The Bay season 5 is here, with Marsha Thomason reprising her role as DS Jenn Townsend for the third time, having taken over from Morven Christie in season 3. This time there's a brand new case to solve while she's dealing with her own personal demons.
Award-winning writer and playwright Daragh Carville returns as co-creator and writer and there's a great supporting cast joining Marsha Thomason as we explore a brand-new story.
Speaking about the series' return, 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 enthrall The Bay fans. We are so excited to start filming with Marsha, Dan, and the team."
Here's everything we know about The Bay season 5...
The Bay season 5 release date
The Bay season 5 is a six-part series and returns to ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, March 2 at 9pm. The following episodes will air on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 in the same 9pm slot.
The remaining three episodes will air the following week on Sunday, March 9, Monday, March 10 and Tuesday, March 11.
All episodes will be available as a box set on ITVX from Sunday, March 2.
The Bay season 5 plot
ITV has confirmed the plot and the official synopsis says: "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 peels 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 Bay season 5 cast
Marsha Thomason as lead character DS Jenn Townsend
Jenn Townsend has already spent a couple of years in Morecambe working in the MIU team and earning herself a reputation as a formidable FLO. She’s warm, reliable and has a steeliness in her that should never be underestimated, particularly when it comes to her work. She's returning to the MIU after the death of her dad from Alzheimer’s. As she tries to push her own grief aside and fully focus her attention on solving Hannah’s murder, she has trouble at home when she puts the needs of her job ahead of her family one time too many.
Erin Shanagher as DS Karen Hobson
Having spent years earning her place, Karen Hobson is now firmly part of the MIU team. Her friendship with fellow FLO Jenn initially appears stronger than ever but it is tested when Jenn confides in her the troubles she’s facing. Sensitive and supportive, Karen puts her own opinions aside so they can best help Hannah’s family, but when her actions come back to bite her and her conduct is called into question, Karen’s left wondering if she’s made the right choices.
Daniel Ryan as DI Anthony Manning
DI Manning is under more pressure than ever to solve Hannah’s case. His decisions are under scrutiny from the ACC while his department's resources are already overstretched. Although his love life has taken a positive step forward, Manning is questioning his professional judgement. When he finds himself cutting corners to make progress in finding Hannah’s killer, he’s left doubting his ability to lead the team. And when he’s forced to take a step back, he’s got serious decisions to make about his future.
Andrew Dowbiggin as DS James Clarke
Clarkie still loves his job in the Morecambe MIU but has found it harder than ever amid the barrage of cutbacks in the department. Struggling at times for the right thing to say when Jenn returns to work, and when his political correctness is questioned, he hasn’t got the time to let his colleague's sensitivity distract him from his job. Finding Hannah’s killer is his number one priority and despite some conflict in the team, he won’t rest until Hannah’s case is solved.
Olwen May as DC Louise 'Lou' McClaren
DC Lou McClaren is a highly experienced cop who joined the police 20-odd years ago. She could have taken retirement but she loves the job, and likes being part of the team and she says she's not ready for afternoons of Escape to The Country and Tipping Point just yet - she's in her prime! Recently seconded to Morecambe's MIU from Lancaster, after Eddie moved on to a new post in Preston, Lou is the brains of the operation, pulling all the strands of evidence together and keeping the lines of investigation fed with leads and intel. There's not much Lou hasn't seen and, as a result, she's pretty unsurprised by the cases she's working on. She's seen the worst that human nature has to offer and has had her share of tragedy - her son was killed while in the forces but, rather than let this grind her down, she manages to see the glint of humanity - and humour - in most things
Barry Sloane as Chris Fischer
Chris Fischer is usually one of life’s optimists, thoroughly enjoying his job as Deputy Head at Sandylands School. But his limits are about to be tested when he faces juggling the huge pressure of an OFSTED inspection alongside increasing tensions at home. Trying to run a busy household full of ever-changing teenage dynamics, with Jenn feeling distant and their kids making decisions with life-changing consequences, his relationship with Jenn is left feeling the strain and he is left looking for support elsewhere.
There's also a great supporting cast for The Bay season 5, with ITV confirming Leanne Best (Cold Feet), Neil Maskell (Kill List), David Troughton (New Tricks), Stephen Wight (Screw) and Ceallach Spellman (White Lines) will all have roles.
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.
The Bay season 5 episode guide
Episode 1 - Sunday, March 2
DS Jenn Townsend, Morecambe Police’s Family Liaison Officer, has just returned to the MIU following her father’s death when a call comes in; a body has been found - a young woman, Hannah Dawson, has been murdered. As she pushes aside her own grief to break the news to Hannah’s loved ones, she finds herself in the middle of a divided family. Hannah’s divorced parents, Julie and Steve, are forced to confront their broken relationship in the wake of their daughter’s death, leaving her grandfather, Tommy, and brother Bradley, in the middle - as well as Julie’s new husband, Craig. Back at home, when an unexpected arrival turns up on her doorstep, Jenn’s family life becomes even more chaotic. But Jenn’s soon pulled away when she gets a new lead in the case.
Episode 2 - Monday, March 3
Jenn and the team worry that Manning released information from their enquiries to the public too soon when Hannah's boyfriend Cal is discovered near death. At home, tensions brew as Jenn tries to juggle the investigation and her relationship with Chris.
Episode 3 - Tuesday, March 4
Craig's lies begin to unravel when he attempts to explain his whereabouts on the night of Hannah's death and Karen's conduct at a vigil is questioned. Manning juggles a growing divide in his team and Anne is forced to step in when Jenn's troubles at home leaves her relationship more strained than ever.
Episode 4 - Sunday, March 9
A vital clue leads the MIU to take a closer look at another of Hannah’s family members but, when red tape stops the team in their tracks, Manning’s frustrations at the lack of results reach an all-time high and he cuts corners to move the investigation forward. Manning’s not the only one in trouble: Jenn’s FLO relationship is in jeopardy when her support for Steve goes too far. Meanwhile, Chris faces the OFSTED inspectors but soon faces a problem closer to home. And when his gamble doesn’t pay off and hope fades that Cal might lead the team to Hannah’s killer, Manning’s left in hot water with his seniors as the investigation reaches another dead end.
Episode 5 - Monday, March 10
It’s all change in the MIU when a new SIO is called in to lead the team. More direct in style than Manning, the team struggles to adapt to a new way of working but is forced to accept the new regime to get some fresh leads in Hannah’s case. When an error in judgement gets Erin in hot water at work, Jenn must choose between her family and her job. Pulled in different directions, Chris is left disappointed when Jenn’s priorities don’t align with his. When Jenn is left with no choice but to arrest Craig, Julie’s trust in her is damaged and, with pressure mounting, Jenn’s family feel the full force of the grief she’s been trying so hard to contain.
Episode 6 - Tuesday, March 11
When crucial evidence in the case is found, Jenn and the team discover someone close to Hannah has been withholding vital information from them all along. As they finally fill in the blanks in Hannah’s life, piecing together her final movements on the night she died, a message from Hannah leads them to her killer. As Steve and Julie look to move past their traumatic history, Jenn faces up to the fallout from her actions. She’s forced to admit that her dad’s death has impacted her more than she realised. With so many changes in the MIU and at home, she’s left contemplating her future.
Is there a trailer for The Bay season 5?
Yes, and as you can see from the 30 second clip, this gritty crime drama is back with a bang!
Behind the scenes and more on The Bay season 5
The Bay is co-created and written by award-winning writer and playwright Daragh Carville (Being Human, The Smoke, Cherrybomb), and produced by Tall Story Pictures, part of ITV Studios.
Caroline Carver returns to the writing team and is joined by Evan Placey. The series sees Shaun Evans directing episodes 1-3, with Waris Islam directing 4-6 and Martin Campbell producing.
Sold in over 140 territories across the world, ITV Studios is responsible for the international distribution of The Bay.
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