Michael Sheen to front ‘deeply personal’ investigation series

Actor Michael Sheen is set to present a BBC investigation series into chemical contamination in Wales.

Based on the Radio 4 podcast of the same name, Buried will see the Welsh star explore claims of chemical contamination in south Wales, close to where he grew up.

“This is a story that has troubled Wales for decades, and for me, it’s deeply personal,” he said.

While best known for his acting roles, Sheen has previously presented documentaries on the care system and high-interest debt and credit.

Concerns over ‘forever chemicals’ being buried near local farms and communities in south Wales were first identified by researcher and whistleblower Douglas Gowan almost 60 years ago.

Gowan was shocked at a deformed calf he found next to a landfill site in Rhondda Cynon Taf while working as a consultant for the National Farming Union, later discovering high levels of toxic chemicals through his own tests.

Sheen became involved after coming across the research while looking at Wikipedia from his Los Angeles home.

“I first met Douglas Gowan nearly 10 years ago, and his warnings about these chemicals stayed with me,” he said.

By that point Gowan only had months left to live, his poor health something he blamed on his exposure to the chemicals while investigating.

During their meeting, Gowan recorded his entire story before his death in 2018.

That conversation, along with classified documents made available to the BBC, led to the second season of the Buried podcast, called The Last Witness.

“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,” Sheen added.

“It’s about seeking answers, but also about responsibility – what we do now matters for the future of these communities.”

The two-episode series will meet with members of the affected communities, as well as forensic scientists and medical experts on his search for the truth.

Since becoming a successful actor, Good Omens actor Sheen still has a strong connection to his hometown of Port Talbot and south Wales, with a lot of his advocacy work focused on the area.

The not-for-profit actor has previously presented a BBC documentary into failings within Wales’ children’s care system, with his Channel 4 programme Secret Million Pound Giveaway following him as he bought and wrote off the debt owed by 900 people in South Wales.

He is currently appearing in the first production by the Welsh National Theatre – the company he set up with his own money – to replace the body that came to an end after Welsh Government budget cuts.