ITV and Tall Story Pictures announce filming has commenced on the latest series of The Bay.
The fifth series sees Marsha Thomason remain as Morecambe MIU’s Family Liaison Officer, DS Jenn Townsend alongside cast regulars Daniel Ryan, Erin Shanagher and Andrew Dowbiggin. Olwen May (Happy Valley, Trying) will join the team in Morecambe. Barry Sloane returns as Chris Fischer. Georgia Scholes plays Chris’s daughter Erin, and David Carpenter and Emme Hayes return as Conor and Maddie, Jenn’s children. Suzanne Packer (Casualty, Keeping Faith) joins as Jenn’s mum, Anne Townsend.
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, they uncover hidden friendships and secret liaisons as the anger rises in the student community. As 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.
Joining the new series as guest cast are Leanne Best (The Walk-In, Cold Feet), Neil Maskell (Hijack, Kill List), David Troughton (A Very Peculiar Place, New Tricks), Stephen Wight (Screw, I May Destroy You) and Ceallach Spellman (Better, White Lines). Tara Lynne O’Neill (The Full Monty, Derry Girls) joins as Sinead, as DI Tony Manning’s new partner.
Catherine Oldfield, Creative Director of Tall Story Pictures and Executive Producer of The Bay:
“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. We are so excited to start filming with Marsha, Dan and the team.”
The Bay will premiere on ITV1/STV and be available on the streaming platform ITVX at a date yet to be detailed. The series is sold to over 140 territories.
