More than five million people watched the latest series of The Bay, according to official figures.
The latest consolidated viewing figures for the seven day period - including live TV, time shifted, catch up and on demand services – show that episode four of the Morecambe based crime drama was watched by 5.08 million people.
The episode also drew the second highest audience of the week for host channel ITV, with only Britain’s Got Talent attracting more viewers. It was overall the fourth most watched programme on any channel.
In series five, the fictional Morecambe Murder Investigation Unit, led by DI Tony Manning (Dan Ryan) and with family liaison officer Jenn Townsend (Marsha Thomason), investigate the murder of a young student, Hannah, whose body is found at Glasson Dock.
Since beginning on ITV1 in 2019, The Bay has gained a huge following as a fictional team of Morecambe police try to solve crimes amid the beautiful and sometimes haunting backdrop of Morecambe and the surrounding area.
As in previous series, the episodes featured many local filming locations, with scenes shot at places including Morecambe promenade, Sunderland Point, and for the first time, inside Heysham Nuclear Power Station.
Speaking to Beyond Radio before the start of the series, show writer Daragh Carville (pictured above), who lives in Lancaster, expressed his hopes of the show returning for a sixth time.
Daragh said: "That's really in the lap of the audience and ITV."
LISTEN to Daragh Carville talking about the new series of The Bay
"We're feeling very confident and proud of it, in terms of the continuation of the story, but it really depends on how it lands with the audience and how ITV view that.
"Watch this space! We certainly have more stories to tell in the world of The Bay.
"It would be great if we did. But at the same time, five series is quite something in itself. So let's see."
The series ended on TV last Tuesday (March 11), with all six episodes available on the streaming service ITVX.
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