The ITV police drama was cancelled after just four seasons.
19:00, Thu, Jan 15, 2026
Jason Watkins has landed a new role in a Channel 4 drama following the cancellation of the ITV series, McDonald and Dodds.
Jason played DS Dodds alongside Tala Gouveia, as DCI Lauren McDonald in ITV's McDonald and Dodds, before the series met an untimely end
An ITV representative confirmed the show's cancellation at the time, citing that season four's viewership had failed to meet the targets necessary for its continuation.
However, Jason is now set to appear in Dirty Business, a major new factual drama investigating one of the biggest potential corporate scandals in British history.
It is based on a decade-long investigation into England’s water companies, and tells the real stories of whistleblowers and victims who believe their lives have been destroyed after encountering sewage-polluted water.
Jason Watkins played DS Dodds in McDonald and Dodds (Image: ITV)
Jason plays Peter in Channel 4's Dirty Business (Image: Channel 4)
Dirty Business follows the story of two unlikely detectives, who notice that the fish in the river running through their idyllic Oxfordshire hamlet are dying. They contact their water company to find out why, and the company’s strange and evasive reply sparks an investigation that remains ongoing to this day.
David Thewlis plays Ash, a concerned citizen and former police detective of a small town in Oxfordshire, who notices that his local river is becoming increasingly polluted.
Ash teams up with his neighbour Peter, played by Jason Watkins. Peter is a Professor of Computational Biology who uses science and investigative skills to establish that their local sewage works is not treating sewage correctly, subsequently and frequently dumping raw, untreated sewage into local waterways.
Asim Chaudhry also features as Mickey, a whistleblowing sewage plant worker. Burdened by the inefficiency and neglect by the water company he works for, he partners with Ash and Peter to supply information on critical failures from the inside.
Other notable names joining the star-studded cast include Posy Sterling, Tom McKay, Vicky Pepperdine, Craig Parkinson, Charlotte Ritchie, Chanel Cresswell, Lucia Keskin, and Alex Jennings.
Jon Culshaw, who recently appeared in Midsomer Murders, is also due to make a guest appearance.
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Jon Culshaw recently appeared in Midsomer Murders (Image: ITV)
Asim has also been cast in Dirty Business (Image: Channel 4)
When speaking about his new role, Jason Watkins said: “I wanted to be part of this series because of how human and grounded the story is - it’s told through ordinary people who refuse to look away when something isn’t right.
"Dirty Business captures the quiet determination it takes to stand up to a system far bigger than the individual, and shining a light on the real human cost of environmental damage and corporate neglect felt both urgent and important to be part of.”
David Thewlis continued, “What shocked me about this story was just how much has been allowed to go unchecked - two ordinary men uncovering negligence, illegal pollution, and corporate indifference that should never have been tolerated. Being a part of this series has been a chance to channel the anger and frustration so many feel about what’s been done to our rivers and communities, and to show the courage it takes to stand up and demand accountability.”
While Asim Chaudhry added, “What drew me to this role was the courage it takes to speak out when a system is failing. There’s anger, frustration, and a deep sense of responsibility in the character, and I wanted to bring to life the human side of standing up for what’s right, even if there’s a risk it might come at a personal cost.”