A BIRKENHEAD man is set to star in a new documentary series which will follow the people who work to unblock sewers and keep taps running for millions of people across the North West.

The first episode of Sewermen will be broadcast at 9pm on Thursday, June 20 via 5Spike and will follow United Utilities staff as they visit a whiffy basement in Birkenhead, follow the launch of a mammoth water pipeline tunnelling machine under the Lake District and investigate a flooded pub in Blackburn.

Following Cheshire wastewater technicians Steve Iveson from Birkenhead and Steve Burrows from St Helens, the show will follow the two Steves who clear blockages and floods in homes across Cheshire.

Steve Iveson told the Globe: “I think the show might open lots of people’s eyes about what United Utilities does but I’m really hoping the show catches all the interactions with them, as talking to them and making them happy is 100 per cent where I get my job satisfaction.

"My family are all looking forward to seeing it and might open lots of people’s eyes about what we do.”

Producers Label1 managed to get behind the scenes, under the ground access to United Utilities 5,000 employees and almost 120,000km of pipes from Carlisle to Crewe.

It will then follow workers from United Utilities as they tackle fatbergs and blockages along with keeping the region's tap water up to scratch.

United Utilities customer and people director Louise Beardmore said: “We’re one of the North West’s most familiar household names and millions of people rely on us.

"The chance to show our customers the real people who keep the region’s tens of thousands of kilometres of pipes flowing was not to be missed.

"They keep smiling even when the job gets really difficult and the pride they have in serving our customers just shines through.”

United Utilities provides water to more than seven million people and provides an essential service to every home and business in the North West.

Executive producer for Label1, Rachel Morgan said: “At Label1 we have never got quite so down and dirty during a production.

"The access was unprecedented. Very few productions have been allowed into the miles of pipework beneath our feet.

"From waste to clean water, the call centre, the labs, to the big infrastructure engineering projects, United Utilities staff put themselves on the line and in front of the camera.

"We are very proud of the revealing, warm and humorous series they and all at United Utilities were brave enough to allow us to make.”

Sewermen will be broadcast on 5Spike (Freeview channel 31) at 9pm on June 20 and then every Thursday.