Traitors winner Rachel Duffy joins Shropshire-made TV project following April Fools double bluff

A Shropshire-based TV and film production company has sent shockwaves across the web with news that recent winner of The Traitors, Rachel Duffy, has joined its flagship project.

The video announcement sparked a record-breaking reaction online for the firm, Rocking Horse Media, and marks a major step forward for its care home-set comedy-drama, Henry House.

The news was initially framed as an April Fools joke, before being confirmed as genuine in a twist befitting The Traitors itself, and garnering support from other contestants on the show.

Duffy’s involvement as a story consultant is set to bring a deeply personal connection to dementia to Henry House - which already features top TV talent including Ian McNeice (Doc Martin), Annette Badland (Midsomer Murders) and Liam Fox (Emmerdale) in its portrayal of care home life.

Duffy is working closely alongside Rocking Horse founder Gareth Owain David Thomas to help shape the project’s story with authenticity, ensuring that the realities of the world it represents are reflected honestly as well as with humour.

Though Henry House is still in development, the addition of Duffy represents another major step forward for the project, strengthening its authentic foundation and giving its team continued confidence as they prepare to take it to networks.

Gareth said: “Rachel’s involvement has been a genuinely transformative addition for us. Her lived experience brings a level of authenticity that you simply can’t manufacture, and having her working alongside me to help shape the story has already made a huge difference.

“We’ve always believed in what Henry House could be, but bringing together the strength of the cast we have attached with Rachel’s voice and perspective feels like a really powerful combination.

“It gives us a huge amount of confidence as we look ahead to taking the project out to networks. The reaction we’ve had already to her joining the team speaks for itself. We’ve got ourselves into a fantastic position.”

“I’m really excited to be involved with Henry House,” said Duffy. “It’s a project that feels incredibly close to home for me, and being able to contribute to something that reflects the realities of dementia with honesty and care is really important. It’s the kind of show I wish I’d seen on TV when my own family were going through something similar, so being able to contribute to that now feels really special.

“The response so far has been really lovely and quite overwhelming, which makes being part of it even more meaningful. Working alongside Gareth and the team has already been a really rewarding and collaborative process, and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop it further.

“I hope what we’re creating will both entertain and resonate with people in a meaningful way.”