'All Creatures' Rachel Shenton Finds Herself in Trouble in 'The Rumour' Trailer

One of the biggest complaints about All Creatures Great & Small is that it is very male-oriented. That's unfortunately somewhat baked into the text; the original novels are written from a man's perspective during the interwar period. Both Mrs. Hall, played by Anna Madeley, and Helen, played by Rachel Shenton, have much larger roles in the new series than they did in the original 1970s version. However, both are still sadly underused, especially Shenton, which is ironic, given that she's the cast's only Oscar winner. (Not that she has much less to do, but Madeley makes the most of every scene she's in and winds up far more memorable than the men half the time.)

That's why it is exciting news that Shenton has started to branch out and utilize her spot in All Creatures to help launch other shows that better showcase her talent. Her latest is The Rumour, part of Channel 5's new line of drama series that are released on streaming as a "box set" (the British term for binge drop) while simultaneously airing weekly on linear TV.

The series is very obviously a showcase for Shenton; she stars in it as a single mother who's just moved to a new small town, hoping to leave her troubles behind, only to discover that wherever you go, there you are. As part of the show's press release, she said, “I’m 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 is amazing. It’s lovely to work with so many women.”