BBC Factual and BBC Cymru Wales have commissioned Buried (w/t, 2 x 60’) produced in partnership with the Open University, a gripping two-part unscripted series co-produced by Wall to Wall and Smoke Trail Productions following Michael Sheen as he digs into claims of chemical contamination in South Wales, close to where the award-winning actor grew up.
For Michael, this is personal: almost ten years ago he met researcher and whistleblower Douglas Gowan who was trying to sound the alarm about ‘forever chemicals’ buried in the land near local farms and communities. Douglas believed the dumping of these chemicals could have a lasting impact on the people of Wales, but died before his warnings were heeded. Now Michael wants to find out if Douglas was right.
Building on Smoke Trail’s critically acclaimed podcast Buried: The Last Witness for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds, Michael meets families from the affected communities, local councillors, environmental investigative journalists, forensic scientists and medical experts who all have their own questions about the region’s toxic past. In a story packed with claims of conspiracy, complicity and denial, Michael’s searching for answers and trying to understand how a secret of this magnitude can have stayed buried for so long.
Michael Sheen says: "This is a story that has troubled Wales for decades, and for me, it’s deeply personal. I first met Douglas Gowan nearly ten years ago, and his warnings about these chemicals stayed with me. In this series, we try to uncover the truth about what is beneath our feet, hear from the communities affected, and understand how something so insidious could stay buried for so long. It’s about seeking answers, but also about responsibility - what we do now matters for the future of these communities."
Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning for Specialist Factual for the BBC, says: “All across the UK, we're only just coming to terms with the possible impact of 'forever chemicals'. As soon as I heard that Michael, one of our greatest storytellers, was so personally invested in the story, I knew this was a unique opportunity to create a series to captivate viewers and get them talking about this important environmental issue.”
Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, says: "This is a hugely important series anchored by Michael and his extraordinary connection the story. It builds on the award-winning podcast and is an important investigation which will shock many, both inside and outside of Wales."
The series is commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning for Specialist Factual and Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales. The Commissioning Editors for the BBC are Tom Coveney, Head of Commissioning, Science and Julian Carey for BBC Cymru Wales. Michael Fraser is executive producer for Wall to Wall with Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor for Smoke Trail Productions. Series producer is Jacci Parry and Director is Mags Gavan. The series is a co-production between Wall to Wall and Smoke Trail Productions, builds on Smoke Trail’s critically acclaimed BBC Sounds podcast Buried and will air on BBC Two, BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer.
Wall to Wall is part of the Warner Bros. International Television Production Group