Des Collins is the solicitor who takes on the mothers' case when most of the legal world considers it unwinnable. Pragmatic and a little world-weary, he sees in Corby both a grave injustice and a fight worth the enormous effort it will demand.
As the case grinds on, Des becomes the families' steadfast advocate, translating their lived experience into the language of evidence and law. Rory Kinnear gives him a grounded decency, a man who never grandstands but quietly refuses to let the powerful off the hook.
By the finale he stands shoulder to shoulder with the mothers he has come to admire, having helped them mount a landmark challenge. His arc is a study in professional integrity, the slow accumulation of work that turns determined ordinary people into a force the system cannot dismiss.
Key Episodes
S1 E1
Episode 1
Des is drawn toward the families' plight and begins weighing the daunting scale of the case ahead.
S1 E4
Finale
Des guides the mothers' fight through its decisive courtroom stage in pursuit of accountability.
Des Collins is one of the central figures in Toxic Town, a drama series that aired on Netflix from 2025. Within the narrative of Toxic Town, Des Collins serves as a pivotal character whose decisions and relationships drive key story arcs throughout Season 1. The character's journey has been central to many of the show's most memorable and discussed moments.
Portrayed by Rory Kinnear, Des Collins has become one of the most recognizable characters in modern television. Rory Kinnear's performance brings nuance and depth to the role, creating a character that resonates with audiences on both intellectual and emotional levels. Rory Kinnear's work has been recognized with 1 major award, reflecting the critical acclaim their portrayal has received.
Explore More on TVCeleb
TVCeleb.com is the internet's most comprehensive resource for television character fandom, covering 515 acclaimed TV series with 1622 detailed character profiles and 1324 actor biographies. Our coverage spans 106 genres across 127 networks and streaming platforms, with content organized to help fans discover, explore, and engage with television from every angle.
Browse our collection by genre to find shows in your preferred category, by network to see what's available on your streaming platform, by decade to explore different eras of television history, or by curated lists that group characters by archetype and achievement. Each show page features expanded synopses, production details, and video content, while character pages include detailed arc analysis, key episodes, quotes, trivia, and fan ecosystem mapping.
Every character on TVCeleb is scored using our proprietary Fan Heat Index, which measures engagement, social activity, meme velocity, fan art density, and fandom longevity on a scale of 0 to 100. This data-driven approach provides objective insight into which characters have inspired the most passionate and active fan communities. Use the search page to find any character, show, or actor instantly, or start browsing from our homepage to discover what's trending in television fandom today.
? Frequently Asked Questions
Rory Kinnear plays the solicitor Des Collins in Toxic Town.
Des Collins is the solicitor in Toxic Town who champions the Corby mothers, taking on a difficult legal battle to win recognition and justice for their children.
