ITV has confirmed that Morecambe based crime drama The Bay will return to our screens next month.
Series 5 will air on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, March 2, at 9pm, with episode 2 on Monday March 3, and episode 3 on Tuesday March 4.
Episodes 4-6 of the run will be broadcast the following week.
The Bay was last on our screens for its fourth run in 2023 and was renewed for a fifth outing soon after that series had finished.
Marsha Thomason – who took over from Morven Christie as series lead for season 3 in 2022 – will return as family liaison officer DS Jenn Townsend, who will once again be tasked with investigating a shocking crime.
Meanwhile, other regular cast members back for the new season include Daniel Ryan as DI Tony Manning, Erin Shanagher as DS Karen Hobson and Andrew Dowbiggin as DS James Clarke.
There are also new arrivals in the shape of Happy Valley star Olwen May and The Full Monty's Tara Lynne O’Neill, while some more returnees include Barry Sloane as Chris Fischer, Georgia Scholes as his daughter Erin, and David Carpenter and Emme Hayes as Jenn’s children Conor and Maddie.
A synopsis for the new run teases: "When 23-year-old university student Hannah is found dead on the edge of the docks, Morecambe’s MIU team has another case to solve – Jenn, who is returning to work following the death of her father, pushes aside her own grief to support Hannah’s bitterly divided family.
"With the stakes of the investigation high, Jenn and the team dig deeper into the case, uncovering hidden friendships and secret liaisons as anger rises in the student
"As the intensity increases and the team peel back the complicated layers of Hannah’s life and the secrets within it, Jenn must reconcile her personal and professional struggles as she grapples to solve the case, come to terms with her own loss, and build bridges with her family."
The series is co-created and written by Daragh Carville, and the first three episodes of the new run will be directed by actor Shaun Evans – known for his roles on Endeavour and Vigil.
Catherine Oldfield, Creative Director of Tall Story Pictures and Executive Producer of The Bay said: “We are thrilled to be coming back to our beloved Morecambe for another series.
‘’Daragh has written yet another captivating and emotional series which we know will enthral The Bay fans.”
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