The Bay series 6: ITV detective drama returns with an 'emotional story' about 'murder of teenage foster child'
Series 5 of The Bay was one of ITV's top dramas in 2025
The Bay will return for a series 6, ITV has finally confirmed, and this time Morecambe’s Major Investigation Unit will investigate the murder of teenage foster child.
For a crime drama that is usually more emotional than most, with family at its core, the plot of this one sounds like a heartbreaker…
Cast and crew have started filming the latest series of the hit drama, and all our favourites will be back. As is traditional, series 6 will also welcome some new faces.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Bay series 6, including plot, cast, start date, and all the latest news.
What is the plot of The Bay series 6?
The Bay series 6 will see DS Jenn Townsend and Morecambe’s Major Investigation Unit investigate another emotional storyline. Perhaps it’s most heart-wrenching to date.
The team are back, and this time they are called to find the murderer of teenage foster child, Logan Marsden… The synopsis tells us: “As the case unfolds, divisions in the local community add further strain to the case. And suspicion shifts from people closest to him, to figures linked to a criminal operation in the area – revealing hidden dangers and unexpected connections.”
Meanwhile, away from the case, Jenn and her boss DI Tony Manning are dealing with personal challenges at home… These test their resilience and professionalism as they fight to get answers for Logan and his family.
Executive Producer Catherine Oldfield 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.”
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How many episodes is it?
The upcoming series 6 of The Bay will be six episodes long. This follows the format of all sixth previous series.
All previous series are currently available to watch on ITVX. Fans will know the first two series starred Morven Christie in the lead role of DS Lisa Armstrong. After appearing in the series between 2019 and 2021, Marsha Thomason took over for series 3 in 2022.
Who is in the cast?
The sixth series sees Marsha Thomason return as Morecambe MIU’s Family Liaison Officer, DS Jenn Townsend. Before The Bay, she was probably best known for her roles in White Collar, Lost, COBRA, and Las Vegas. She made quite the name for herself in the States, and still lives over there. In fact, she became a US citizen in 2012.
Writer Daragh Carville said: “It’s an honour and a pleasure to return to Morecambe for series 6 of The Bay. Once again the indomitable Marsha Thomason will lead the team alongside the mighty Daniel Ryan. And, together with a brilliant guest cast, they’ll be delving into a compelling new story, a murder mystery that begins with a shocking discovery in a fairground on the prom.”
She’ll be back alongside cast regulars including Mount Pleasant’s Daniel Ryan as DI Tony Manning. There’s no word yet on whether The Cage actor Barry Sloane will be back as Jenn’s long-term partner Chris Fischer.
The ensemble cast also includes:
- Emmerdale’s Andrew Dowbiggin as DS James Clarke.
- Riot Women‘s Olwen May as DC Lou McClaren.
- Casualty’s Suzanne Packer as Jenn’s mum, Anne Townsend.
- Hope Street’s Tara Lynne O’Neill as Sinead Flanagan, DI Tony Manning’s partner.
- Ladhood’s Jacob Butler as Kieran, DI Manning’s son.
Joining the new series as guest cast are Grace’s Claire Calbraith, and Protection’s Alec Newman as Rebecca and Joe Hollis, Logan’s foster parents.
When is the start date?
Cast and crew have only just started filming The Bay series 6 in and around Morecambe. So don’t expect new episodes to land anytime soon.
At best, we can hope for the new six-parter to arrive later in 2026. But we think it’s more likely to return in early 2027. Series 5 started in February 2025, a year after it was made.
The British crime drama premiered first in the US as a BritBox original before airing on ITV in the UK.
Read more: The Bay series 5: What happened in the 2025 episodes and that bittersweet ending explained
