Michael Sheen Dives Deep Into Wales’ Chemical Cover-Up—Is This Doc the Toxic Truth We’ve Been Avoiding?
Added on January 26, 2026 inTV News Cards
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So here’s the cosmic irony: Michael Sheen, our very own Welsh wonder, dives headfirst into a murky mystery that’s been lurking right under his childhood stomping grounds—chemical contamination in South Wales. Now, I don’t know about you, but Mercury’s retrograde could not have thrown a juicier curveball! Sheen’s new BBC docuseries, Buried, isn’t just a stroll down memory lane; it’s a deep-dive into decades of hush-hush hazards hiding beneath farms and neighborhoods. Almost a decade ago, he met Douglas Gowan—a whistleblower whose warnings about these “forever chemicals” were tragically silenced before anyone could listen. The question she’s humming through my astro-tuned brain: How much damage can a secret, buried so well, really do when it finally sees the light of day? With Sheen chatting up local families, scientists, and crusading journalists, Buried promises truth, heartache, and a hefty dose of responsibility. The stars aligned for Michael to champion his homeland once again—he’s as invested as a Leo at a spotlight convention! Ready to untangle this toxic tale? LEARN MORE
Michael Sheen will lead a new BBC documentary about the claims of chemical contamination in South Wales, close to where the star grew up.
“This is a story that has troubled Wales for decades, and for me, it’s deeply personal,” said Sheen about Buried (w/t), a two-part unscripted series co-produced by Wall to Wall and Smoke Trail Productions. A plot synopsis reads: “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.”
The series will see the Twilight and Good Omens actor meet families from affected communities, local councillors, environmental investigative journalists, forensic scientists, and medical experts who all have their own questions about the region’s toxic past.
“I first met Douglas Gowan nearly ten years ago, and his warnings about these chemicals stayed with me,” continued Sheen. “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.”
In recent years, Sheen has become a champion of his native Wales, having self-financed a new national theater to fill the gap left by the 2024 shutdown of National Theatre Wales and later, writing off £1 million ($1.29 million) of debt for 900 people using £100,000 ($129,000) of his own money.
His debt acquisition venture was even documented in a Channel 4 documentary, Michael Sheen’s Secret Million Pound Giveaway.
Buried 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, building on Smoke Trail’s BBC Sounds podcast Buried and will air on BBC Two, BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer.
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