Emily Atack joins Doctor Who and All Creatures Great and Small stars in exciting new thriller
RIVALS star Emily Atack joins a star glittered cast with actors from Doctor Who and All Creatures Great and Small in an exciting new thriller.
The upcoming psychological drama from Channel 5 is based on the hit Sunday Times bestselling book by Lesley Kara
The new thriller, The Rumour explores how small-town gossip can spiral out of control with unforeseen consequences.
Rachel Shenton best known for All Creatures Great and Small stars as Joanna, the young mother in need of a new beginning.
She 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.
CH5 drama
When Joanna stumbles upon an online rumour about a notorious child killer living in the town, she uses it to win over the mums at the school gate.
Sally McGowan was just ten years old when she stabbed little Robbie Harris to death forty-eight years ago.
No photos of her exist since her release as a young woman, so who is the supposedly reformed killer who now lives among them?
As gossip spreads, suspicions build, and Joanna finds herself drawn into a web of secrets and paranoia.
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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.
Rachel Shenton said “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.”
Amongst the other cast members are Wolf Hall's Joanne Whalley, Dr Who's Samuel Anderson and Enola Holmes's Ellie Haddington.
Joining them is Emily Atack who recently enjoyed success with the raunchy TV show where she played the magnificent Sarah Strutton.
The hit show was set in the fictional county of Rutshire and was packed full of drama and shady deals among an elite group of socialites.
Starring alongside her in Rivals was Doctor Who's David Tennant but now Emily is set to appear with Samuel who played Danny Pink in the sci-fi show.
Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 commented: “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, Executive Producer for Cuba Pictures, comments: “The Rumour delves into the unsettling impact of gossip, paranoia, and suspicion in a close-knit community.
Top Channel 5 dramas
Channel 5 has become a hub for gripping drama, these are some of the best My5 has to offer.
- All Creatures Great and Small - Based on the best-selling novels by real-life vet Alf Wright, the show revolves around a trio of vets working in the Yorkshire Dales in the late 1930s. Eccentric Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) hires James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) for his veterinary practice at Skeldale House alongside himself and his younger brother Tristan (Callum Woodhouse). There James settles into his new life and even finds love with local farmer's daughter Helen (Rachel Shenton).
- The Ex-Wife - New parents Tasha (Céline Buckens) and Jack (Tom Misson) seem to have the perfect life, but the constant presence of Jack's overly friendly but suspicious ex-wife Jen (Janet Montgomery) puts pressure on the couple. But as the series progresses it becomes less clear who the bad guy really is and how far everyone will go to get the life they think they deserve.
- Heat - EastEnders alum Danny Dyer leads this four-part action thriller, set in Australia, which sees two families holidaying together during bushfire season. But instead of rest and relaxation, secrets and lies start to unravel — and not everyone will make it out alive…
- Lie With Me - Another soap legend jets off to Australia, this time its EastEnders alum Charlie Brooks who takes as a married woman trying to saving her marriage by moving halfway around the world after her husband had an affair. However it's far from plain sailing, as a young and attractive live-in nanny comes to work with the Fallmont family, and tensions soon build and eventually, someone ends up dead.
- The Drowning - Jill Halfpenny plays Jodie, a woman whose life is shattered following the disappearance of her beloved four-year-old son, Daniel. However, ten years later, the grieving mother thinks she's finally found her missing child, and embarks on a journey to discover the truth about him. But has she really just found the son she has been missing for so long?
"With a brilliant cast and a fantastic creative team, we can’t wait for audiences to see it.”
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Rebecca Dundon, SVP, Head of Scripted Commercial, Global Drama and Fremantle International, said: “The Rumour is a razor-sharp psychological drama that turns everyday gossip into a weapon.”
The Rumour is expected to arrive on screens in 2025