ITV and Tall Story Pictures have announced that filming has commenced on series 6 of The Bay, with Marsha Thomason returning as Morecambe MIU’s Family Liaison Officer, DS Jenn Townsend. The hit crime drama will premiere on ITV1 and STV, and will also be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player.
The new six-part series brings Morecambe’s Major Investigation Unit back to investigate the murder of teenage foster child Logan Marsden. As the case develops, tensions within the local community begin to complicate the investigation, while suspicion moves from those closest to Logan to figures connected to a criminal operation in the area, exposing hidden dangers and unexpected links along the way.
Cameras, sound equipment and television crews were spotted in Morecambe earlier this week, with filming taking place along the promenade and on Queen Street. Local shops reportedly remained open during filming, while the return of the series caused a buzz around the town.
Thomason stars alongside returning cast members Daniel Ryan as DI Tony Manning, Andrew Dowbiggin and Olwen May. Suzanne Packer also returns as Jenn’s mum, Anne Townsend, with Tara Lynne O’Neill back as Sinead, Manning’s partner, and Jacob Butler as Kieran, Manning’s son. Joining the series as guest cast are Claire Calbraith and Alec Newman, who play Rebecca and Joe Hollis, Logan’s foster parents.
Away from the central case, Jenn and Manning will also face personal challenges at home, adding further pressure as they try to uncover the truth behind Logan’s death.
Catherine Oldfield, Creative Director of Tall Story Pictures and Executive Producer of The Bay, said: “When we first set out to tell our story of a Family Liaison Officer in Morecambe, we never could have imagined we’d get to a sixth series. But it is an absolute treat to give the fans another series of DS Jenn Townsend and the team for another enthralling and emotional story. Tall Story are delighted to be back on the Morecambe beat.”
Writer and Executive Producer Daragh Carville added that the new series will see Jenn and Manning “delving into a compelling new story, a murder mystery that begins with a shocking discovery on the prom.”
The Bay is co-created and written by Carville, with Caroline Carver, Shyam Poppat, Bridget Deane and Evan Placey completing the writing team. The series is produced by Tall Story Pictures, part of ITV Studios, with Brian O’Malley directing episodes one to three and Bindu De Stoppani directing episodes four to six.
Series 5 of The Bay was one of ITV’s top dramas in 2025, launching with 6.4 million viewers for episode one and averaging 6.0 million across the series. ITVX streaming hours were also up 8% year on year, making it one of the platform’s highest-performing returning dramas of 2025.
For CultureCues, there is something very satisfying about seeing The Bay return to the Morecambe beat. Six series in, the drama clearly still has plenty of life in it, and a murder mystery beginning with a shocking discovery on the prom sounds exactly like the kind of seaside tension this show knows how to serve.
The new series of The Bay is expected to air in late 2026.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.