Rachel Shenton, Emily Atack and Joanne Whalley to Star in ‘The Rumour’

Rachel Shenton, Emily Atack and Joanne Whalley have been cast as the leads in upcoming U.K. psychological drama “The Rumour,” which depicts how small-town gossip can spiral out of control.

Based on Lesley Kara’s novel, the new five-part series sees Shenton play Joanna, a mother who moves to a quiet town with her young son looking for a fresh start. But she soon finds herself in an unsettling dynamic when she becomes entangled with a group of local mothers.

“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,” reads the logline. “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.”

Oscar-winner Shenton is best known for “All Creatures Great and Small” while Atack has recently been seen in Disney+ series “Rivals.” Whalley has appeared in “Scandal” and “Wolf Hall.”

Rounding out the cast are Samuel Anderson (“Doctor Who”), Ellie Haddington (“Enola Holmes”), Lucy Speed (“Unforgotten”), Liza Sadovy (“A Real Pain”) and Carryl Thomas (“Silo”). The cast also features Tamzin Griffin, Alex Waldmann and Okezie Morro.

Richard Clark (“Doctor Who”) directs the series with Giula Sandler (“The House Across the Street”) writing the screenplay.

“The Rumour,” which is tentatively set to premiere on Paramount-owned Channel 5 next year, is produced by Cuba Pictures and Clapperboard in association with Fremantle. Fremantle are handling global rights.

Emily Hayward Whitlock at The Artists Partnership negotiated the rights in association with Amanda Preston at LBA Books.

Channel 5’s drama commissioning editor Paul Testar ordered the series and will exec produce alongside Sebastian Cardwell, deputy chief content officer at Paramount U.K. for Channel 5. Dixie Linder (“Chemistry of Death”) and Nick Marston (“McMafia”) executive produce together with Rachel Gesua (“The Teacher”) and Suzi McIntosh “(Silent Witness”). Sandler is also an exec producer. Dominic Barlow (“The Mallorca Files”) produces.

“I’m really excited to play Joanna,” said Shenton. “‘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.”

Testar added: “‘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.”