New series taps into crisis at beleaguered Thames Water

Posted on 17 March 2025 • Business, Business and law, TV and radio

A mix of personal stories, behind-the-scenes footage, and poignant visuals help to convey the challenges faced by Thames Water, in a new OU/BBC co-produced TV series starting on Monday 17 March 2025.

The two-part series Thames Water: Inside the Crisis, will run on consecutive days and be shown on March 17 and 18 2025 at 9 pm on BBC Two and on BBC iPlayer.

The documentary explores the £15 billion + of debt of Thames Water and how the organisation is running out of cash, as well as grappling with Victorian infrastructure.

Each episode introduces the audience to the people fighting to fix it, while navigating being ever-present in politics and public discourse.

A wealth of drama, from the boardroom to the frontline

Filmed over six tumultuous months it tells the story of Britain’s most beleaguered water company as it battles for survival.

Thanks to exclusive inside access at Thames Water, this fascinating documentary covers a wealth of drama – from the boardroom to the frontline – capturing the troubled utility’s attempts to fix everything from sewage spills to the multibillion-pound hole in its finances.

Several themes are covered across the two programmes, including the financial aspect of a company struggling to stay afloat and avoid taxpayers footing the bill.

At ground level, we see the embattled day-to-day operations to combat sewage spills, water shortages and failing machinery – just some of the relentless challenges faced by the company and its workforce.

Elsewhere, the series examines some very real human aspects: from villages submerged in sewage to rowers falling ill in polluted rivers. The impact is tangible, with furious customers bearing the brunt of rising bills and environmental fallout.

The Open University has two academic consultants on the series.

Dr Yue Meng-Lewis is a senior lecturer in digital marketing in the Faculty of Business and Law. 

She said: 

“As a researcher and educator in digital marketing, communication and branding, I explore how companies adapt and respond to technological, regulatory, and societal challenges. I am particularly interested in the complexity of leadership styles, business ethics, public trust, and accountability — issues that align closely with the themes of the series.”

“This OU-BBC co-production series offers a compelling exploration of Thames Water’s financial and operational struggles, shedding light on the broader implications of corporate decision-making, regulatory oversight and consumer trust. I hope it inspires meaningful discussion and debates on the tensions between business sustainability, public service, and corporate responsibility.”

Vicky Johnson is a senior lecturer and Head of Department (Geography and Environmental Studies) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

She said:

“With my background in geography and environmental studies, I research and teach in these fields. I explore how human actions shape both the environment and society, and the related impacts on habitability.

“My interests include the human impacts on water, including its quality, scarcity, surplus resulting from both local and global impacts.

“The challenges of dealing with excess water due to climate change and development are seen within the programmes showing the complexity of the systems within which Thames Water operates.”

Supporting Online Content:

Visit our Broadcast & Partnerships site OU Connect where you can find steps to keep our water system healthy and take a virtual house tour to discover what’s really going down our drains. Both academics have supported the additional interactive resources which accompany the series.

This series was commissioned by Broadcast & Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Faculty of Business and Law, with particular relevance to Q99 | BA (Honours) Environmental Studies, R44 | BA (Honours) Geography and Q91 | BA (Honours) Business Management.

• Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast & Partnerships
• Academic Consultants: Dr Vicky Johnson (FASS) and Yue Meng-Lewis (FBL)
• Media Fellows: Prof. Zoe Walkington (FASS), Dr Sophie Doherty (FBL) and Alessandro Saroli (FBL)
• Broadcast Project Manager: Matthew Ray
• Supporting Online Content: Steff Easom

Main image: Marcus Summers, Bob Edgars, John Nicol, Dave Chowings, Thames Water Employees at Mogden Sewage Treatment Works, copyright: Brinkworth Productions