Baby doll burns in The Rumour on Channel 5
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SPOILER: ‘Chilling’ psychological thriller The Rumour sees killer strike again in tonight’s penultimate episode

'Fear spreads like wildfire'

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Thriller fans won’t want to miss the penultimate episode of The Rumour on TV tonight, as the Channel 5 series continues to show the fallout of how “a single whisper can shatter everything”.

Like dozens of C5 thrillers before it, The Rumour poses a tantalising question. In this case, what would YOU do if you found out a convicted killer lived in your neighbourhood?

That’s the dilemma facing mum Joanna…

Lucy Speed, Rachel Shenton, and Emily Atack in the cast of The Rumour on C5
Lucy Speed, Rachel Shenton, and Emily Atack in the cast of The Rumour [Credit: C5]

Is TV thriller The Rumour on Channel 5 any good?

The Rumour does exactly what it says on the tin. And if you enjoyed TV thrillers such as The Game, and The Feud, then this will be right up your street.

Not only does it have a whodunit aspect for us armchair detectives, it also has a large list of suspects. It was also filmed in a glamorous location, and has a great cast. So what’s not to love?

The Rumour introduces Joanna, a single mum who moves to the so-called quiet town of Flinstead with her young son, Alfie. She hopes it will be the fresh start she desperately needs… But beneath its quiet surface lies something more sinister.

In fact, she learns the “chilling” news that a convicted child killer lives in the town and is hiding in plain sight.

‘Joanna is swept into a dangerous spiral of secrets and blame’

A synopsis tell us: “As whispers grow louder and tensions rise, Joanna is swept into a dangerous spiral of secrets and blame. With trust eroding and fear spreading like wildfire, she begins to question not only the town’s past but her own instincts.

“Joanna is forced to confront the consequences of her actions as the town turns against her and buried secrets emerge.”

TV thriller The Rumour on Channel 5 is a “gripping exploration of how fear and curiosity can take root and how a single whisper can shatter everything”.

Joanne Whalley in The Rumour
Hollywood legend Joanne Whalley plays Joanna’s mum Bea in The Rumour – but is she a suspect? [Credit: Channel 5]

Spoiler: What happens in episode 4 of TV thriller The Rumour?

The Rumour on Channel 5 is five episodes of 50 minutes each, with the final episode going out on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 9pm.

In the penultimate episode, which airs on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Joanna becomes obsessed with finding out who Sally McGowan is.

But her (on-off) husband Michael is becoming increasingly horrified by Joanna’s behaviour. He reveals he knows what really caused her to leave London… She threatened the child who had been bullying her son Alfie. Undeterred, she continues her search for the real Sally, and believes a prison painting could expose the truth.

Unsurprisingly, her boss fires Joanna from her work. I mean who wants an estate agent digging up the neighbourhood’s dirty laundry?!

Joanna subsequently rushes to Kay’s house just in time to save her from a gas leak. Someone is trying to kill off the possible Sally McGowan suspects – but who?

If you need to catch up with The Rumour, the first three episodes are on Channel5.com.

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The penultimate episode of The Rumour airs on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 9pm on Channel 5.


Helen Fear
TV Editor

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