CRIME fans won’t have to wait long to get their next fix of ITV drama The Bay, as the fifth season returns next month.
ITV has now confirmed the long awaited fifth series of The Bay will return to ITV1 and ITVX from Sunday 2nd March at 9pm.
The new series will see Marsha Thomason reprise her role as family liaison officer DS Jenn Townsend.
Thomason took over from Morven Christie who starred in the first two series, with her taking on the reigns from season three.
The new season will also include familiar faces as Daniel Ryan returns as DI Anthony ‘Tony’ Manning, Erin Shanagher comes back as DS Karen Hobson and Andrew Dowbiggin picks up his role as DS James Clarke.
Also returning are Barry Sloane as Chris Fischer, Georgia Scholes as Erin Fischer, and David Carpenter and Emme Hayes as Jenn’s children Conor and Maddie.
The fifth series will also welcome some new faces including Happy Valley star Olwen May and The Full Monty’s Tara Lynne O’Neill.
Also 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).
The fifth series will bring the twists and drama that viewers expect, as a synopsis for the new run revealed: “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 community.”
It continued: “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, however the first three episodes of series five are directed by Vigil and Endeavour actor Shaun Evans.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Unforgotten series six sees character make shock return” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6368590061112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The series trailer was released earlier this month, hinting at another gripping storyline as part of the six-part ITV series.
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.
“We are so excited to start filming with Marsha, Dan and the team.”
The Bay will return to ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 2nd March at 9pm.