Rachel Shenton
Channel 5 has announced it has greenlit brand-new thriller "The Rumour" (5x60’), a co-production from Cuba Pictures and Clapperboard in association with Fremantle, who will distribute the series internationally. The series is currently filming and is expected to air on Channel 5 in 2025.
The series was ordered by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5, who will executive produce with Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Paramount UK for Channel 5. Dixie Linder ("Chemistry of Death", "McMafia") and Nick Marston ("Chemistry of Death", "McMafia") will executive produce alongside Rachel Gesua ("The Teacher", "The Catch", "The Holiday", "Kidnap & Ransom") and Suzi McIntosh ("Silent Witness", "The Teacher", "The Catch", "Peaky Blinders").
Richard Clark ("Doctor Who", "Chemistry of Death", "War of the Worlds") will direct the series with Giula Sandler ("The House Across the Street", "White House Farm") as writer and executive producer, and Dominic Barlow ("The Mallorca Files", "Mr Selfridge") is on board as producer.
Casting for this new series has also been revealed with Rachel Shenton ("All Creatures Great and Small", "For Her Sins", "The Strangers" Part 1 & Part 2) starring as Joanna, a young mother in need of a new beginning. Also joining the cast is Joanne Whalley ("Willow", "Wolf Hall", "Scandal"), Emily Atack ("Rivals"), Samuel Anderson ("Doctor Who", "Another Life"), Ellie Haddington ("Enola Holmes", "Motherland"), Lucy Speed ("Unforgotten", "Afterlife"), Liza Sadovy ("A Real Pain", "Patience", "A Small Light") and Carryl Thomas ("Emmerdale", "Silo", "Silent Witness", "Eastenders"). Rounding out the ensemble cast are Tamzin Griffin, Alex Waldmann and Okezie Morro.
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 praised the drama: '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," commented.
Meanwhile, Dixie Linder, Executive Producer for Cuba Pictures, described the title: “We’re thrilled to bring Lesley Kara’s compelling thriller to the screen. 'The Rumour' delves into the unsettling impact of gossip, paranoia, and suspicion in a close-knit community. With a brilliant cast and a fantastic creative team, we can’t wait for audiences to see it," noted.
Finally, Rebecca Dundon, SVP, Head of Scripted Commercial, Global Drama and Fremantle International, identified with the questions raised by the drama: “'The Rumour' is a razor-sharp psychological drama that turns everyday gossip into a weapon, exposing the dangerous fault lines in trust, community, and the lengths we go to protect our own. What would you do if a rumour about a killer landed on your doorstep?," added.