Channel 5 start a Rachel Shenton Rumour

The network will air thriller The Rumour…

The five-episode series stars Rachel Shenton as Joanna, a young mother in need of a new beginning. Also joining the cast is Joanne Whalley, Emily Atack, Samuel Anderson, Ellie Haddington, Lucy Speed, Liza Sadovy and Carryl Thomas. Rounding out the ensemble cast are Tamzin Griffin, Alex Waldmann and Okezie Morro.

Rachel Shenton:

“I’m really excited to play Joanna. The Rumour is a story of a woman unravelling as she relentlessly pursues the truth. She’s very relatable and the cast are amazing. It’s lovely to work with so many women.”

Joanna moves with her young son, Alfie, to the quiet town of Flinstead, seeking a fresh start.

However, she quickly becomes entangled in the lives of local mothers and the unsettling dynamics of the community. When Joanna stumbles upon an online rumour about a child killer living in the town, she uses it to win over the mums at the school gate. As gossip spreads, suspicions build, and Joanna finds herself drawn into a web of secrets and paranoia. Balancing her efforts to protect her son with the growing unease in town, Joanna struggles to distinguish between truth and hearsay. With relationships strained and emotions running high, the boundaries between trust and fear blur.

The Rumour explores how quickly small-town gossip can spiral out of control, forcing Joanna to confront the unforeseen consequences of curiosity and mistrust in her search for answers. The story is based on the Sunday Times bestselling book by Lesley Kara, following a deal negotiated by Emily Hayward Whitlock at The Artists Partnership in association with Amanda Preston at LBA Books.

Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5:

“The Rumour is a gripping drama about the dangerous power of secrets and gossip in a small town. With Lesley Kara’s captivating story and a stellar cast, this series promises edge-of-your-seat suspense and a fascinating exploration of the thin line between trust and fear.”

The series is currently filming and is expected to air on Channel 5 in 2025.