All Creatures Great and Small star Rachel Shenton leads cast in gripping new drama The Rumour

Fans of All Creatures Great and Small are in for a treat as Rachel Shenton, who plays Helen Herriot, is set to grace Channel 5 with her presence in an all-new suspenseful series called The Rumour. In this gripping drama, she portrays Joanna, a young mother seeking a fresh start.

The cast boasts some significant talent, including Joanne Whalley of Wolf Hall fame, Emily Atack known from Rivals, and Samuel Anderson from Doctor Who. The ensemble is further bolstered by Ellie Haddington, Lucy Speed, Liza Sadovy, Carryl Thomas, Tamzin Griffin, Alex Waldmann, and Okezie Morro.

The show promises to keep viewers on tenterhooks as Joanna relocates with her son Alfie to the seemingly tranquil town of Flinstead. As she seeks a new beginning, she becomes embroiled in the lives of local mothers and their disconcerting cliques.

According to the synopsis: "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 series, which explores how quickly rumours can get out of hand, is adapted from Lesley Kara's Sunday Times bestselling novel.

Rachel Shenton shared her excitement about her latest role, commenting: "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."

The new series is currently in production, with Channel 5 slated to broadcast it in 2025.

Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, has voiced his enthusiasm for the project: "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."

Dixie Linder from Cuba Pictures, the Executive Producer, described how the show explores the "unsettling impact of gossip, paranoia, and suspicion in a close-knit community".

Meanwhile, Rebecca Dundon from Global Drama and Fremantle International praised The Rumour as a "razor-sharp psychological drama that turns everyday gossip into a weapon".