A documentary airing on BBC Two explores the long-running campaign for justice by two mothers who challenged institutional inaction over an epilepsy medication that harmed thousands of children. According to The Guardian, the film centres on Janet Williams and Emma Murphy, whose determination to expose the dangers of sodium valproate has become a stirring account of persistence against official resistance.
The documentary, titled Mums v Big Pharma, airs at 9pm on Monday, 9 November 2026. It documents how sodium valproate was licensed for prescription to people with epilepsy despite safety concerns emerging after testing. An estimated 20,000 UK families have been affected by sodium valproate exposure during pregnancy, according to the Sodium Valproate Redress Alliance.
How did the scandal develop?
Clear warnings about the drug's dangers were not routinely included in patient information leaflets until 2005, despite evidence of fetal harm dating to the 1970s. The delay in communicating risks meant generations of children were exposed to the medication in the womb. In 2018, medicine packs were required to carry clear warnings, and prescribing sodium valproate to women of childbearing age was restricted to a last-line treatment when no alternatives were suitable.
What redress is being considered?
A 2024 review by Patient Safety Commissioner Henrietta Hughes recommended financial and non-financial redress, including a housing grant, help securing special educational needs recognition, and individual apologies. However, progress on compensation remains uncertain. On 29 October, a parliamentary debate highlighted that the government had not decided whether to provide financial redress, with the minister saying discussions would be advanced with greater urgency. On 6 November, the Sodium Valproate Redress Alliance urged action and redress support across all four UK nations.
What else is on television tonight?
At 8pm on BBC One, Fire and Floods: Our Extreme Weather examines the severity of environmental challenges facing humanity. The documentary explores 2026's extreme weather events, ranging from intense downpours to a prolonged dry and fiery summer, raising questions about whether these conditions represent a preview of future climate impacts.
Jamie's 20 Minute Meals returns at 8pm on Channel 4, featuring the chef's signature approach of combining technical skill with approachable cooking. Tonight's centrepiece is a garlic, rosemary and chilli-chicken pasta dish, accompanied by a vermouth spritz.
At 9pm on Channel 4, Pierre concludes its first season. In the finale of David Harewood's jazz-infused legal drama, duty solicitor Pierre's investigation into the circumstances surrounding his young client Michael's death leads him to confront someone from his personal life. The discovery forces an uncomfortable reckoning, though his ability to find answers remains uncertain given the complications in his own affairs.
The Gilded Age continues at 9pm on Sky Atlantic, with a development that will trigger significant social upheaval in 1880s New York. Larry and Marian Brook have engaged in sexual relations outside of marriage—a transgression that the city's elite will find deeply scandalous. The question facing the couple is whether they can maintain their standing in society as the consequences of their actions unfold.
At 9pm on U&W, Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake provides an update on 11 shih-tzus rescued from a home the previous year. The dogs were initially withdrawn and terrified, with concerns about possible inbreeding. The programme also reunites viewers with Spud, a staffy crossbreed featured in earlier coverage, as trainers work to address his behavioural difficulties.
