Midsomer Murders star lands role with ITV detective after series axing - Manchester Evening News

Jason Watkins has joined the cast of Dirty Business alongside David Thewlis and other high-profile names following the cancellation of McDonald and Dodds

Jon Culshaw, who recently appeared in the new series of Midsomer Murders, has secured a role with Jason Watkins in a Channel 4 drama following the axing of the ITV series, McDonald and Dodds. Jason portrayed DS Dodds alongside Tala Gouveia, who played DCI Lauren McDonald in ITV's McDonald and Dodds, before the series was abruptly cancelled.

An ITV spokesperson confirmed the show's cancellation at the time, stating that the viewership for season four had not reached the necessary targets for its continuation. However, Jason is now set to feature in Dirty Business, a major new factual drama delving into one of the largest potential corporate scandals in British history.

The drama is based on a ten-year investigation into England's water companies, and recounts the true stories of whistleblowers and victims who believe their lives have been ruined after coming into contact with sewage-contaminated water, reports the Express.

Dirty Business traces the story of two unlikely detectives, who notice that the fish in the river flowing through their picturesque Oxfordshire village are dying. They reach out to their water company to find out why, and the company's peculiar, elusive response triggers an investigation that continues to this day.

David Thewlis portrays Ash, a concerned resident and former police detective from a small town in Oxfordshire, who notices that his local river is becoming increasingly polluted.

Ash forms an unlikely alliance with his neighbour Peter, portrayed by Jason Watkins. Peter, a Professor of Computational Biology, utilises his scientific knowledge and investigative prowess to uncover that their local sewage works is improperly treating waste, leading to frequent discharges of raw, untreated sewage into nearby waterways.

Asim Chaudhry also stars as Mickey, a disgruntled employee at the sewage plant who becomes a whistleblower. Frustrated by the negligence and incompetence of his employer, he collaborates with Ash and Peter, providing them with insider information on crucial system failures.

The ensemble cast is further bolstered by the likes of Posy Sterling, Tom McKay, Vicky Pepperdine, Craig Parkinson, Charlotte Ritchie, Chanel Cresswell, Lucia Keskin, and Alex Jennings.

Jason Watkins shared his thoughts on joining the series, stating: "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."

He added: "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 remarked, "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."

Asim Chaudhry also shared his perspective, stating, "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."