The Rumour on Channel 5 cast led by former soap star Rachel Shenton and a Hollywood veteran
Helen Fear | 12:38pm Wed 10 Sep | Updated 1:54pm Mon 8 SepThe Rumour does what Channel 5 thrillers do best – the new series combines a twist-filled, unguessable plot with a brilliant cast of famous faces both old and new.
I refer you to the brilliantly bonkers Robson Green and Jason Watkins four-parter The Game for proof. Or The Inheritance, which saw Robert James-Collier unite with Gaynor Faye, Kevin Whately, and Samantha Bond.
This time, we see former Hollyoaks actress Rachel Shenton led the cast, alongside Joanna Whalley – previously a huge name in Hollywood, thanks to her career and her rather famous husband.
Here’s everything you need to know about who plays who in the cast of The Rumour on Channel 5.
The Rumour cast on Channel 5: Rachel Shenton plays Joanna
Actress Rachel Shenton portrays “ordinary” and “unremarkable” single mum Joanna in the cast of The Rumour on Channel 5. An estate agent, she’s a “mother desperate to outrun her past and protect her future”. She also has the most lustrous, bouncy hair ever seen on a human being.
In the five-part series, Joanna moves from London to the quiet town of Flinstead with her six-year-old son, Alfie – a fresh start in a place that promises peace. But beneath its quiet surface lies something more sinister…
When she discovers a chilling rumour about a convicted child killer hiding in plain sight, Joanna seizes the chance to bond with the local mums by sharing it – unknowingly unleashing a wave of paranoia and suspicion.
Staffordshire-born Rachel Shenton, 37, 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.”
These days, Rachel is probably best known for playing Helen Herriot in the All Creatures Great and Small reboot on Channel 5. It’s a role she’s played since 2020 and the period drama is currently approaching its sixth season.
Before that, Rachel was famous for portraying Mitzeee Minniver – the daughter of Trish and Mick – in Hollyoaks and Hollyoaks Later between 2010 and 2013. Other notable roles include Lily Summers Kennish in the US drama Switched at Birth. Yes – scream – she’s worked with Austin Butler.
Rachel has also played Joanne Scott in White Gold, Emma in A Confession, and Emily Furness in another C5 thriller called For Her Sins.
Did Rachel win an Oscar?
Most impressively by far, though, Rachel won the Academy Award for Best Live Action short film in 2019, for The Silent Child. She wrote, produced and starred in the film, alongside her real-life husband Chris Overton (and father of their one child).
The film was based on Rachel’s own experiences as the child of a parent who became deaf. When she was 12, her father lost his hearing after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Before Code of Silence, and Reunion, Rachel’s own bilingual short film – using British Sign Language – had featured profoundly deaf six-year-old actress Maisie Sly. It was her first role.
Following the death of her father, Rachel learned British Sign Language. In 2011, she was made ambassador for the National Deaf Children’s Society. She continues to raise awareness of deafness in the UK.
Joanne Whalley stars as Joanna’s mum Bea
Lancashire-born Joanne Whalley, 64, portrays Joanna’s mum Bea in the cast of The Rumour on Channel 5. She should be very familiar to viewers of a certain age (cough, cough), thanks to her long and varied acting career spanning five decades.
Born in 1961, Joanne started acting at the age of 12 and appeared on screen for the first time in the 1973 movie Life and Soul. Over the course of the 70s, she subsequently popped up in TV series such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Crown Court. Between
However, it was in the 80s that she became a household name – both here in the UK and in the States.
Was Joanne Whalley married to Val Kilmer?
After a BAFTA nomination for her role in 1985’s drama Edge of Darkness, she subsequently won the role of Sorsha in the 1988 film Willow. That’s where she met her future husband Val Kilmer and became Joanne Whalley-Kilmer for a time. The pair were married between 1988 and 1996, and have two children together – Mercedes and (now also an actor) Jack. Sadly Val died this year after a long cancer battle.
After her role in Willow, Joanne went on to play Christine Keeler in the 1989 film Scandal. Based on the Profumo Scandal of 1963, Joanne’s portrayal of the exotic dancer caused quite the stir at the time.
For years, Joanne appearing in films and TV show in the States, including Gossip Girl. Between Vanozza Cattaneo in the spicy TV series The Borgias.
As well as appearing in UK TV series including Jamaica Inn, and Wolf Hall, Joanne has also continued to star in multiple US series. These have recently included A.D. The Bible Continues, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, The White Princess, Daredevil, Tin Star, and Carnival Row.
She reprised her role of Queen Sorsha in the recent Willow TV series. Sadly for fans, it was axed after just one season.
Samuel Anderson stars as Joanna’s ex-Michael
Birmingham-born Samuel Anderson, 42, is one of the men in the cast of The Rumour on Channel 5. He plays Joanna’s ex-boyfriend, who the actor describes as “a very patient man”.
Samuel has been on our screens for more than two decades, and is perhaps best known for playing Ross Kirk in Emmerdale between 2007 and 2009.
However, if you’re a fan of Gavin & Stacey, you probably know him as ‘Fingers’, a role he recently reprised in the last ever episode.
In 2014, Samuel starred as Danny Pink in Doctor Who, before going on to play Daniel in Trollied, and William in Another Life. Other significant roles include Jason in Totally Frank, DC Vince Grady in DCI Banks, Leon in Loaded, and Patrick in Witless.
More recently, Samuel has played DC Paul Wilkie in Landscapers, Vinny Mason in Red Rose, Dan in Mammals, DCI Mackenzie in Chemistry of Death, and Samuel in Murder, They Hope.
This year, he portrayed Mal in Amandaland, the long-suffering neighbour of Amanda – and possible love interest.
Ellie Haddington stars as Liz in the cast of The Rumour on Channel 5
Seventy-year-old Ellie Haddington joins the cast of The Rumour as Bea’s partner Liz. But Motherland fans will most definitely recognise her as Julia’s cantankerous mum Marion, who moved in with her daughter in series 3. She quietly died in her armchair while wearing a VR headset and climbing Kilimanjaro (digitally at least).
Veteran actress Ellie has been on our screens for four decades, and famously played Josie Clarke in Coronation Street from 1995 to 1996.
Ellie went on to portray Kathleen in Life Begins in 2004, and Governor Joy Masterton in prison soap Bad Girls. Between 2011 to 2013, she played Carol Porter in The Cafe – opposite Death in Paradise star Ralf Little.
She starred as Hilda Pierce in Foyle’s War, Fanny Biggetywitch in Dickensian, Agatha Chudleigh in Ripper Street, and Wendy in Close to Me. More recently, she’s portrayed Barbara Mitchell in Death in Paradise, Avril Lennox in Crime, Sheila Gemmell in Guilt, and Diane in The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies.
This year, Ellie portrayed Meg McGrath in the Silent Witness episodes Homecoming Part 1 and 2.
She’s appeared in a multitude of films, too, including Enola Holmes, Operation Mincemeat, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Emily Atack portrays Liam’s mum Debbie
Bedfordshire-born actress and comedienne Emily Atack, 35, plays “influencer type mum” Debbie in The Rumour cast on Channel 5. And it’s quite appropriate perhaps, that Emily gave birth to her first child, a son called Barney, in 2024.
Emily came to fame playing Charlotte Hinchcliffe on the E4 comedy series The Inbetweeners between 2008 and 2010. She went on to appear in Lemon La Vida Loca, The Keith Lemon Sketch Show, and The Keith & Paddy Picture Show.
She took part in the fifth series of Dancing on Ice in 2010. And subsequently appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2018 (she was runner-up).
In 2020, she got her own comedy series The Emily Atack Show. Of course, she’s also known for being the daughter of singer and actress Kate Robbins.
Most recently, Emily is best known for playing Sarah Stratton in Rivals, a role she’ll soon be reprising in series 2. She plays the ambitious new wife to deputy prime minister, Paul Stratton. An ambitious woman in a man’s world, she is determined to better the hand that life has dealt her and climb to the top the only way she can…
Her first appearance on screen in episode one was, well, totally naked!
Lucy Speed stars as Rachel
London-born actress Lucy Speed, 49, joins the cast of The Rumour playing prison guard Rachel. She is described as “grumpy on the outside, and grumpy on the inside”.
Of course, soaps fans will recognise Lucy for playing Natalie in EastEnders, a role she played for 10 years – between 1994 and 2004. In fact, the role was Lucy’s big break at the age of 17.
Natalie was the long suffering best friend of Bianca Jackson, who went on to have an affair with Bianca’s husband Ricky. Her storylines included a rocky marriage to Barry, with whom she had a child, and almost sleeping with her brother-in-law.
She rekindled her affair with Ricky, had a relationship with Paul Trueman, and desperately tried to get Janine Butcher arrested for murdering Barry.
The actress actually started as a child actor, and now boasts a career spanning 40 years. She was just nine when she first appeared on telly, starring as Sally in Up Our Street in 1985.
She went on to appear in King & Castle, Dodgem, Rides and Casualty, before portraying a lady of the night in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love.
After leaving EastEnders in 2004, Lucy starred as DC Stevie Moss in The Bill between 2008 and 2010. Lucy has since appeared in multiple high-profile series, including Lewis, Holby City, Cradle to Grave, National Treasure, Call the Midwife, Doctors, Liar, Jamie Johnson, Marcella and Silent Witness.
She appeared in all six episodes of Unforgotten series four (2021) as Marnie Barton. Since 2021, Lucy has portrayed the character Stella Pryor in the podcast series The Archers.
Carryl Thomas stars as Fatima in The Rumour cast on Channel 5
London-born Carryl, 47, portrays fellow mum Fatima in the twisty thriller. And with four children herself, she should know the subject matter!
The actress launched her TV career playing Kelly Boulter in the Channel 5 soap Family Affair. While the soap ran from 1997 to 2005, Carryl appeared between
Soap fans might also recognise her for playing Cara Robinson in ITV’s Emmerdale, a role she played on and off from 2020 to 2025.
She also played Tamara in EastEnders in 2024. So that’s a soap hatrick!
Carryl has also popped up in TV series, such as The Sarah Jane Adventures, Holby City, Silent Witness, and Silo.
Liza Sadovy stars as Kay
Actress Liza Sadovy portrays Kay in the cast of The Rumour on Channel. She’s possibly best known for her long and respected career in theatre, but TV fans will know her too.
She’s been a jobbing TV actress across four decades and more. Having played a royal child in the 1982 mini-series I Remember Nelson, she went on to Sonia in Growing Pains, WPC Kathy Bibby in Prime Suspect 3 – with The Thursday Murder Club‘s Helen Mirren – and Naomi Robins in Castles.
Other supporting roles came via The Bill, Grafters, Casualty, Midsomer Murders, Ricky Gervais’ Extras, and the period drama Emma. She’s popped up as a nurse in EastEnders, a patient in Doctors, and a news reporter in The Honourable Woman.
In 2023, Lisa played Mrs Stoppelman in the moving drama A Small Light, before portraying Mariam in Strike: The Ink Black Heart, and Dr Loretta Parsons in Patience.
Who else appears in the cast of The Rumour on Channel 5?
Actress Tamzin Griffin stars as hostile Sonia Martins. She’s best known for playing Val Washington in Trigger Point series 1 and 2. As a jobbing actress, Tamzin has also popped up in The Continental, Vera, The Flatshare, Young Wallander, and Holby City.
Alex Waldmann plays Stephen – Joanna’s boss, and Debbie’s husband. Like Tamzin, he’s also known predominantly for his theatre work, but he’s worked as a jobbing actor on TV for about 20 years. He recently portrayed Lieutenant Krole in Andor series 2. Before that, Alex starred as Arthur ‘Arty’ Bork in Harlan Coben’s Missing You, and Jason Stein in the Netflix film Scoop.
Okezje Morro is Mark. As well as supporting roles in TV series such as Whitstable Pearl, The Nevers, and Silent Witness, he played Bryan Hunt in the 2017 series The Mist. He also portrayed Ekene in Shuga.
Irish actor Declan Hannigan plays DI Saunders in the cast of The Rumour on Channel 5. He has played Lt. H. T. D. Le Vesconte in The Terror series 1 in 2018 and, more recently, Seymour Deville in Wednesday.
Spanish-American Alex Diehl portrays Seth. He’s best known for playing Jack in underGRAD between 2012 and 2013. Alex also starred as Clark Sherwood in Antidote 15, Jimmy in Magic Funhouse!, and Joseph Murphy in Strange Angel.
Full cast list of The Rumour on Channel 5:
Rachel Shenton stars as Joanna.
Joanne Whalley plays Bea.
Samuel Anderson is Michael.
Ellie Haddington portrays Liz.
Emily Atack plays Debbie.
Lucy Speed stars as Rachel.
Carryl Thomas is fellow mum Fatima.
Liza Sadovy plays Kay.
Tamzin Griffin portrays Sonia Martins.
Alex Waldmann stars as Stephen.
Okezje Morro is Mark.
Declan Hannigan plays DI Saunders.
Alex Diehl portrays Seth.
Silent Witness’ Eiden-River Coleman plays Alfie.
Alex Forsyth – aka Eli Jacobi in The Capture series 1 – portrays Zac.
Hungarian-American actress Katalin Ruzsik – aka Sara Molnár in FBI: International – stars as Anita.
Budapest actress Lili Walters – aka Major Nóra in Apatigris – is Miss Higgins.
Budapest-born Ágnes Bánfalvy, star of For Better or Worse, is Marie.
Hugarian actress and star of Baptiste Júlia Papp plays Nurse Stephanie.
Shardlake’s Lídia Kauders portrays Hayley.
Newcomer Isaac Gallagher plays Liam.
Newcomer Nora Olohitare Ohilebo is Ketifa.
Young actress Lilla Jambricska stars as a young Joanna in her first TV role.
Read more: Five best bingeworthy thrillers on My5, including an often forgotten Sheridan Smith classic
