellen portraying the artist based on never-before-played interview tapes, delivering heart-rending moments with precision and understatement.
Comedy series We Might Regret This returns on BBC iPlayer, led by disabled actors and skewering contemporary targets with quick quips and laugh-out-loud delivery from Aasiya Shah. Frances Ryan highlighted how the show subverts expectations, adding depth to its humour.
Film and Documentary Standouts
In cinemas, The Testament of Ann Lee stars Amanda Seyfried as the 18th-century Shaker leader, with Mona Fastvold's film described as an elusive portrait blending nightmare, horror, and musical elements. Peter Bradshaw compared its visual style to Lars von Trier and Robert Eggers, noting its choreographic brilliance.
Molly vs the Machines is an emotive documentary about 14-year-old Molly Russell, who died after accessing self-harm images on social media. Cath Clarke praised its power, derived from interviews with loved ones, including her father Ian Russell's poignant reflection on life before and after her death.
Other film releases include Scream 7, featuring Neve Campbell's return in a messy but entertaining Ghostface whodunnit with inventively nasty kills, and Palestine Comedy Club, a documentary on a roving performance collective that insightfully reflects on war and comedy's reactive nature.
Books and Albums: Memoirs and Music
In literature, A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot is a standout memoir where a survivor of sexual crimes tells her harrowing story. Emma Brockes noted its novel-like detail and the transformation of Pelicot into a figure of astonishing power. Other book picks include Francis Spufford's historical fantasy Nonesuch and Rahul Bhattacharya's intimate epic Railsong about Indian railways.
Music highlights feature Gorillaz: The Mountain, marking the cartoon band's 25 years with an album inspired by India and shaped by loss. Alexis Petridis described it as more consistent than recent predecessors. Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto's Willows strips back The Lark Ascending for a revelatory effect, moving from grief to transcendence, while cellist Tomeka Reid's Dance! Skip! Hop! offers boundary-pushing yet populist jazz tracks.
Live Performances and Streaming Gems
On tour, The Streets are performing A Grand Don't Come for Free in full across the UK and Europe, with Peter Ross praising the formidable band's reproduction of the album's colourful sound world. For streaming, Else is an intriguing pandemic horror where infected individuals merge with their surroundings, described by Phil Hoad as a digital-age midnight movie with affective imagery.
This week's culture reviews underscore a diverse range of impactful stories, from environmental scandals to personal survival, offering audiences compelling viewing, reading, and listening experiences across platforms.
