The Rumour ending explained: Who is Sally McGowan revealed to be?

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I’ve been completely captivated by ‘The Rumour’ and especially by Joanna (Rachel Shenton). Ever since she came to Flinstead, it seems all she can think about is figuring out who Sally McGowan really is – and honestly, I’m right there with her, desperate to know the answer!

Joanna became fixated on discovering the truth after learning online that McGowan – who murdered five-year-old Robbie Harris when he was ten years old – was now living in town under a different name.

Once the gossip reached the moms at school, it quickly escalated into wild accusations – including claims of murder, vandalism, and kidnapping.

So, what is the truth? Here’s what you need to know as The Rumour comes to a dramatic end.

The Rumour ending explained: Who was Sally McGowan?

When rumors started circulating, Sonia, Joanna’s distant neighbor, quickly became the main suspect. Joanna added to this suspicion by mentioning Sonia had a tattoo and a history of rehab treatment.

The situation escalates to the point where Sonia’s shop is damaged. She angrily accuses Joanna of starting the rumor, but doesn’t actually confirm it’s false. After a reporter publishes the story, a large and angry crowd gathers at Joanna’s home.

The suspicion surrounding Sonia quickly disappears when Alfie finds her dead on Halloween while trick-or-treating with friends. Though first thought to be a suicide, the case quickly turns into a murder investigation.

This only intensifies Joanna’s determination to uncover Sally’s true identity, leading her to suspect another woman named Kay. She aggressively confronts Kay with accusations, but Kay isn’t Sally either, and ends up in a dangerous situation, nearly becoming a victim herself.

Despite receiving threatening messages and losing her job, Joanna persists in her investigation. Her ex, Michael, and her mother, Bea, attempt to dissuade her, but she won’t listen.

The investigation then focuses on Liz (Ellie Haddington), the current partner of the victim’s mother. A painting discovered in prison bears a striking resemblance to Liz’s artistic style, leading investigators to believe it might hold a crucial clue. She begins searching for the painting, hoping it will reveal answers.

Joanna eventually discovers the answer she’s been searching for, but it’s completely unexpected. When the painting arrives, she’s shocked to realize the signature was written by her own mother, Bea.

At one point, Joanna even went by a different name: Lucy.

Who killed Sonia?

Trouble began as soon as the rumors started spreading. Someone was deliberately trying to cause problems, first by writing a threatening message – ‘rumours kill’ – on Joanna’s garage, and then by anonymously informing a reporter.

It turns out Joanna wasn’t the only one with a secret. The final episode reveals that Rachel, Joanna’s close friend, is actually the sister of Robbie – the boy Bea accidentally killed years earlier.

Rachel knew Joanna wouldn’t stop dwelling on things, so she pretended to be her friend to learn what she was thinking and believing. Then, she used that information to do terrible things.

Rachel murdered Sonia by suffocating her with a bag over her head, and then she attempted to kill Kay by filling her home with gas.

Okay, so the big reveal hit me hard: it was Bea who orchestrated the whole kidnapping! She’d snatched Joanna’s son, Alfie, and then cleverly used that to draw Joanna into a trap. She called Joanna, pretending to threaten Alfie, and lured her to a remote cabin – a cabin Bea had *already* shown Joanna, which is just chilling. The layers of manipulation were really well done, and honestly, I didn’t see it coming.

How does The Rumour end?

When Bea reached the cabin, Joanna called, worried and demanding to know her location. Instead of explaining, Bea simply promised to fix everything.

Rachel had soaked the cabin in gasoline and knocked Alfie unconscious with a drug. She then forced Bea to sit down, telling her she’d been searching for her all her life. Rachel explained that her mother had sent her to find Bea as a replacement for Robbie, who had died.

Even though Bea apologized, Rachel insisted on filming her and demanded a full confession. Rachel wanted Bea to explain why she killed Robbie, admit to being evil, and then reveal her plans to kill herself and Alfie.

After one of the mothers alerts her, Joanna realizes she’s going to the cabin and quickly tries to escape. Once inside, Bea sees her and intentionally provokes Lucy, causing Lucy to attack and accidentally start the fire.

During the fight, Joanna is terrified by the fire, realizing her greatest fear. She quickly recovers and manages to escape the cabin with Alfie just before it completely falls apart, tragically leaving her mother and Rachel trapped inside.

With the truth revealed and everyone talking, Joanna and Michael, who have made up, pack their belongings and leave town with Alfie, hoping to begin a new life.

Bea, who has survived, is seen living with Liz in a different country.

The Rumour is available in full now on 5.

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2025-09-19 01:05